Mr. James O’Brien is responsible for implementing complicated strategic and tactical objectives of the Office of the President. For more than twenty years, he has worked as Chief of Staff to President Michael M. Crow to identify, facilitate, and coordinate opportunities and initiatives which involve multiple units within and affiliated with the institution. As Senior Vice President of University Affairs, Mr. O’Brien leads the strategic integration of external facing units including Media Relations and Strategic Communications, Government and Community Engagement, Brand Strategy and Management, and Cultural Affairs.
Mr. O’Brien is an attorney who previously worked as corporate counsel to several publicly traded companies as well as in private practice. He has also worked in public affairs at the state and federal levels. Mr. O’Brien received a B.A. from Iowa State University and a J.D. from Drake University. He has served as a member of the board of directors for ASU Enterprise Partners, ASU Foundation for a New American University, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Cintana Education and Teotihuacán Holdings.