Blake Raulerson, who currently serves as associate vice president for government relations at the University of Georgia, has been selected as UGA’s next vice president for government relations, effective October 1, 2025.

Raulerson joined the University of Georgia as director of state government relations four years ago and was promoted to his current position in January 2024, in recognition of his outstanding performance. He has effectively built relationships and support for the University’s priorities, an ability that will prove essential as the institution strives to advance institutional priorities at the state and federal levels.

“As the second-ranking member of our government relations staff, Blake Raulerson is well positioned to assume the leadership role and excel,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “His decade of experience—the last four years of which have been spent representing the interests of the University of Georgia—uniquely qualifies him to be our next vice president. I am confident that his appointment will be well received by government leaders at the local, state and federal levels, and I look forward to working with him more closely on advancing major initiatives like our new School of Medicine and School of Nursing.”

Raulerson’s effectiveness is evidenced by the support garnered for UGA’s capital priorities from the Governor and General Assembly. These efforts include: $15.9 million in supplemental FY24 Major Repair and Renovation (MRR) funds for UGA’s B-units (Marine Institute, Marine Extension, and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences); FY24 amended budget funding of $4.7 million for equipment in Phase II of the Science and Ag Hill Modernization Project; and $2.3 million in the FY25 budget for design of Phase III of that project to renovate the University’s former Poultry Science Building. Raulerson’s role in securing $50 million in state matching funds to construct a medical education and research building in support of UGA’s new School of Medicine was pivotal to the success of that effort.

As vice president, Raulerson will be responsible for planning, directing and managing a coordinated strategy for UGA’s engagements with federal, state and local elected officials, key government officials and agencies, policymakers, and other external constituencies. He will oversee an office that includes three directors serving as UGA’s liaisons in these areas. Internally, he will assist UGA’s senior leadership team by developing and pursuing government and community relations priorities, as well as providing counsel on the impact of proposed legislation and government actions.

Over the last decade, Raulerson has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments. He began his career as a legislative aide to Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, then served for two years as a Savannah-based regional representative for U.S. Senator David Perdue. In 2017, he joined Georgia Farm Bureau in Macon as a governmental affairs specialist, advocating for agricultural issues on behalf of 300,000 members across all 159 counties of the state. In this role, he prepared and delivered testimony before legislative committees, traveled the state to meet with farmers and elected officials, and coordinated visits to the State Capitol and Washington, D.C. In 2020, Raulerson joined the staff of Governor Brian Kemp, tracking legislation and making recommendations on policy positions, and then working with legislators and lobbyists to advance those initiatives.

“It is an incredible honor to serve the University of Georgia as the next vice president for government relations,” said Raulerson. “I am deeply grateful to President Morehead for giving me this opportunity and humbled by the confidence he has shown in me. I look forward to continuing to work closely with lawmakers, community leaders, and University partners to advance policies that support UGA’s mission of academic excellence, research innovation, and community engagement.”

Raulerson succeeds Kevin Abernethy, who will return to private law practice after three years in the position at the end of September. Raulerson earned a degree in political science from UGA and currently serves on the alumni board of the School of Public and International Affairs. He also volunteers as a UGA mentor.