Matt Bishop serves as interim vice president for Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia, where he provides institutional leadership for UGA’s outreach, engagement and economic development mission, which includes eight diverse units: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Archway Partnership, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, the state’s 18 Small Business Development Centers, and the Office of Service-Learning (co-led with the Vice President for Instruction). The annual economic impact of Public Service and Outreach to the state of Georgia exceeds $505 million.
In his role as vice president, Bishop is responsible for training, technical assistance, continuing education, and applied research programs that develop leaders, create new and support existing small businesses, advise governments on how to be more efficient, protect the environment, revitalize downtowns, and bring economic development opportunities to communities throughout Georgia. In addition, Bishop works to connect UGA’s 19 schools and colleges with PSO’s extensive network of expertise in leadership, government, business, service and nonprofits throughout the state to enrich the teaching and research missions of UGA and to provide UGA students with real-world experiences.
Previously, Bishop served as associate vice president for Public Service and Outreach, 11 years as director of the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, and operations coordinator for the Archway Partnership, where he was instrumental in expanding Archway from three to eight communities. His UGA career also includes serving as faculty at the Fanning Institute and Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
Before joining UGA, Bishop served as associate director of the Governor’s Rural Development Council and as regional resource coordinator for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Bishop earned a B.A. in political science from Presbyterian College and an M.P.A and Ph.D. in public administration from the University of Georgia.