Lisa M. Ghidotti named Radford University Director of State Government Relations
Radford University announced today that Lisa M. Ghidotti has been selected to serve as director of state government relations, effective March 1, 2017. Based in Richmond, Ghidotti will be responsible for building, maintaining and actively facilitating government relations strategies to advance the priorities of Radford University.
Ghidotti comes to the university from the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV), where she spent over six years as the director of government relations and member services. In that position, she represented and advocated CICV’s position on issues and legislation impacting higher education and heightened the awareness of the contributions of Virginia’s private colleges to the Commonwealth. Prior to CICV, Ghidotti worked for over six years at Virginia Commonwealth University where she gained extensive experience working with state legislators along with legislative issues and policies relating to public higher education.
“I am excited about the potential of this position and the role that Lisa will play in moving our university forward,” said Dr. Brian O. Hemphill, president of Radford University. “I want to welcome Lisa to the Radford family. She will be serving as an integral team member as we develop and implement our new strategic plan and as we transform Radford University into an innovative, premier university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond with a keen focus on teaching, research and service.”
“I am honored and thrilled to be part of the Radford family, and I look forward to working for President Hemphill and with his extraordinary team,” said Ghidotti. “Radford University plays an important and vital role in Virginia higher education, and brings tremendous value to the Commonwealth. My experience in higher education government relations has shown me the crucial role government relations plays in advancing institutional priorities and creating opportunities to engage students, faculty and staff in the legislative process. I look forward to spending time on campus and meeting with fellow Highlanders.”
Ghidotti received a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science and minors in political science and women’s studies from James Madison University and a master’s degree in recreation, parks and sport leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.