Our Team

Jennifer Grodsky

Jennifer Grodsky is BU’s vice president for federal relations, working from Washington, DC, to strengthen the University’s ties to federal agencies and policymakers.  Before joining BU, Grodsky was the executive director of federal relations for the University of Southern California (USC).  She previously served as legislative director for then-Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis and legislative assistant for Congressman Julian C. Dixon. Grodsky has a Bachelor of Arts from USC.

Jessica Wong

Jessica Wong is BU’s director for federal relations, working from Washington, DC, to serve as a liaison with federal policymakers, identify federal funding trends, and support senior administrators, faculty, students, and staff as they interact with federal officials. Before joining BU, Wong was a legislative aide for Senator Elizabeth Warren. She previously served in multiple roles in Senator Warren’s Washington, DC, and Massachusetts offices. Wong has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

Jourdan Ewoldt

Jourdan Ewoldt is BU’s associate director for research collaborations, working from Washington, DC, to serve as a liaison with federal scientific and cultural agencies by identifying opportunities for BU investigators to secure extramural research funding. Before joining BU, Ewoldt was a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, where she served in numerous extramural offices supporting NIH-funded investigators and assessing biomedical research grant portfolios. Ewoldt has a PhD from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science from Johns Hopkins University. 

Melina Luizaga

Melina Luizaga is BU’s manager of administration for federal relations in Washington, DC. She oversees the department’s daily operations, responsible for preparing and monitoring the department’s budget, coordinates travel planning and event logistics, and manages special projects for the DC office. Before joining BU, Melina worked as an administrative assistant for the USC Office of Federal Relations. She has a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University and a Professional Certificate in event management from the George Washington University School of Business.