During his 32 years of service in Washington, D.C., Steve Jost, ’77 Political Science, has retained a strong sense of the part his education at CSU, Stanislaus played in getting him where he is today.

Jost’s solid reputation led to his appointment in May by President Barack Obama as Associate Director of Communications with the Census Bureau. It will be the second presidential appointment for Jost who was named to the same spot in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Jost will help lead the $400 million 2010 Decennial promotional effort to encourage all Americans to participate in the important data gathering program.

“The special, personal contact with the faculty made a big difference for me, especially opening the doors of the internship programs that I was fortunate to experience.”

“My career in Washington is a direct result of my CSU Stanislaus experience,” Jost said. “I have always been proud to represent Stanislaus in our nation’s Capitol, and I feel strongly the opportunities that have come my way trace back to the first-rate education I received there. The special, personal contact with the faculty made a big difference for me, especially opening the doors of the internship programs that I was fortunate to experience.”

Jost credits what he calls a very aggressive internship ethic spearheaded by faculty leaders, the now retired Professor Ken Entin and the late Professor Paul Magnelia. They helped Jost gain internships that led to his hiring after graduation from CSU Stanislaus by former Congressman John J. McFall.

Jost has been a major player on the Washington, D.C., scene for many years and his resume is impressive, particularly when it comes to political campaigns. He has served on the staffs of six members of Congress, two of them as Chief of Staff. In between, Jost also co-owned a highly successful consulting business for six years with another CSU Stanislaus alum Michael J. Fraioli to assist 40 members of the House, Senate, and state and local candidates with election campaigns. He has twice served as finance director on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Jost lives in Southern Maryland with his wife, Tracy, and three children, Geneva, Jackson, and Helena. They often visit with Jost’s three brothers and their families who live in Modesto.