Ohio University President Roderick McDavis ended a six-month-long search yesterday and announced Teri Geiger as his first round draft choice as the university's first full-time director of government relations.
This is a very important position in moving the university forward
McDavis said. This new position combines activities previously undertaken by several individuals. It combines duties in a way that is designed to be more efficient and effective.
Geiger said her first priority would be talking with the university administration and faculty to establish a plan.
In the beginning it's about setting an agenda to determine just exactly what we need Geiger said, adding that the state budget was just signed by Gov. Bob Taft earlier this summer. So
we have some time to plan.
Since 1987, Geiger -no relation to Alan Geiger, assistant to the president and secretary of the Board of Trustees -has worked for the Ohio Senate Majority Caucus, and since 1996, he has worked as that group's chief of staff and adviser to the Senate president. She graduated from OU with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1986.
In that position, Geiger made $109,803 a year. As OU's new lobbyist, she will earn $130,000 per year.
OU never has had a full-time lobbyist, Alan Geiger said. He had worked on the state and federal levels as part of the university's piecemeal lobbying effort since 1984. He said the university has not had a strong federal presence since it lobbied to have the Hocking River rerouted in the 1970s.
We need a presence there to get earmarks
he said.
McDavis said the upcoming academic year would be one of transition. At the end of the year, Teri's going to have a very good sense of what's needed
and my guess is that we may diminish the use of those under contract right now
he said.
Currently, OU pays $28,000 yearly to the Columbus-based State Street Consultants firm to lobby the state legislature on its behalf.
The university signed a two-year contract with a new lobbying firm -Patton Boggs -for federal issues in May. The terms of the contract stipulate that in return for a monthly retainer fee of $12,500 plus expenses, the lobbying firm will increase the money OU gets from the federal level by $5 million the first year and another $10 million the second year.
And the OU College of Osteopathic Medicine retains its own lobbyist, George Dunnigan, who earns $106,362 annually. OU-COM pays half -$53,181 -and the Ohio Osteopathic Association pays the other half.
Geiger will serve as a liaison between the university and the state legislature, governor's office, Congress and other government agencies, said Jack Bantle, vice president for research. He chaired the search committee responsible for finding Geiger, and his office will work closely with her to secure more money for research.
McDavis said Geiger officially would start sometime in late September.
Geiger said she will maintain her residence in Columbus and commute to Athens when necessary.
17
Archives
Chuck Bowen
