Dr. Jennifer Frum

Dr. Jennifer Frum
Vice President, Public Service and Outreach
University of Georgia

Jennifer Frum became UGA’s fourth Vice President for Public Service and Outreach in 2012, and the first woman to serve in the role. She provides institutional leadership for UGA’s outreach and engagement and economic development efforts across Georgia, which includes eight diverse Public Service and Outreach units: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, Georgia Center for Continuing Education and Hotel, Archway Partnership, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Marine Extension Service/Georgia Sea Grant, Small Business Development Centers (17), and the Office of Service Learning (co-managed with Vice President for Instruction). Frum also provides leadership (with the Vice President for Research) for UGA’s economic development programming, including the university’s economic development office in Atlanta.

Frum is responsible for training, technical assistance, continuing education, and applied research programs that create new small businesses, make government more efficient, provide students with real-world experiences, bring economic development opportunities to Georgia, protect the environment, revitalize downtowns and has a $700 million annual economic impact on Georgia.

Frum has strengthened Public Service and Outreach’s (PSO) economic development partnerships across the state and implemented three strategic priorities for the University’s outreach programs: helping create jobs and prosperity, developing the state’s leaders, and addressing critical state issues.

Frum joined UGA in 1995 as a research professional in the Office of International Development. She joined UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government in September 2006. She served as deputy director and interim director of the Vinson Institute and interim Vice President for Public Service and Outreach from July 1, 2011, to January 31, 2012.

Prior to her time at UGA, she worked in Washington for U.S. Representative Bob Wise. Frum serves on the boards of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, the Athens Area Community Foundation, and Georgia Women of Achievement. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, an M.A. from George Washington University, and a B.A. from West Virginia University. She was named one of Georgia Trend’s 2012 “Power Women” in Georgia, was among Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2016 and 2017.