Athens, Ga. – Tom S. Landrum, who has served the University of Georgia for the past year as interim senior vice president for external affairs, will assume the post permanently effective Jan. 1, President Michael F. Adams announced this morning. The position is the university’s senior officer responsible for fundraising, public affairs, alumni relations, financial and fundraising support services, donor relations and stewardship, career services, and special events.
Landrum, who holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in journalism from UGA, has been on the university staff since 1976 when he started as an information specialist and special events officer in the public relations office. He subsequently rose through the positions of assistant director of public relations for publications (1979), director of public relations (1985), executive assistant to the vice president for development and university relations (1988), assistant to the president (1992), and executive assistant to the president and chief of staff (1997).
“I predict this will be a capstone for one of UGA’s longest-serving and most committed staff members,” said Adams. “For the past 11 years, I have observed Vice President Landrum in situations ranging from public relations to strategic planning to alumni relations to donor relations. In each, he has excelled. I am certain he will continue to excel as he leads this team of professionals.”
Landrum’s appointment follows a national search, chaired by Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Tim Burgess, which produced four finalists who were on campus earlier this month for a series of interviews and public meetings.
“The University of Georgia has been a part of my life for 40 years,” Landrum said, “and I am delighted to have the opportunity to provide leadership for its external affairs mission. Never before has private support been so critical to the future academic success of the university, and I look forward with great enthusiasm to working with our alumni and friends to take our fundraising efforts to the next level.”
Prior to joining UGA, Landrum was public information officer at Lander College in Greenwood, S.C. from 1972 to 1976. He was a visiting lecturer at the University of Heidelberg, Germany in the summers of 2001, 2002 and 2004. He is a member of the board of the Georgia Humanities Council, vice-chair of the National Board of Blue Key Honor Society, co-advisor of the UGA Chapter of Blue Key, and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the National Eagle Scout Association.