Francine Newsome Pfeiffer

Francine Newsome Pfeiffer serves as the Senior Advisor for Scarlet Service and Civic Engagement, where she leads the university’s efforts to expand public service opportunities for students. In this role, Ms. Pfeiffer oversees all aspects of Rutgers Scarlet Service, a signature program providing stipends to undergraduates for meaningful summer internships at nonprofit organizations and government offices across New Jersey and Washington, DC. Her work is centered on enhancing pathways for students to pursue impactful careers at the local, state, and federal levels, building upon her lifelong commitment to civic participation.

Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Pfeiffer served as the Senior Vice President for Government Relations at Rutgers University. For more than 25 years, she led the university’s advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, and Trenton, securing critical funding and shaping higher education policy. During her tenure as Senior Vice President, she managed the University’s Office of Federal Relations, representing Rutgers on complex issues including student aid, research innovation, and institutional governance. She also played a pivotal role in strengthening the university’s relationship with state policymakers, ensuring Rutgers' contributions to New Jersey’s economic and social well-being remained a top priority.

A recognized leader on Capitol Hill, Ms. Pfeiffer has held numerous national roles, including Chair of the Council on Governmental Affairs at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and Chair of the Council on Federal Relations (CFR) Steering Committee at the Association of American Universities (AAU). She current serves on the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Board of Directors. Her contributions to the higher education community were notably recognized when she became the first recipient of the AAU’s CFR Ripple Effect Award.

A New Jersey native and Rutgers graduate, Ms. Pfeiffer began her career in Washington as a White House intern with the Domestic Policy Council. She has had the honor of representing her alma mater before government audiences since 1996.