Speakers

Erica Bizzell
NIH

Dr. Bizzell is a microbiologist with expertise in bacteriology, infectious diseases, and vaccinology. She is currently an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow (STPF) in the Bacteriology and Mycology Branch of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases at the NIH. She received her Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics from Emory University.

Jay Garland
US EPA Office of Research & Development

Dr. Garland received a Ph.D. in Environment Science from the University of Virginia and spent over 20 years working on NASA’s efforts to develop closed, bioregenerative life support systems for extended human spaceflight. Since joining EPA in 2011, has focused on advancing innovative approaches to water infrastructure, including decentralized water reuse, and mitigating risks associated with antimicrobial resistance in the water cycle.

Chelsey Shivley, DVM, PhD, DACAW
USDA APHIS Veterinary Services

Dr. Shivley is currently the Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinator for USDA APHIS Veterinary Services. Prior to this, Dr. Shivley spent 3 years working on the National Animal Health Monitoring System team, focused on collecting data on antimicrobial use and resistance in animal agriculture. Dr. Shivley served as an AVMA/AAAS Congressional Science Fellow in 2016-2017, working on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Originally from Michigan, Dr. Shivley completed her undergraduate and veterinary degrees at Michigan State University. She then completed her PhD in Animal Behavior and Welfare at Colorado State University with Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Shivley is also board certified in the American College of Animal Welfare.

Q&A Panelists

Kevin Cain
American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges

Kevin Cain is currently the Director for Governmental Affairs for the AAVMC, a position he has held for the past eight years. He moved to Washington in 1999 and worked on Capitol Hill for two Members of Congress from his home state of Georgia, before moving on to work in healthcare policy for the National Health Council and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Kevin is a consumer of all things political, becoming interested in politics at the age of ten! He and his husband live in Washington and are owned by a somewhat cranky 11 year old boxer named Scout.

Matt Hammons
University of Nebraska

Matt Hammons is Assistant Vice President for External Relations and Director of Federal Relations at the University of Nebraska. Matt leads the University of Nebraska system's federal relations team and represents the University and its four campuses on a wide range of federal policy and funding issues. He actively works with federal policymakers and Congressional staff, national associations, and colleagues at universities across the country. Matt has served in national leadership roles with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Council on Governmental Affairs and as a board member of The Science Coalition. Prior to joining the University of Nebraska in 2000, Matt worked in global trade and executive search firms in Washington, DC. Matt is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Nebraska—Lincoln and holds a master’s degree from the University of Virginia.

Sophia Magill
Iowa State University

Sophia Magill serves as Director of Federal Relations in the Office of the President at Iowa State University. She advocates on behalf of Iowa State University’s federal priorities by promoting research, higher education, and science activities in an effort to increase federal support and expand awareness of the University in Washington, D.C. Sophia is actively engaged in the higher education community, has served as chair of the Council on Government Affairs at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and on the Council on Federal Relations Steering Committee at the Association of American Universities (AAU). She is a native Iowan and has an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Iowa State University, where she served as Student Government President. Sophia also holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago.