UW News

February 16, 2006

Scott Woodward appointed vice president for external affairs

News and Information

University of Washington President Mark A. Emmert announced the appointment of Scott Woodward as vice president for external affairs, effective immediately. The appointment was approved at today’s Board of Regents meeting.

Woodward has served as the special assistant to the president for external affairs since 2004. He worked with Emmert at Louisiana State University as director of external affairs in the Office of the Chancellor from 2000 to 2004. In that position, he acted as the liaison between the university and government and corporate officials and advised the chancellor on the implications of potential policy changes external to the university.

Reporting to Woodward will be units responsible for influencing public policy and opinion and strengthening the University’s reputation and perceptions people hold of it. These include the offices responsible for the University’s government relations activities at the federal, state, and local levels, the media relations and communications office, and a newly created marketing division.

“Scott Woodward has an exceptional background in government and public relations and brings a great deal of political savvy to this position,” said Emmert. “The offices for which he will be responsible are critical links to the University’s major sources of support, and it is important that they work collaboratively. This is what Scott does. It’s a real asset to have someone of his capabilities engaged in this work for the University.”

Woodward holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from LSU. In Louisiana, he served as a political consultant, a legislative liaison in the office of the governor, a lobbyist, and for eight years as a principal in his own government and public relations firm.