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Brent Colburn
Senior Vice President for External Relations and Communications at the University of California
Brent Colburn is the Senior Vice President for External Relations and Communications at the University of California (UC). He assumed this role on August 30, 2021, after serving as the Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at Princeton University. His appointment was approved by the UC Board of Regents on June 23, 2021, marking a significant transition in his career as he moved to a system that serves over 280,000 students across its ten campuses and five medical centers.13
Background and Experience
Colburn has extensive experience in both public service and communications. Prior to joining UC, he held various senior roles in the Obama administration, including:
- Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs: He was the principal advisor for communication strategy and media relations at the Pentagon.
- Chief of Staff at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): He managed a large cabinet agency.
- Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): He worked on critical issues such as counterterrorism and disaster response.
- Director of External Affairs at FEMA: He oversaw multiple public affairs functions during significant national emergencies.14
Colburn also has a strong background in political communications, having served as the National Communications Director for President Obama's re-election campaign in 2012 and participating in several other presidential campaigns since 2000. His political experience includes roles with the Democratic National Committee and as communications director for Senator Debbie Stabenow.24
Education
Colburn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the College of William & Mary. He has also been recognized with awards such as the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service and William & Mary's Baxter-Ward Fellowship for Distinguished Government Department Alumni.23
Personal Life
Brent Colburn is married to Nichole Mayer, a professional chef. They relocated to the Bay Area for his position at UC.13