UC alumna appointed senior vice president of External Relations and Communications
University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., has selected Meredith Vivian Turner to be the senior vice president of External Relations and Communications at the UC Office of the President. The appointment was approved today (November 14, 2024) by the UC Board of Regents and is effective immediately.
Turner has served in the role on an interim basis since May. She succeeded Michael Reese, whose own interim appointment as senior vice president concluded on June 30.
An experienced government relations and communications leader, Turner was selected after a competitive, months-long national recruitment process. She brings a deep understanding of the public higher education landscape and extensive ties to the University of California. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz and former president of its alumni board, Turner has served in multiple roles at the UC Office of the President since 2016. She previously spent her career advocating for public higher education in California and empowering student voices through roles at the California State University (CSU) system and the California State Senate.
“I am pleased to appoint Meredith — a UC-grown talent — as our SVP for External Relations and Communications. Over the last several months, she has proven to be an effective UC advocate and leader for a team responsible for some of our highest priorities at the Office of the President. Her experience, expertise, and the strong relationships she has built within and outside our institution will benefit the University of California for years to come.”
Turner’s portfolio will include all University-wide internal and external communications and outreach, state and federal governmental relations, advancement and alumni relations in support of UC’s tripartite mission of education, research and public service. Her previous work in UC’s Office of State Governmental Relations enhanced the university’s relationships with state policymakers and transformed the university’s advocacy programs.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the University of California in such an impactful role,” said Turner. “As a UC graduate myself and a longtime University employee, I know first-hand the transformative power of a UC education. I look forward to working with a talented team and so many UC advocates on elevating the University’s positive impact on California communities.”
Prior to her time at UC, Turner held several roles with the Cal State Student Association at the CSU Chancellor’s Office, elevating its state and federal governmental relations function into a dynamic, high-touch advocacy model. Turner also served as communications manager for then-State Senator Lou Correa and has worked and volunteered on several local, state and national campaigns.
Turner previously volunteered on the UC Santa Cruz Alumni Board, holding leadership positions as vice president of Administration, president, and immediate past president. She also served as an ex-officio Trustee on the UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board from 2020–2022.
Turner is the recipient of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) Edwin Crawford Award for Innovation, as well as several CASE awards for her advocacy work at UC and CSU. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Santa Cruz and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California.
Turner’s base annual salary will be $378,500. UC’s top executives comprise less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all employees. Their combined earnings equate to less than one-half of 1 percent of UC’s systemwide gross compensation. More details on Turner’s appointment may be found in the Regents item.
Turner lives in Sacramento with her husband Brian, a fellow UC Santa Cruz alumnus, and their six-year-old son, Liam.