Annual Meeting 2003
The 39th Annual Meeting of
The Association for International Agriculture 
and Rural Development

"On Renewing Commitment to International Agriculture and Rural Development"
Speakers and Panelists

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Christina D. West
Collins & Company
Christina D. West is a Senior Associate for programs and legislation with Collins & Company, specializing in education and foreign affairs issues. As Senior Associate, Ms. West has direct, day-to-day interaction with Collins & Company's customers in all aspects of our customers' government relations agenda, from strategy formulation to execution. She joined the firm in April, 2003. Prior to joining Collins & Company, Ms. West was the Assistant Director for International Affairs at the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. In that position, she promoted the Association's 215 members' international agendas on Capitol Hill and within the Administration. She monitored and advocated for federal legislation related to international education including drafting appropriate responses in the form of testimony, letters and news releases. She co-chaired a working group charged with developing re-authorization proposals for the international programs included in the Higher Education Act and coordinated a lobbying effort aimed at securing funding for an International Science and Education grants program funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Finally, Ms. West organized, coordinated and staffed bi-annual meetings of campus leaders in international education.

Ms. West spent several years as the Senior Legislative Assistant for former Representative Bob Clement (D-TN). As such, she was responsible for his Budget Committee work as well as education, foreign relations, trade, immigration, and defense issues. Ms. West's work on the Hill included assisting in the supervision of the legislative staff; monitoring floor activity; overseeing vote recommendations; drafting legislation, statements, press releases, and constituent communications; and managing the intern program. Ms. West began her tenure in Rep. Clement's office as an intern and graduated to Staff Assistant, Legislative Assistant and ultimately Senior Legislative Assistant. She also completed a summer internship in the legislative office of Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN). Ms. West graduated from Haverford College, in Haverford, Pennsylvania, with a B.A. in Political Science in 1998. She spent part of her junior year studying abroad in Athens, Greece, where her studies focused on Balkan and Middle Eastern history and politics. She wrote her senior thesis on Turkey's relationship with the European Union. From 1989 to 1992 she lived in Geneva, Switzerland, with her family and attended the International School of Geneva. She has traveled extensively in Europe and is familiar with both French and Spanish. Her interests include competitive masters swimming; she currently serves as Co-Captain and Vice President on the Board of the District of Columbia Aquatics Club.