President Julio Frenk announced Wednesday that his chief of staff, Rudy Fernandez, has been promoted to the position of executive vice president for external affairs and strategic initiatives, effective immediately.
Raena Wright, who has led the University’s advocacy efforts in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., also was promoted to vice president for government affairs and community relations.
Fernandez—who recently assumed responsibility for the Board of Trustees office, system-wide communications, including UHealth, and dotted-line oversight of the athletics department on behalf of the president—has served as senior vice president for public affairs and communications since June 2017.
As chief of staff, a role in which he will continue, Fernandez manages the Office of the President, as well as the Board of Trustees office, and works with the board and executive leaders across the enterprise in developing and implementing long-range strategies on behalf of the institution.
“Rudy has earned the trust, respect, and confidence of the Board of Trustees,” noted Laurie Silvers, chair of the board. “His love for this institution paired with his savvy and experience make him the ideal person to lead external affairs and strategic initiatives. Both in my capacity as chair, and as a double alum of the U, I appreciate his dedication to advocating for our mission.”
Frenk, who in his announcement referred to Fernandez’s role as “unique,” said his chief of staff has “performed in an extraordinary manner.” He credited Fernandez with creating the public affairs division “to better coordinate all communication and external relations efforts,” along with serving as the University’s chief legislative strategist.
“Rudy has demonstrated impeccable judgment and passion for our mission across every area of endeavor at the University,” said Frenk. “He has taken on these responsibilities with skill, enthusiasm, and a results-oriented mindset. We are fortunate to have him.”
Prior to joining the University in 2007 as vice president for government and community relations, Fernandez worked in Washington, D.C., for a decade and held several positions, including special assistant to the president in the George W. Bush White House, and roles in the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Bush-Cheney 2004 Campaign, and the Republican National Committee.
Fernandez holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and an MBA from the University of Miami. He is a member of Iron Arrow and the Orange Bowl Committee.
Wright, who has been with the University for seven years, has held roles as assistant vice president for government relations and associate vice president for state and federal government relations. Prior to joining the University, she held various positions in state government, including serving as legislative aide for two Florida state representatives, an analyst for Atty. Gen. Bill McCollum, and deputy legislative aide in the Florida Senate.
“As all of us who have worked with Raena know she is a strong and effective voice for the University’s interests with particular emphasis on public policy,” Frenk said in making the announcement. “As vice president, she will continue to report directly to Rudy, serving as the chief strategist in developing the University’s government affairs agenda, including but not limited to, education appropriations, medical school funding, community initiatives, and political matters, as well as advocating for other University priorities.”
Wright holds a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Applied American Politics and Policy degree from Florida State University.
Regarding the Board of Trustees office, the University announced last month the promotion of Frances Marine Davis to secretary of the board and associate vice president for strategic communication.
Davis, an attorney and native Miamian with nearly two decades of communications experience in the public and private sectors, including higher education, has been responsible for presidential communications since joining the University in 2019. In her new role, Davis reports jointly to the Board of Trustees and to Fernandez. She previously worked at Middle Georgia State University in Macon, Georgia, where she oversaw both presidential communications and legal affairs.
In Davis’ previous roles, she served as communications director at the Florida Department of Education and as a speechwriter for then-Governor Jeb Bush. She also held positions as Florida public affairs director for FEMA and as senior policy advisor for public affairs at the U.S. Department of State. A member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia, she earned a law degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a bachelor’s degree in social science from Florida State University.
