Ohio State appoints new associate vice president for state relations

The Ohio State University Office of Government Affairs has announced that Tom Walsh, a veteran policy expert with extensive experience in higher education policy and over 25 years working around the Statehouse, will join the office as associate vice president for state relations.

Walsh joins the university after most recently serving as interim president of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, as well as vice president for government affairs, where he led the state advocacy and government relations efforts on behalf of the state’s 23 public two-year institutions. At OACC, Walsh worked closely with trustees, presidents, chief academic officers and other campus leaders to successfully coordinate and implement the statewide legislative and student success policy priorities of Ohio’s community colleges.

“I am excited to welcome Tom back to Ohio State to lead the state government affairs team. He brings exceptional and deep understanding of higher education policy in Ohio. Throughout his career, Tom has fostered strong relationships with state leaders, elected officials and their staff. He is a trusted public policy expert and a strong collaborator that is the perfect fit to advance Ohio State’s priorities at the Statehouse,” said Stacy Rastauskas, vice president for government affairs. “His leadership skills and policy experience will help support the university’s land-grant mission and commitment to academic excellence, access and affordability, and impactful research.”

Before joining OACC in 2015, Walsh spent five years at Ohio State, supporting the state relations efforts in the Office of Government Affairs with the president, provost and senior leaders in developing Ohio State’s public policy agenda.

“Being able to return to my alma mater is a special opportunity and I am excited to rejoin Ohio State’s talented government affairs team,” Walsh said. “I look forward to working with the campus leaders to successfully advance Ohio State’s priorities and elevate the university’s mission and impact with our partners at the Statehouse.”

Throughout his career, Walsh has built a strong bi-partisan reputation for his expertise in state budget, tax and higher education matters. He has worked as a legislative and policy adviser for former Senate President Bill Harris, as deputy finance director for the Senate Republican caucus, and as legislative director of the Ohio Department of Taxation under Gov. Ted Strickland. 

Walsh graduated from Ohio State in 1999 with a degree in political science and is the 2008 recipient of the Ohio State Alumni Association’s “Distinguished Alumni in Government” award.

Walsh begins working at the university on June 1, 2024.