Pardon Our Dust
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McGuireWoods Consulting has named Senior Vice President Laura Novey as the head of the firm’s wide-ranging national education team.
Prior to joining the firm in 2017, Novey served in leadership roles at both Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia and as Virginia’s Secretary of Education, where she led the development and implementation of the Governor’s education priorities and provided guidance to the 16 public universities, the Virginia Community College System, the Department of Education and the state-supported museums, library, and Arts Commission.
MWC’s education team assists clients with policy and legislative matters, advising on a variety of issues, including relationship development, issue advocacy, communications strategy, coalition building, design and implementation of appropriations requests and legislative initiatives, analysis and government relations support. The firm’s education clients include Fortune 500 companies, school districts, state education associations, state and private universities, edtech startups, national charter school networks, private specialty schools and state and national nonprofits, both large and small. Notably, in addition to Novey, MWC boasts two other former Virginia Secretaries of Education as members of its team, Jim Dyke and Fran Bradford.
“MWC consultants have worked at the highest levels of government and educational institutions to craft the nation’s educational policies,” said Chairman Mark Bowles. “From early learning to higher education and workforce development, in both the public and private sector, MWC team members have a long history assisting clients in this rapidly evolving sector. We are happy to have Laura take over the leadership of this important team.”
Novey noted: “With a team of consultants that includes former governors, members of the legislature, state secretaries of education, university executives, Congressional staffers, general counsel to charter schools and other nonprofits, and a former teacher, MWC has established a market-leading practice that has helped educational institutions throughout the country. I am honored to be able to work with a talented team of professionals and help leverage their expertise to support our clients goals.”
Former South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges added: “MWC has been fortunate to represent clients from every facet of education and at every level of government, ranging from the most elite universities in the country to local charter school initiatives. This is no accident – from the very start of the firm, MWC has helped shape education policy by assembling an extraordinary team of talented individuals who have national reputations and bring incredible depth and breadth to this practice group. Laura is a true authority in the field, and we are excited to have her lead this team into the future.”
This team will work collaboratively with McGuireWoods’s education industry team led by Farnaz Thompson to identify opportunities to support a wide range of client needs.
