Natalie M. Blais will join the University of Massachusetts Amherst as associate vice chancellor for government relations. In this role, she will oversee state and federal policy and funding initiatives, advancing UMass Amherst’s mission as a driver of social mobility and economic growth in western Massachusetts and the commonwealth.  

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Blais brings broad expertise to the position after serving as chief of staff to the UMass Amherst chancellor prior to becoming the first woman elected as State Representative for the 1st Franklin District in 2018. Additionally, Blais served more than a decade as a congressional aide to U.S. Representatives John W. Olver (1st Congressional District, Mass.) and James P. McGovern (2nd Congressional District, Mass.), where she oversaw economic development and communications. She also worked as executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.  

“We are so fortunate that Natalie is rejoining UMass Amherst in this critical role,” says UMass Chancellor Javier A. Reyes. “With a deep understanding of campus operations from her time at UMass, Natalie brings a wealth of experience at both the state and federal levels to our government affairs office. She is uniquely equipped to advance the mission of the flagship campus and generate support for the critical role the campus plays in education, research and economic impact throughout the region and across the commonwealth.” 

“Serving the 1st Franklin District over the past seven years has been an honor and a privilege,” says Blais. “Supporting public higher education at the commonwealth’s flagship campus is more important than ever as it faces reduced federal research funding and changes to federal policies that impact immigration, student aid and more. I return to UMass Amherst to address these challenges and support the transformational opportunities this public institution offers its students, families and employees. In doing so, I remain fully committed to serving the public good of our commonwealth.” 

When she assumes the role, Blais will help shape the campus’s legislative strategy, serving as the primary liaison to government officials at all levels on issues affecting state and federal policies. Her responsibilities will also include identifying campus research initiatives that align with state and federal funding opportunities, building on the more than $250 million in federal grants the university already receives for critical research—some of which has been highlighted through the Higher Ed Research for the Common Good awareness campaign.  

Massachusetts is home to one in every 10 jobs in research and development in the United States, according to a recent report from the UMass Amherst Donahue Institute. Two out of every five of the jobs created by this funding are in sectors outside of research and development, including: construction, food services, health care, retail and administrative support.  

And, as one of the largest employers in Western Massachusetts, UMass Amherst is a crucial economic driver to the region and to the state’s innovation economy. The university generates $2.9 billion in direct and indirect impact on the state’s economy, and year-round campus activity contributes millions of dollars to the local economy in wages, taxes and spending. For every dollar invested by the state, the campus delivers $7 in economic activity. 

Blais will also oversee the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield and support broader community, economic development and off-campus initiatives that strengthen regional engagement and drive statewide impact aligned with institutional priorities. 

Reporting to John Kennedy, Vice Chancellor of University Relations, Blais succeeds Chris Dunn, who has been appointed Executive Director of the UMass Building Authority. She starts Jan. 20, 2026. 

Blais earned a B.A. in political science from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and an M.A. in political communication from Emerson College in Boston after being awarded the Cecil and Helen Rose Ethics in Communication Scholarship.