WGU Appoints Windrum as Government Relations Director for Northeast Region

Public affairs veteran to develop regional outreach efforts for university

JERSEY CITY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Online, nonprofit, accredited Western Governors University (WGU) has appointed Matthew Windrum to serve as government relations director, northeast region. Windrum has more than 15 years of experience in government relations and public policy and will develop relationships with elected officials, policymakers, and leaders of state agencies from Maine to Virginia.

WGU’s government relations team supports the university’s core mission to expand access to career-relevant post-secondary educational opportunities, especially to historically underrepresented populations, including working adults, low-income earners, rural residents, students of color, military personnel, and first-generation college students.

Prior to joining WGU, Windrum was director of government and community affairs at New York City-based nonprofit The Doe Fund, which designs, develops, and manages affordable housing across the city and runs a work training program for homeless and formerly incarcerated men. He was previously head of the political and economic affairs team at the British Consulate General, where he worked to promote and defend the United Kingdom’s economic, foreign policy, and national security priorities across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

“Matthew’s passion for improving lives by building relationships and trust makes him a valuable addition to our team,” said Rebecca Watts, Ph.D., regional vice president of the northeast region. “As a representative of WGU’s student focus and commitment to integrity, Matthew will make a positive difference in helping us to increase student access, improve affordability, and enhance the student experience in the Northeast.”

Windrum has an M.A. in international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in political science and Spanish from Lafayette College. He is a volunteer advocate for the Epilepsy Foundation, working to raise awareness and understanding of epilepsy and seizures. He and his wife, Susan, live in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., with their two children.

WGU offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the in-demand career fields of business, K–12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions. For more information about WGU, visit wgu.edu.

About WGU

Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 133,000 students nationwide and has more than 222,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 24 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu.