Rebecca Devooght Named Vice President of Government Relations

July 18, 2024 - J. Reuter

Rebecca is an experienced government relations professional with a career spanning nearly 25 years in various state and public sector positions. For the past 11 years, she has represented the University of Michigan as the Director of State Relations, focusing most of her time on state appropriations and on elevating research and academic freedom through strong collaborations with university academic and administrative units on the various intersections with state policy. Through her direct efforts, she was successful in securing base appropriation increases for the university as well as Capital Outlay support for such purposes as University of Michigan's School of Dentistry, a joint project between the College of Engineering and School of Information as well as other critical research projects. She has successfully worked to enhance campus engagement and collaboration with a wide range of government and non-government organizations beyond higher education.  

Before her time at University of Michigan, Rebecca spent 12 years as a chief of staff and communications director in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives. During her time in state government, Rebecca championed mental health advocacy, worked to enhance domestic violence and sexual assault prevention policy and increased higher education funding support.   

Rebecca was an East Lansing resident for more than a decade earlier in her career, and during that time chaired the East Lansing Planning Commission, where she worked to implement transportation zoning requirements and liquor license approval procedures. She is a proud Spartan alum with strong agricultural and land-grant experience, having earned her Bachelor of Science from MSU.