Bio

Jill Allen Murray Policy and Advocacy Director

Jill comes to The Sheridan Group with over 10 years of experience on Capitol Hill, political campaigns and nonprofit advocacy. She brings a record of accomplishments from her years serving Members in the House of Representatives. In her current portfolio, Jill oversees the day-to-day strategy for the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), and manages initiatives focused on reforming the education system and the highlighting work between universities and the communities in which they reside.

SSTI – the leading nonprofit organization focused on regional tech-based economic development – is at the helm of cultivating job growth and economic development across the US by supporting and strengthening regional innovation ecosystems. Jill led the organization’s entry into the federal advocacy domain. In one year, her team has conducted a formal evaluation of the landscape, designed a policy agenda, hosted an inaugural “Hill briefing” and thrust the organization into rigorous conversations about policy changes with Hill and administration officials. Most significantly, Jill ushered a significant partnership between SSTI and university partners creating a unified position on the Startup Act 2.0. While SSTI’s work is still in progress, this agreement brought the work past a significant hurdle and strengthened the organization’s position.

Prior to joining The Sheridan Group, Jill served as Congressman Dan Maffei’s (NY-25) Chief of Staff, his senior advisor on legislative affairs, personnel, constituent relations and the advocacy community in Washington DC. During her tenure, the Congressman successfully strengthened and championed the Credit Card Holders’ Bill of Rights; enacted a law ensuring that millions of plastic gift cards would not become waste; adjusted the medical device tax contained in the health care reform law, protecting jobs in Upstate New York; brokered a compromise with leaders on both sides of the aisle to ensure that auto dealers were treated fairly as US auto companies reorganized; and brought home millions in congressionally-directed resources. Jill was also the Congressman’s key staff person covering his work on the Financial Services Committee as Congress enacted an historic and sweeping regulatory reform law.

Prior to her time in Maffei’s office, Jill served on Congressman Russ Carnahan’s (MO-03) legislative staff as Policy Director, covering a wide array of domestic issues that included the Committees on Science and Transportation & Infrastructure. Jill advised Carnahan while he successfully enacted a law permitting land access for local economic development projects and created a new line of national funding for multiple sclerosis (MS) research – both achievements followed a strategic effort to influence the appropriate committees of jurisdiction and the corresponding chairmen.

From a family of teachers, principals and school board members, it's not surprising that Jill has a passion for education. She studied education reform at Syracuse University's Maxwell School, one of the top public policy schools in the US. On Capitol Hill Jill has worked on a range of education issues. Jill was Congressman Carnahan's science committee and education aide when the America COMPETES Act was signed into law, and she worked closely with higher education institutions on federal funding for student loans and Congress’s enactment of the College Cost Reduction Act. Jill was actively engaged as a senior staffer in the House of Representatives when the Obama Administration created the Race to the Top, Investing in Innovation and Promise Neighborhoods grant programs during the 111th Congress.

Jill served on the John Edwards for President campaign from 2003 to 2004 in Iowa, Tennessee and Ohio and on the Russ Carnahan for Congress campaign in 2004 in Missouri. She worked for NARAL on both the legislative staff, where she lobbied Congress, and political staff, advising on PAC contributions in key races throughout the country.

Jill holds a Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a BA from Colgate University.

Community Engagement

Jill is an active participant in the combined efforts of Foundry United Methodist church and Washington Interfaith Network to expand supportive housing in Washington DC to find housing for the chronically homeless. She is also a former reading mentor for EverybodyWINS! DC Power Lunch program.