The APUS Government Relations and External Affairs office monitors and strategically advocates for or against legislative and administrative initiatives, as well as policy proposals from third parties and international agencies, that may impact laws and regulations affecting the university. Higher education-related issues are the primary focus, particularly as they relate to military service members, veterans, and their families.
The office is charged to ensure that federal, state, and international government agencies are educated on APUS, its mission and its vital role in educating adult learners, both military and civilian. Establishing and maintaining relationships with these government officials, as well as with industry research organizations, fosters a necessary and important exchange of ideas on public policy intended to help our students succeed both academically and professionally. The office also routinely interacts with government relations offices at other universities and related trade and professional associations to exchange ideas on the impacts of government policy on our current and future students.
Louis J. Cordia, Senior Adviser for Government Relations and External Affairs
Lou Cordia manages the university’s federal and state government relations, excluding state regulatory compliance. In addition, he collaborates with the university’s outreach and communications offices on external affairs matters when their efforts relate to legislation or administrative actions. His responsibilities include working closely with think tanks on policy and government relations managers at universities and trade/professional associations.
Mr. Cordia has managed government relations for nearly 40 years with his own government relations and communications consulting firm, as vice president of an international government relations and public relations firm, and as director of executive branch relations at the largest think tank in the country. In Washington, he has worked in the Congress and the Administration. He has also worked at the local government level. Mr. Cordia serves as a board member of two organizations which he founded. He graduated from Hamilton College with a bachelor of arts degree in Government and English in 1976.