Alison Griffin named senior vice president, external and government relations

USA Funds® announces the promotion of Alison R. Griffin to senior vice president, External and Government Relations. 

Since joining USA Funds in January 2014 as vice president, Policy Research, Griffin has helped develop USA Funds’ public policy and research agenda to advance Completion With a Purpose, promoting student success in college and career. In her new role, Griffin will be responsible for managing the thought-leadership activities and opportunities for USA Funds, coordinating government relations activities at the national level and building and maintaining key relationships with higher education stakeholders.

Prior to joining USA Funds, Griffin was founder and principal of Miles Above Strategies, a higher education policy and government relations practice based in Denver. Griffin’s previous experience has included service as higher education policy adviser to the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, guiding state policy development for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and support of higher education clients as senior associate with HCM Strategists, a public policy and advocacy consulting firm in Washington, D.C. 

Griffin serves on several national nonprofit boards, including the executive board of Delta Delta Delta Fraternity and the Southern Methodist University Simmons School of Education Advisory Board, and also serves on the boards of local organizations that link education and employment, such as the Erie, Colorado Economic Development Council.

Griffin earned a master’s degree from the University of Georgia and bachelor’s degrees from Southern Methodist University.

“We are delighted to apply Alison’s more than 15 years’ experience in higher education policy to inform policymakers and the public of solutions that promote a more purposeful path for students to and through college and on to rewarding careers,” said William D. Hansen, USA Funds president and CEO.