Officials named University President Ellen Granberg’s senior vice president and chief of staff Tuesday.

Scott Mory, a GW alumnus who has handled large fundraising campaigns for Carnegie Mellon University as its vice president for university advancement since 2015, will assume the position July 1, according to a University release. The announcement comes eight months after the University’s former vice president, chief of staff and secretary Aristide Collins Jr. left in July after almost six years in the role.

The release states that Mory will lead the Office of the President and University-wide initiatives, promote and advise leaders on strategic priorities and improve transparency with community members on GW’s direction. Officials kicked off the formal development of the University’s next strategic plan by hosting forums with students, faculty and staff earlier this month to solicit feedback on GW’s future.

“GW has so much opportunity ahead of it,” Mory said in the release. “I’m looking forward to contributing alongside our engaged, generous, spirited community.”

Mory was the fifth highest-compensated official in his previous role at Carnegie Mellon in 2021, earning more than $900,000, according to the university’s Form 990.

Officials split the responsibilities of Collins’ previous role between Mory and Jonathan Post, the secretary of the University and vice president for board relations, who was promoted to his role in August. In his role at GW, Collins earned about $450,000 in 2021, the fifteenth-highest compensation that year.

Mory received a degree in political science and criminal justice from the University in 1996 and his law degree from GW Law in 1999. Mory returned to GW to work in alumni relations from 2003 to 2007 as the executive director of alumni programs and then assistant vice president for alumni relations and annual giving.

During that period, he used the GW Annual Fund to grow alumni programming and engagement opportunities, also serving as a volunteer on the Board of Trustees and GW Alumni Board of Directors, according to the release.

In 2022, Mory attributed a sharp decline in family donations to GW to a lack of in-person alumni and family events during the pandemic, as well as changes in University leadership.

“With decades of experience as a dynamic leader in higher education and a deep-rooted connection to GW, Scott brings a unique perspective to our institution and its future,” Granberg said in the release.

The release states that Mory taught a first-year course on legal research, writing and oral advocacy as an adjunct professor at GW Law. Mory also served as the associate senior vice president and campaign director at the University of Southern California from 2013 to 2015, and was the associate senior vice president and CEO of the USC Alumni Association from 2007 to 2013.

Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian said Mory led strategic initiatives and advancement programs during his time at the university.

“Those experiences will serve him well in his new role, and I know that President Granberg and the GW community will benefit from his leadership,” Jahanian said.