Steve Burgay, SVP for External Affairs, Announces Retirement
August 6, 2024
Dear Members of the Boston University Community,
I am writing to share the news that Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Stephen Burgay, has shared his plans to retire as of December 31, 2024. This announcement follows an outstanding career as one of the most respected communications leaders in higher education. Under Steve’s leadership, BU External Affairs has become a premiere, award-winning program.
When Steve came to Boston University in 2004, he understood the need to build the University’s external reputation as well as the campus’s internal community. He recruited and developed a highly talented team of professionals and gave them the mandate, authority, and resources to excel. And so, they did, creating award-winning storytelling through BU Today, The Brink, and Bostonia. In addition, he established a top-notch Marketing and Communications unit. Further, Steve anticipated the need for a robust and leading presence on both the web and social media and put people and resources in place to establish BU in those spaces. Together these entities bring strategic vision and discipline to the way the University represents its brand, tells its story, and reaches its many audiences.
Steve has played a critical role in Boston University’s local and national engagement strategy. He elevated the role of Government & Community Affairs and its effectiveness in the city, and created BU’s first office of Federal Relations, which itself has a best-in-class reputation. Through our engagement strategy, Boston University has become Boston’s University.
Steve has been a strategic leader. He ensured that from a communications perspective, BU was in a strong position to manage crises, from COVID to individual challenges.
Finally, Steve has provided University leaders including Aram Chobanian, Robert Brown, and Kenneth Freeman with sound advice as a chief communications officer and member of the senior leadership team. I count myself among the leaders who have had the privilege to collaborate with him and benefit from his creativity and sage advice.
Please join me in thanking Steve for his many years of service. In the coming weeks, we will start a national search for his replacement. I look forward to celebrating Steve and his many contributions.
Sincerely,
Melissa Gilliam
President
*8/6/24 This message was sent to faculty and staff.