UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Zack Moore, assistant vice president for governmental affairs at Penn State, has been named the University’s new vice president for Government and Community Relations, effective Sept. 16, following a vote by the Penn State Board of Trustees.
Moore succeeds Mike DiRaimo, who stepped down Sept. 15 after leading Penn State’s lobbying efforts since January 2012. DiRaimo will remain at the University through the end of the year in an advisory role on special projects.
As vice president, Moore will oversee all interactions and communications between Penn State and federal, state and local government officials and agencies, in support of the University’s interests and mission. The Government and Community Relations office represents the University at all levels of government, and develops Penn State’s legislative strategy and policy positions. The office also monitors and analyzes all legislative proposals related to Penn State’s students, faculty, staff or research interests, and advises University administration on their impact.
Moore will report directly to Penn State President Eric J. Barron and will be part of the president’s cabinet of advisers, President’s Council.
“I am extremely pleased that Zack will be our chief advocate in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., moving forward, as there is no better champion for Penn State,” said Barron. “His thorough understanding of the University’s needs and interests will allow him to hit the ground running, and his keen insight into government and the legislative process, as well as the relationships he has built over many years, will serve Penn State well in the years ahead.”
Moore brings more than two decades of legislative, policy development, and lobbying experience to his role as vice president. Since returning to Penn State as director of federal relations in 2007 after a successful career in Washington, D.C., Moore has been a passionate advocate for the value that Penn State provides to the people of Pennsylvania as the Commonwealth's land-grant university.
“I am honored to accept the position of vice president for Government and Community Relations for Penn State,” said Moore. “As an alumnus of this great institution, I couldn’t be more proud to represent my alma mater before the federal, state and local governments. I am truly passionate about the value that Penn State brings to our community, to our state, and our nation, and I appreciate the trust that President Barron and the board have placed in me.”
In his role as assistant vice president, Moore was the University’s primary point of contact on state relations and guided Penn State's federal relations efforts. He has also served as a member of the Steering Committee of the Association of American Universities' Council on Federal Relations.
Before joining Penn State, Moore served as legislative director for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. As senior legislative adviser, Moore was responsible for the development and implementation of Santorum’s legislative agenda and supervised 20 legislative staffers. Moore also worked as Santorum’s director of special projects, a role where he was primarily focused on securing federal funding for Pennsylvania. In addition, he advised the senator on transportation and economic development policy.
Moore began his career on Capitol Hill working for members of the U.S. House of Representatives — first as a staff assistant to Rep. George Gekas, then as the legislative director to Rep. Charles Canady. Moore also founded a successful government consulting practice in which he represented corporations, universities, public authorities, and other entities before the federal government.
A native of Highspire, Pennsylvania, Moore earned a bachelor of arts degree in international politics from Penn State in 1994.