Chris Bonnell serves as the Vice President of External Relations for Western Governors University. Chris has decades of experience in higher education external relations with a focus on state and local legislative affairs. Chris is an established public policy leader in the fields of competency-based education and psychology, with a focus on issues of mental health and providing solutions/services. He is also passionate about philanthropic leadership and work that ensures the needs of the community are met in a thoughtful, solution-based manner. Chris holds a law degree from Hamline University School of Law and is a graduate of Concordia College. In his personal life, Chris is passionate about hockey and a board member of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation, an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s ice hockey player.
WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Our Team
Our teams are leading education and workforce innovation across the country and breaking barriers by creating pathways to opportunity for all learners.
Meet Our Teams
Chris Bonnell
Vice President of External Relations
External Affairs
WGU External Affairs wants to help your state achieve its education and workforce goals.
Our team will work with you to establish a partnership that not only resonates with the students we are currently serving in your state, but provide additional opportunities for those who are not yet aware of WGU or the quality of education that we provide.
External Affairs
- Director
- Team
Paul Mero
Director of External Affairs
Public Policy
WGU Public Policy advocates for the transformational changes needed to build an education system that works for everyone.
Our team is responsible for creating the WGU State Policy Playbook. With policy recommendations and real-life examples from fellow states, the Policy Playbook serves as a guide to help state leaders better understand and serve their working learners.
The second edition of the State Policy Playbook was published in 2022 with an emphasis on breaking down barriers to higher education and building on-ramps to work. It outlines specific, actionable policies that states can enact to transform higher education into a system that offers quality, customized learning experiences of all.
Public Policy
- Director
- Policy Advisors
- Community Relations Liaisons
Rosie Marie O'Connor
Director of Public Policy
Janie Harris
Public Policy Advisor
Margaret Hsiao
Public Policy Advisor
Emily Peterson
Public Policy Advisor
Amanda Hildebrandt
Senior Community Relations Liaison
Adam Torres
Senior Community Relations Liaison
Government Relations
We’re on a mission to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity
To quantify the impact WGU has had in our first 25 years, we commissioned Gallup to study the economic effects of a WGU degree. The data proves what we already know: that our online, competency-based, student-centric approach to learning works.
We’ve awarded more than 300,000 degrees in high‑demand fields. Our alumni complete their degrees quickly, with little debt and high salaries–allowing them to contribute to their local economies and provide a higher quality of life for their families. See for yourself.
Find your state government relations director below and start the conversation about where WGU can make a difference in your state.
Government Relations
- Directors
- Managers
Patrick Baker
Director of Government Relations
Allen Clarkson
Director of Government Relations
Dr. Rarkimm Fields
Director of Government Relations
Lyn Harry White
Director of Government Relations
Emma Salomon
Director of Government Relations
Mindy Barham
Government Relations Manager
Brentni Henderson Langdon
Government Relations Manager
Emily Riner
Government Relations Manager
Download the Complete WGU Policy Playbook
WGU's Policy Priorities
We believe that higher education should be: