Athens, Ga. – Steve W. Wrigley, who serves as director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and vice president for government relations at the University of Georgia, has been named the university’s interim vice president for public service and outreach, according to an announcement from Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jere Morehead.
A veteran administrator at UGA since 1998, Wrigley will assume his new role April 1. In addition, he will continue to serve as vice president for government relations and name a temporary successor to direct the Vinson Institute.
As interim vice president, Wrigley will conduct a thorough review of the Office of Public Service and Outreach and examine ways to streamline operations while ensuring that the core missions are preserved and enhanced, Morehead said.
“Steve Wrigley’s knowledge and experience will be critical to the success of Public Service and Outreach in the months ahead. I have asked him to engage the key stakeholders in a thoughtful discussion about the future direction of Public Service and Outreach in light of the projected fiscal outlook for the next three to five years,” Morehead said. “It is my desire to preserve centers of excellence in Public Service and Outreach and ensure that Public Service and Outreach emerges from the current budgetary challenges fully prepared to meet its key responsibilities now and in the future.”
Wrigley will succeed Arthur N. Dunning, who will retire from UGA March 31 to become vice chancellor for international programs and outreach at the University of Alabama System. Dunning held the UGA post since 2000, overseeing the establishment of the Archway Partnership, the Office of Service-Learning, Project Riverway and more during his tenure.
“While I am sorry that Dr. Dunning is leaving us for his home state of Alabama, I am deeply grateful to Dr. Wrigley for accepting this interim post,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “In many ways, Steve’s entire career has been focused on public service, from his time at the highest levels of state government to his work at UGA. At a time when this state needs the University of Georgia’s expertise more than ever, Dr. Wrigley’s deep knowledge of state government and good relationships with both the legislative leadership and people around Georgia will serve us all well.”
The vice president for public service and outreach also oversees the Fanning Institute, the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel, the Marine Extension Service, the Small Business Development Center and the State Botanical Garden.
Wrigley will serve in the new capacity until a permanent replacement is named. Morehead said he expects to create a search committee for the post this fall.
“As citizens of Georgia, we are all deeply indebted to the work Dr. Dunning has accomplished toward helping shape the future prosperity of this state,” Wrigley said. “It is an honor to help continue that work as interim vice president for public service and outreach.”
Wrigley joined UGA in July 1998 as the first director of the International Center for Democratic Governance within the Vinson Institute. In that role, he helped establish training and outreach programs in several countries and was involved in overall management and policy formulation.
He was named UGA’s vice president for government relations in 2000. In that position, he oversaw federal, state and local government relations for UGA. Wrigley was named interim senior vice president for external affairs in March 2002; he assumed that post permanently in November of the same year.
As senior vice president for external affairs, Wrigley held overall administrative responsibility for the university’s development, public affairs, alumni relations and special events functions. Before his original appointment to the Vinson Institute, Wrigley served for 13 years in Georgia government, including two years as senior policy adviser to Gov. Zell Miller and five years as Miller’s chief of staff, during which time he was instrumental in implementing Georgia’s nationally recognized pre-kindergarten and HOPE Scholarship programs.
In 2006, he returned to the Vinson Institute as director and vice president for government relations.
Wrigley earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Georgia State University and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in history from Northwestern University.