Francine Newsome Pfeiffer Honored With First-Time AAU Award
AAU’s Council on Federal Relations cites her mentorship and memorable public service contributions
Francine Newsome Pfeiffer, Rutgers' vice president for federal relations, has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the Association of American Universities (AAU) Ripple Effect Award. The award is presented by the AAU’s Council on Federal Relations (CFR) for particularly memorable public service contributions to the AAU community.
Newsome Pfeiffer joined the staff at Rutgers in 1996 after having earned her undergraduate degree at the university. She was named vice president for federal relations in 2014. She and her office help to secure more than $300 million in annual federal research grants and more than $400 million in student aid.
In addition to her leadership for Rutgers, Newsome Pfeiffer has served in a variety of leadership roles in the higher education community in Washington, including as chair of the CFR Steering Committee and as the chair of working groups on the humanities and higher education/student aid.
“Francine has welcomed, mentored, and supported a vast number of her CFR colleagues, and she is a particularly valued resource for newer members of the CFR,” wrote Mary Sue Coleman, president of the AAU, in an announcement letter to Rutgers President Robert Barchi.
“Francine has enriched the CFR community for twenty years because she takes the time to truly know, appreciate, and value its members. Francine never forgets the value of all perspectives among our higher education colleagues and sees them all as valued contributors,” Coleman said.
“She never fails to take the time to include others in conversations and welcomes everyone’s input, recognizing that we are a stronger community when we pool our individual assets,” she added.
“Francine has been a valued member of the Rutgers leadership team for more than twenty years. Her expertise of the federal system and her understanding of the higher education community have made her one of the most effective voices for higher education in Washington,” said Rutgers President Robert Barchi.
“We are fortunate to have Francine on our leadership team at Rutgers. She always contributes to bettering the university, to helping us reach our strategic goals and to making Rutgers an exceptional place,” he added.