Our Team
The primary role of Government Relations is to advocate on behalf of the University of ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ by building and promoting positive relationships with federal, state, and local policymakers and stakeholders to ensure funding and policy initiatives that reflect the needs of the university.
Government Relations is committed to connecting the ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ's world-class expertise to policymakers at all levels of government, aiding in their work to enhance ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ's economy and quality of life.
Chad Hutchison
Director of State Relations
email: clhutchison@alaska.edu
In Juneau during session: 227 4th Street, Juneau
Cell: 907-378-3946
In Fairbanks: 2025 Yukon Drive, Suite 202, Fairbanks, AK 99775
Phone: 907-450-8478
Chad Hutchison joined the UA team as the Director of State Relations as of Jan. 4, 2021. As Director, Chad communicates with the Legislature and the executive branch during, and after, legislative sessions in Juneau.
Previous to his employment with the UA, Chad was the ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ Senate Majority Counsel starting back in January 2013, and has consistent,
proven experience with the development and passage of legislation. Chad is known for maintaining strong, trustworthy, meaningful relationships within the
Legislature and the executive branch. He has been a licensed, practicing attorney since 2007 and started his career in private
practice at Cook, Schuhmann and Groseclose (CSG) in Fairbanks. As Senate Majority
Counsel, part of his responsibilities included legal analysis, advocacy and communicating
on a wide variety of topics that affect all of ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ.
Chad was born and raised in Fairbanks, ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ. He graduated from UAF with a Bachelor of
Business Administration with an emphasis on management. He earned his law degree from
Gonzaga University.
John Latini
Executive Director of Federal Relations
email: jalatini@alaska.edu
John Latini joined the ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ on Feb. 28, 2022 as the Executive Director
of Federal Relations. For the past 15 years, Latini has worked in Washington D.C.
and brings both higher education and congressional experience to his new role with
the university.
Since 2014, he has been with Penn State University including as Director of Federal
Relations leading the university’s DC-based advocacy efforts to increase federal funding
for scientific research and student financial aid.
Denae Benson
Assistant Director of Federal Relations
email: dabenson@alaska.edu
Denae Benson is the new Assistant Director of Federal Relations for the University of ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ System. She will be based in Washington D.C. helping to maintain communication with federal officials, sharing UA’s priorities, and monitoring information with key stakeholders regarding relevant legislation or agency decisions that may affect the university system.
Denae spent the first half of 2021 as an intern in the late Congressman Don Young's office before accepting a position in May of that year with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for Chairman Brian Schatz, senior Senator from Hawai'i. In her role, she worked on committee logistics and assisted on various policy issues including climate action, education, ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ Native issues, and cultural arts and tourism.
While her family is originally from the villages of Galena and Kobuk, Denae was born and raised in Fairbanks, ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ and graduated from West Valley High School in 2015. She is a 2019 ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ Fairbanks alum earning a BA in history and political science, focusing on indigenous history and legislation.
Sara Perman
Government Relations Manager
е³¾²¹¾±±ô: srperman@alaska.edu
Phone: 907-360-7271
Sara Perman joined the UA Government Relations Team in December 2021. Prior to joining the UA team, Sara worked as a legislative aide in the ¶¶ÒõÇáÁ¿°æ State House for four years, working in the offices of House Speaker Louise Stutes and Representative Matt Claman. During her time in the Legislature, Sara focused primarily on transportation and energy issues. She was responsible for the passage of several pieces of legislation, and she worked closely with state departments to develop their annual budgets.