Elizabeth Edwards recently joined the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force as policy adviser. And, in case you were wondering, she is not the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.). But she does have some stories of mistaken identity. [IMGCAP(1)]

“My time as a Hoya undergrad happened to overlap with when John Edwards’ wife underwent her first round of cancer treatment at Georgetown hospital,” she wrote in an e-mail. “All of the sudden my campus mailbox started filling up with letters and cards from places I had never been and people I had never met. It wasn’t until I read the name on the envelope (I never opened any of the mail), that I realized it was addressed to MRS. Edwards. The light bulb went on, and I walked over to the Lombardi Cancer Center on the campus and awkwardly explained the situation to the front desk person. I never met Mrs. Edwards, but I hope she got her mail.”

Even today, Edwards, 22, still is faced with questions about her relation to the other Elizabeth Edwards. [IMGCAP(2)]

“Now that I [am] working for Republican leadership on the Hill, I get questions and comments all the time about my name,” she said. “My response is generally one of three things: ‘It’s never an issue back in Oregon;’ ‘Nope, no relation;’ or, ‘she had it first, fair and square.’”

Before taking on her new role, Edwards worked as legislative correspondent for Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) in 2006 and 2007. She interned with the Aging Committee in 2005.

The Portland, Ore., native graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 2006.

Three Are Movin’ On Up. Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) has recently promoted three members of his office staff.

Stephanie Pepper, 26, will now serve as communications director, having previously worked as legislative correspondent since January. In addition, she has worked as a staff assistant and intern in his district office from December 2005 until coming to Capitol Hill. Pepper also interned for Global Gain in 2006.

A marathon runner, Pepper earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and French from Vanderbilt University in 2003 and a master’s degree in international development and diplomacy from the University of Kentucky in 2006. She is from Nicholasville, Ky.

Jennifer Prather, 23, will now work as a legislative assistant in the office. She has been a legislative correspondent since 2006.

Prior to joining Chandler’s staff, Prather worked in the public relations department of EARTH University in Costa Rica. She also worked as assistant desktop publisher for Appalachian Heritage Magazine and was a research intern at the Kentucky-based Chemical Weapons Working Group.

From Berea, Ky., Prather graduated from Berea College with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and international political economy in 2005. She currently is working on an international development graduate certificate at Johns Hopkins University.

Finally, Sarah Stoll, 25, will work as legislative correspondent. She previously served as a temporary staff assistant since January. Prior to that job, she worked as an independent contractor for the NewCities Institute in 2006.

A native of Paducah, Ky., Stoll graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history in 2003. She earned a master’s degree in diplomacy and national security from the same institution in 2006.

Boehner Welcomes One. At the beginning of June, Trevor Kolego, 30, will start as Member services manager for the office of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).

Kolego is finishing up his tenure as legislative director for Rep. Jon Porter (R-Nev.). Previously, he worked as legislative assistant for Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) from 2003 to 2005 and as legislative assistant at McClure, Gerard & Neuenschwander Inc. from 2000 to 2003.

A 1999 political science graduate from Lynchburg College, Kolego is from Fallston, Md.