EdD, 2023 Annalee Ashley serves as Chief of Staff to the President and Associate Vice President for External Affairs at Georgia Southern University. As Chief of Staff, Ashley helps lead critical strategic and operational initiatives and provides counsel to the President and broader executive leadership team. In addition, she functions as the President’s liaison in helping drive key decisions, managing resources in alignment with strategic priorities, and resolving matters of institutional importance. Under Ashley’s leadership, the Office of External Affairs at Georgia Southern University works to advance the goals of the university by fostering connections between the institution and surrounding communities; building and maintaining relationships the federal, state, and local levels; and advising and educating faculty, staff and students on governmental policies and procedures, legislation, and diplomatic protocol. Prior to her current role, Ashley served as Director of Strategic Communications for the University of West Georgia, where she led institutional internal and external communication strategies, crisis communication protocols, and public and media relations activities. She previously held the position of Director of Government Affairs for Georgia Southern University. Prior to her work in higher education, Ashley served in various roles on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for the Secretary of the U.S. Senate, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and as a legislative intern for U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. Ashley is a “Double Eagle” graduate of Georgia Southern University with a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the Parker College of Business.
