‘Inside UVA’: Senior Operations and State Government Relations VP Is Latest Guest

December 15, 2021 By Jane Kelly, jak4g@virginia.edu Jane Kelly, jak4g@virginia.edu

Audio: Inside UVA With Thomas Jefferson Awardee Colette Sheehy(18:04)

Transcript

University of Virginia President Jim Ryan welcomed Colette Sheehy, his senior vice president for operations and state government relations, to “Inside UVA,” his podcast on the inner workings of the University.

Sheehy said her portfolio “revolves around the physical aspects of the University, the buildings, the Grounds, the real estate, whether that’s leases or properties that we own.”

In addition, Sheehy’s team runs business operations. She explained that applies to units at UVA that are not supported by the state and therefore operate more like traditional businesses. That includes things like the University Bookstore, Housing, and Parking and Transportation.

Related Story

Colette Sheehy headshot

Colette Sheehy is President Jim Ryan’s senior vice president for operations and state government relations. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)

When it comes to working with the state, Sheehy has liaisons with both the governor’s administration and legislators.

“Principally, we are there to advocate and educate for the University and our priorities,” she said. “On the budget side, it’s trying to get more resources from the state, both for the operating budget and for capital projects that we might want to construct. And once you get over into the legislative session, which starts in January, it’s a couple of things; supporting legislation that would be helpful to the institution, but also helping to make sure that nothing gets passed that would be harmful to the institution” or more broadly, to higher education in Virginia.

You can tune in the hear more of Ryan’s conversation with Sheehy on “Inside UVA,” which is available on most podcast apps, including Apple PodcastsSpotify and YouTube Music.

Media Contact

Jane Kelly

University News Senior Associate Office of University Communications