Deborah Altenburg

Deborah Altenburg serves as Vice President for Research Policy and Advocacy at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). She is responsible for issues related to federal research policy and funding advocacy. She works with both the Office of Congressional and Governmental Affairs and the Office of Research, Innovation & STEM Policy to ensure integration and cohesiveness of APLU research advocacy.

Prior to this role Deborah served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations for The State University of New York (SUNY). In this position, she led federal research and policy advocacy efforts for the 64 campus SUNY System.

Deborah also previously served for 15 years as Director of Federal Relations for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). During her tenure at RPI she served a term as President of the Science Coalition and three-year term as a Board Member for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

Deborah began her career in Washington, D.C. working for her hometown Congressman- United States Representative Sherwood Boehlert. Congressman Boehlert served as Chairman of the House Science Committee. Deborah worked for Congressman Boehlert for over seven years rising to the position of Legislative Director.

Deborah received her Bachelors of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.