Fortune named associate vice chancellor for public affairs

Fortune

Beth Fortune, press secretary to Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist and an award-winning political reporter, has been appointed associate vice chancellor for public affairs at Vanderbilt University, Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Michael J. Schoenfeld announced July 28.

Fortune will serve as the principal deputy to Schoenfeld in the new division, which has responsibility for coordinating overall communications, marketing and public policy initiatives across the institution. She will join Vanderbilt Sept. 11.

"Beth Fortune is a remarkably talented executive," said Schoenfeld. "Her experience at the intersection of politics, journalism and public policy will be valuable as Vanderbilt moves to a new level of local, regional and international prominence. I'm one of many who have admired her skill under pressure, and I am delighted to welcome her to our team."

"I am excited to join the Vanderbilt University team and look forward to working with the dynamic leadership and incredible talent that has been assembled as the University moves into a new era," Fortune said.

Fortune, a member of the Governor's Cabinet and the first female press secretary in Tennessee history, serves as the primary spokesman for the Sundquist administration. She oversees the governor's press office and supervises public information activities for 22 state government departments. Earlier this year, both the Nashville Scene and Business Nashville singled her out as among the most effective and respected public affairs professionals in the city.

Before joining the governor's staff, Fortune served as Sundquist's campaign press secretary in his successful 1994 run for office. She previously worked as a principal in the Fulton Group, a Nashville lobbying and public affairs firm, and as manager of public affairs for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.

From 1985 to 1992, Fortune was a political reporter for the now-defunct Nashville Banner, where she covered state and metro government and won numerous awards for her reporting, including national recognition for a series on women in politics. She also served as part-time Washington correspondent for the daily paper.

A 1985 graduate of Anderson College, Fortune earned an M.A. in journalism and public affairs from The American University. She serves on the board of WIN (Women in the Nineties), and is a former board member of the Nashville Women's Political Caucus and the Community Resource Center.

The Division of Public Affairs is part of Chancellor E. Gordon Gee's administrative reorganization that takes effect July 31. It encompasses a broad range of activities, including internal and external communications; media relations; community and neighborhood relations; the Vanderbilt Register and the University Web site; federal, state and local government relations; the Washington, D.C. office; publications, design and photography; the Television News Archive; trademark licensing and online services.