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Vice President for Government and Community Affairs

Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

The Opportunity

Georgia State University (GSU) seeks a dynamic, politically sophisticated, and highly strategic leader to serve as Vice President for Government and Community Affairs. This is a rare opportunity to shape the policy, funding, and civic engagement agenda of one of the nation’s most innovative public research universities, nationally recognized for pioneering student success, advancing social mobility, and driving research and community impact.

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, just blocks from the Georgia State Capitol, GSU occupies a uniquely influential position at the intersection of higher education, government, and economic development. The university’s proximity to the center of state government, combined with its deep integration into the fabric of Atlanta’s business and civic ecosystem, enables it to play an outsized role in shaping policy and advancing initiatives that impact the state of Georgia and beyond.

The university’s downtown campus, five Perimeter College campuses, and Buckhead Executive Education Center enable a broad regional impact and strong connections to the state’s civic and policy landscape.

Reporting directly to the President and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the Vice President will serve as the university’s chief strategist and advocate for all government relations and community engagement efforts. This leader will help amplify GSU’s voice, strengthen its influence, and advance its mission as a leading research university committed to opportunity, innovation, and impact.  This role will work collaboratively with our Vice President for Research and Economic Development, as well as all cabinet members and college deans, to support the work of economic development in state government and local municipalities.

About Georgia State University

Georgia State University is a nationally recognized leader in transforming higher education through innovation. With one of the most diverse student bodies in the country and a proven model for improving graduation rates and closing achievement gaps, GSU has become a national model for promoting student success at scale.

With our new strategic plan, Blueprint to 2033, we have a renewed focus on identity and placemaking, student success, research and creative excellence, and preparing students for meaningful careers and civic leadership.

As a public research university located in the heart of downtown, GSU plays a central role in Atlanta’s continued growth as a global city. Its students, faculty, and research enterprise contribute directly to workforce development, economic mobility, and solutions to complex city challenges—from public health to education access to economic development.

Georgia State plays a significant role in populating the workforce in our region, with nearly 80%25 of our graduates remaining in our state to work. Finally, our momentum is propelled by extraordinary community support, including an unprecedented transformational $80M gift from the Woodruff Family Foundation and a historic $600M capital campaign with most of the dollars already committed.

The Role

The Vice President for Government and Community Affairs will lead a comprehensive, high-impact strategy that integrates government relations, community engagement, and external advocacy in support of the university’s strategic priorities. The role requires a sophisticated understanding of the policy landscape, strong political acumen, and the ability to operate effectively at the intersection of higher education, state government, and municipal leadership.

This executive will serve as the principal liaison to the Georgia General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, the state’s congressional delegation, and key federal agencies, while also cultivating deep relationships across Atlanta’s civic and business communities.

The Vice President works closely with University System of Georgia and the Board of Regents to advance shared advocacy efforts, including operating and capital funding priorities, and ensure consistent, unified representation of system priorities before state and federal policymakers.

The Vice President will also serve as the university’s senior leader for community engagement, cultivating strategic partnerships with civic organizations, neighborhood leaders, nonprofit institutions, economic development entities, and corporate partners. This leader will strengthen Georgia State’s role as an anchor institution and trusted partner in addressing regional challenges and advancing opportunities for economic mobility and community impact.

The Vice President will coordinate and advance federal advocacy efforts through strategic engagement with Georgia’s congressional delegation, federal agencies, national higher education associations, and the university’s federal lobbyist partners in Washington, D.C.

Equally important, the Vice President will serve as a trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership, providing strategic insight on legislative and regulatory developments, shaping institutional priorities, and ensuring that GSU is well-positioned to achieve its short- and long-term goals.

Key Priorities and Impact Areas

Elevate GSU’s Policy Influence

• Advance a proactive, coordinated advocacy strategy that strengthens GSU’s position with state and federal policymakers
• Secure and sustain public investment aligned with GSU’s priorities in student success, research, and infrastructure
• Shape policy conversations related to higher education, workforce development, and city innovation

Leverage Location and Relationships

• Maximize GSU’s unique positioning to deepen engagement with state leaders and policymakers
• Expand and strengthen relationships with influential stakeholders across government, business, and the nonprofit sector
• Serve as a visible and respected voice representing GSU’s interests and contributions

Advance the Mission

• Position GSU as a central partner in addressing Atlanta’s and Georgia’s most pressing challenges, including economic mobility, educational access, and workforce readiness
• Build partnerships that connect university expertise with community needs and public priorities
• Partner closely with University Advancement and institutional leaders to support fundraising priorities, strengthen donor relationships, and identify opportunities for public-private partnerships

Support GSU’s BluePrint to 2033 Strategic Plan

• Align advocacy, policy engagement, and external partnerships with the four Presidential Pillars
• Secure public investment
• Shape statewide priorities
• Expand the university’s impact on Georgia’s economy and communities

Strengthen Institutional Alignment

• Lead an integrated approach across government relations, communications, and campus leadership to ensure clarity of message and purpose
• Provide timely, actionable intelligence on legislative and policy developments
• Align advocacy and engagement strategies with institutional priorities and measurable outcomes

Build and Lead a High-Performing Function

• Provide strong, effective leadership to the Office of Government and Community Affairs
• Develop a cohesive, high-performing team capable of executing a sophisticated, multi-level strategy
• Establish clear performance measures and assess the effectiveness of advocacy, engagement, and partnership initiatives through measurable outcomes

The Ideal Candidate

Georgia State seeks a leader who combines political sophistication with a deep appreciation for the transformative power of higher education. The successful candidate will be both a strategist and a relationship builder - someone who understands how to navigate complex governmental environments while advancing an ambitious institutional vision.

Key Attributes

• Demonstrated success influencing public policy and securing governmental support at the state and/or federal level
• Deep knowledge of Georgia’s political landscape and the legislative process, with established relationships strongly preferred
• Strong alignment with Georgia State’s mission as a public research university and its national leadership in student success, social mobility, access, and community impact
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage credibly across diverse constituencies
• Executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to advise senior leaders in a complex, high-profile environment
• Experience leading teams and managing sophisticated external affairs operations

This is a compelling opportunity to join a forward-looking institution at a pivotal time—one that is redefining what it means to be a public research university in a large metropolitan city environment. The Vice President for Government and Community Affairs will play a critical role in ensuring that Georgia State University continues to expand its influence, deepen its partnerships, and deliver impact for the state of Georgia and the communities it serves.

Leadership Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strategic thinking and systems-level leadership
• Exceptional relationship-building and coalition-development skills
• Sound political judgment and professional integrity
• Strong communication and public-facing leadership abilities
• The ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and competing priorities
• A collaborative leadership style that fosters trust and alignment across the institution

Minimum Hiring Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree and ten years of progressively responsible experience including five years or more of leadership experience; or a combination of education and related experience

Preferred Hiring Requirements:

• Recent progressive experience in government relations, public policy, or external affairs
• Master’s degree in a related field
• Experience in higher education, public systems, or complex organizations
• Knowledge of Georgia’s legislative and policy environment