Wells announces plans to retire

Nan Wells, director of Princeton's Office of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C., has announced that she plans to retire from the University in December. She will remain as a senior consultant in government affairs until the end of 2003.

"I would include among the successes of the Office of Government Affairs establishing and maintaining strong support for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory from the U.S. Congress and the Department of Energy," said Wells, who has worked at the University for 26 years. "With our faculty, we have also worked very hard to increase funding at the National Science Foundation and to sustain the National Endowment for the Humanities during difficult periods."

"Princeton has led the effort to create and fund the Education Department's Jacob Javits Fellowships," she continued, "and we have spoken out on behalf of graduate students and programs throughout the government, particularly at the National Science Foundation. I also count as a special accomplishment creating a joint office with Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, in order to express a more united effort to the New Jersey Congressional delegation."

Wells joined the Princeton staff in 1976 as associate director of the Office of Research and Project Administration and as federal relations officer. She was named the founding director of the Office of Government Affairs when it was created in 1979 and then moved the office to Washington in 1981. The office also includes Associate Director Joe Fiordaliso and Executive Assistant Kim Nerres.

The office reports to Robert Durkee, vice president for public affairs, who soon will launch a search for Wells' successor.

"As the only director our government affairs office has ever had, Nan has played a central role in Princeton's multifaceted relationships with the federal government for more than two decades," Durkee said. "She has made countless friends for Princeton and has represented the University on a broad range of issues. Our challenge now is to find someone who can help us in the years ahead to build on the foundation she has established."

Contact: Marilyn Marks (609) 258-3601