December 19, 2011

Wayne State appoints vice president for government and community affairs


Patrick O. Lindsey

Wayne State University has appointed Detroit native Patrick O. Lindsey as vice president for government and community affairs effective January 1, 2012.

Lindsey has more than 25 years' experience representing a major global corporation and a prominent nonprofit organization. He joins Wayne State from Detroit-based Focus: HOPE, where he was director of external relations and development. Focus: Hope is dedicated to finding solutions to problems of hunger, economic disparity, inadequate education and racial divisiveness.

Lindsey joined Focus: HOPE after a 20-year career with Chrysler, where he most recently was senior manager of state relations. In that role, he led state and local government relations initiatives including legislative lobbying, negotiation of economic incentives on corporate investments, and establishing and maintaining relationships with key public officials. He managed a government relations portfolio consisting of 10 states and the city of Detroit. He also served Chrysler as manager of community relations and in corporate and plant security operations.

"Patrick has a strong track record of cultivating and maintaining relationships with both legislators and the community," said WSU President Allan Gilmour. "I believe his experience will help the University advance its mission and engage with our neighbors."

Lindsey earned a B.A. in political science at the University of Michigan. He also attended the Senior Executives Program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, the Institute on Corporate Community Relations at Boston College and the Public Disputes Program at Harvard/Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"Wayne State has been an integral part of the rich history of the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan for more than 140 years," Lindsey said. "I love Detroit and I am excited about joining the University and playing a part in shaping lives and impacting the city. I look forward to working with President Gilmour and Wayne State's leadership team in taking the University to greater heights in valuable research and academic excellence."

Lindsey is pastor of Greater Bibleway Baptist Church. He lives in Detroit with his wife, Kathy, and children Kendall and Kaylyn.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.