Tulane alumna Kerry Stockwell to lead Office of Government and Community Relations

Kerry Walsh Stockwell’s Tulane story has come full circle. A 2005 Newcomb College graduate who went on to spend more than a decade in state and federal politics, Stockwell has been named Tulane’s vice president of government and community relations after a national search.

With more than 20 years of experience in government service, public affairs and higher education, Stockwell brings both deep expertise and a passion for connecting Tulane to the wider community. Since returning to her alma mater in 2016, she has worked in the President’s Office for several years, before she transitioned to the University Communications and Marketing team, where she most recently served as associate vice president for campus engagement and executive communications.

Her appointment comes as Tulane prepares for the second annual Future of Energy Forum on Sept. 10–12, an event Stockwell helped launch and continues to shape as a national conversation on the energy transition.

“It’s an honor to serve a place that has shaped so much of my life and career,” Stockwell said. “Universities occupy a unique role in society as hubs of discovery, dialogue and problem-solving. What sets Tulane apart is how we connect world-class research and innovation with the needs of our city and state — and how we do so with a spirit of creativity and collaboration that few other universities attempt or achieve.”

The Office of Government and Community Relations strengthens Tulane’s mission by forging relationships with policymakers and community leaders, supporting advocacy at every level and ensuring Tulane is seen as a national leader among universities that have a global reach.

Earlier this year, that partnership was recognized at the Louisiana State Capitol, where lawmakers passed a resolution citing Tulane’s $5.2 billion annual economic impact and its efforts to attract and retain the best and brightest students in Louisiana. The resolution also celebrated Tulane’s downtown expansion, including the transformation of the former Charity Hospital building and the repurposing of Tulane Medical Center into the Downtown Campus Center — projects helping to transform downtown into an engine of innovation and growth for both the city and the state.

Under Stockwell’s leadership, the office will continue its long history of fostering strong community ties and supporting progress in areas such as infrastructure, housing and neighborhood development.

“This office is a front porch to the university, where we work to build relationships rooted in trust and a shared commitment to the future,” she said. “We want our neighbors uptown, downtown and on the North Shore to know this is a place where their voices matter.”

Her own path reflects that commitment. As a Tulane senior, Stockwell worked on a statewide campaign that took her to all 64 parishes, cementing her appreciation for the people and culture of Louisiana. She also spent a semester at American University as part of the Washington Semester program. That foundation shaped her path to Washington, D.C., where she learned the inner workings of the U.S. Senate, gained perspective on policy at a bipartisan public affairs firm, and later served in the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives supporting high-level legislative and diplomatic engagement.  

When she returned to Tulane in 2016, she brought that perspective home, working alongside President Michael A. Fitts on major initiatives and steadily expanding her role to encompass strategy, communications and engagement, connecting the president’s vision with the broader Tulane community. Today, Stockwell is poised to deepen Tulane’s role as both a neighbor and a national leader.