Matthew A. Conrad

Vice President for Government and External Relations
Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System

As a member of the senior leadership team at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Matthew serves as strategic lead and primary representative to the executive and legislative branches of local, state, and federal governments. He also serves as VCU’s external representative and facilitator for initiatives related to economic development, regional collaboration, and strategic initiatives that require broad participation by the university and health system.

Matthew began his career in public service at the Virginia Office of the Attorney General where he served as Assistant Attorney General and was later promoted to lead attorney for legislation and agency advice. He was appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

In 2008, Conrad became founding director of the Virginia Wine Council, a business membership organization representing wineries and vineyards on the state and local levels. His work on legislative and economic development issues relating to Virginia’s growing wine industry and its role within the state’s largest industry, agriculture, led to his appointment as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry under Governor Bob McDonnell in 2010.

Prior to joining VCU, he served as the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Deputy Counselor, assisting the Governor and Chief of Staff through the planning, administration, and management of state government, consisting of over 200 state agencies, boards, and commissions; the development of the Commonwealth’s biennial budget; as well provision of legal counsel.