August 28, 2026 – Vucic most recently served as the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families.
Media Contact: John Henry, JHenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, @johnhenrydc, 708-646-7679
Washington, DC—Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), the only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, announces the appointment of Nick Vucic to its National Leadership Team.
Vucic will serve as CDF’s National Director of Public Affairs, leading the organization’s enterprise-wide efforts in policy, advocacy, strategic communications, and narrative building to advance its core mission and vision.
Previously, Vucic served as the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. In that role, he directed congressional engagement and regulatory strategy for national programs supporting children, families, and communities.
He has also held leadership positions at the White House Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and several national advocacy organizations, where he worked to advance evidence-based policy and drive high-impact public initiatives.
Vucic will work alongside CDF Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Brittany Packnett Cunningham. According to Packnett Cunningham, his addition will help the organization work toward its goal of helping all children and young people in America thrive.
“Nick comes with a deep wealth of experience as a leader with more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of public policy, legislative affairs, and strategic communications,” Packnett Cunningham said. “Throughout his career, he has helped shape federal policy initiatives, build bipartisan stakeholder relationships, and lead high-performing teams addressing some of the nation’s most complex policy challenges. We are excited to welcome him to the CDF family and looking forward to all that his insight, experience, and commitment to children will bring to this movement.”
Vucic holds a Master of Arts in Social and Public Policy from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Richmond. He also completed executive education programs at Harvard Kennedy School, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Georgetown University.
