Vice President of Government Relations
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Joanne M. Zurcher is the Vice President of Government Relations at Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU). In this role, Joanne is responsible for assisting the CECU membership raise their voices on Capitol Hill and with the Executive Branch. She has spent the last 25-plus years working in and around government in Washington, D.C.
As a congressional staffer, she worked for Congressman Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ), assisting on his health care issues and with his Education and Workforce committee agenda, including with the Higher Education Act. She also worked for four years with Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), where she handled appropriations, health care and the Education and Workforce Committee. Joanne was instrumental in securing over $10 million in appropriations and helping the congresswoman to achieve her legislative agenda in No Child Left Behind.
Joanne subsequently served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for Americans for UNFPA and as Acting Director Office of Legislation at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). She also worked in HRSA’s Maternal Child Health Bureau, assisting in the implementation of the Home Visiting Program as part of the Affordable Care Act. Joanne then joined Dutko Grayling, where one of her major clients was for-profit colleges and universities in New York State.
Joanne returned to non-profit lobbying when she joined the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and started its first-ever Washington, DC government affairs office. During her time at NEHA, she secured $1.1 billion for Zika funding and ensured environmental health professionals were included in the Pandemic All Hazard Preparedness Law.
Joanne holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Texas, LBJ School of Public Affairs. Her B.A. is from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Joanne is originally from Long Island, NY. Currently, Joanne and her husband, Anthony live in Northern Virginia with their two sons.