Amirah S. Salaam, Esq.

Amirah S. Salaam, Esq.

Vice President, Government Relations and Public Policy
Virginia Union University

Formerly, Lobbyist and Program Director, National School Boards Association; Senior Director of Public Policy, NAFSA: Association of International Educators; Director of Outreach and Advocacy for Government Relations, American Dental Education Association; Senior Advisor and Communications Director, Office of the late Congressman Donald M. Payne, Sr.; Legislative Counsel, Office of Congressman Andre Carson; Congressional Liaison, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation/Office of Congressman Kendrick Meek; Judicial Law Clerk, Judge Thurman H. Rhodes, District Court of Maryland (District 6), and Analyst, U.S. Department of State (top secret clearance).

Ms. Salaam brings close to two decades of combined federal legislative, executive branch and trade association experience to her current position, which is Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Policy at Virginia Union University (VUU). Prior to joining VUU, she served as a Federal Lobbyist and Program Director, National Advocacy Programs for the National School Boards Association (NSBA). At NSBA, she was responsible for managing the organization’s 501 (c) (4), National School Boards Action Center (NSBAC), and representing the organization on Capitol Hill. Prior to joining NSBA, Ms. Salaam was Senior Director of Public Policy for NAFSA – Association of International Educators, where she developed a federal advocacy agenda to advance immigration and higher education priorities on Capitol Hill and at the White House.

In Washington, D.C., Ms. Salaam is known to be a highly motivated, multi-faceted senior government relations professional with a demonstrated track record of working effectively with Republican and Democratic Members of Congress and their staff. As a former Capitol Hill senior staffer and lobbyist, she has managed all aspects of federal relations activities, including supervision of policy staff and policy development. Recognized as a strong communicator with high- level relationships, Ms. Salaam possess a keen understanding of the intersection between policy, effective message development, and strategic engagement. From policymaking to crisis communications, online advocacy, and coalition building to grassroots engagement, she understands how to create winning solutions to garner champions at the national level to influence policy outcomes.

Ms. Salaam is a former Congressional Representative to the European Union and Middle East. She served as a Representative to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and the U.S. Presidential Inauguration Committee for Barack Obama. She is a recipient of the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and NAACP “Black Excellence” Awards, and is currently a member of the Zeta Chi Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Education: Ms. Salaam holds a law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University, and an Honors Designation from New College, Oxford University, United Kingdom. Ms. Salaam recently earned a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Management from Georgetown University, 2017, and completed the prestigious Yale University Women’s Campaign School program this summer.