UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Zack Moore, Penn State vice president for Government and Community Relations, has announced he will step down from his current role, effective Feb. 2, following a 17-year career at the University.
Starting Feb. 3, Mike Stefan, assistant vice president for state relations, will assume the role of vice president for Government and Community Relations, with Moore serving as a special adviser to Stefan through June 30.
“Zack has been a passionate advocate for Penn State, helping to communicate the University’s needs and priorities to elected officials while also showcasing Penn State’s immense impact and value to the commonwealth and nation,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “Zack has always represented Penn State with integrity and a genuine love for the University and its mission. I want to thank Zack for his many years of dedicated service to the University. His experience, perspective and wise counsel will be missed.”
Moore has led the Office of Government and Community Relations as vice president since September 2016, serving as the University’s chief lobbyist in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. In this capacity, Moore and his team oversee all interactions and communications between Penn State and government officials and agencies at the federal, state and local levels; develop Penn State’s legislative strategy and policy positions; monitor all legislative developments; and provide analysis and counsel to University leadership on proposals that have the potential to impact Penn State and its students, faculty and staff.
“Representing Penn State has been a source of immense pride and professional fulfillment for me. I have deep respect for the talent and dedication of the colleagues I've had the privilege to work alongside at this great university and am confident about the future,” Moore said. “It's been a journey that I could have never anticipated, one that allowed me to lead the Office of Government and Community Relations for seven years and to represent my alma mater for 17 years. I am truly appreciative of the opportunities I've had at Penn State, and I will forever cherish the relationships I've built in this role. I will always be Penn State Proud, and I hope to carry the valuable experiences and lessons learned here with me into the next chapter of my career.”
Moore has fought tirelessly for Penn State during multiple state budget impasses to secure the University’s annual funding from the commonwealth — vital dollars that allow Penn State to offer an in-state tuition discount that benefits more than 40,000 Pennsylvania-resident students and their families every year. Moore also played a critical role in securing passage of Act 105 of 2019, enabling Penn State to refinance its pension unfunded liability, resulting in projected savings of $530 million over 30 years; secured passage and amendment of Pennsylvania’s Name, Image, Likeness law; and successfully lobbied for $2.35 million in state line-item funding for the University’s Invent Penn State initiative.
Additionally, Moore rebranded and relaunched Penn State’s broad-based advocacy platform, Advocate Penn State, resulting in an effective, coordinated advocacy network numbering more than 30,000 supporters. He also created and co-chaired the Town-Gown COVID Task Force with government, community and business leaders to identify and align pandemic response priorities, ensuring strategic collaboration between the University and key economic and community stakeholders.
Moore has prioritized Penn State students throughout his tenure, meeting with student leaders and frequently speaking to classes and student groups. As examples of his commitment to student engagement and success, Moore created an undergraduate internship in the Office of Government and Community Relations and founded a University-affiliated student organization, Lion Caucus, to engage Penn State students in legislative advocacy.
An active member of the higher education community, Moore has served on the steering committee of the Association of American Universities’ Council on Federal Relations and been named to the boards of Pennsylvania College of Technology, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, and Centre Volunteers in Medicine.
Prior to being named vice president, Moore returned to his alma mater in 2007 as director of federal relations, following a successful career in Washington, D.C. In 2012, Moore was promoted to assistant vice president, where he served as the University’s primary point of contact on state relations and guided Penn State’s federal relations efforts.
Before returning to Penn State, Moore worked for three members of Congress and 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.