Kenneth Lawrence Jr. has been selected as senior vice president for government, community and public affairs at Temple University.

Lawrence, who will report directly to President Ann Weaver Hart, will start on Sept. 1, 2008.

"Kenneth Lawrence will play a major role in shaping Temple's political relationships and civic presence," Hart said. "As an experienced public affairs professional, a lifelong Philadelphia area resident and a loyal Temple alumnus, he understands our mission and his connections run wide and deep."

As senior vice president at Temple, Lawrence will be responsible for strategic leadership in federal, commonwealth, city, community and neighborhood relations. He will be charged with strengthening the university's close ties with government and community leaders and overseeing Temple's legislative activities.

"I am pleased and proud to return to Temple," Lawrence said, “Temple is a great university in a great city. It plays a critical role in this region providing a superior education, creating a vibrant work force, serving its North Philadelphia neighbors and broader community, and providing healthcare.”

Lawrence, a registered lobbyist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is president of Public Affairs Strategies Inc. (PAS), a firm that provides comprehensive government, community, media and public relations consulting services. The clients of the firm, which Lawrence founded in Plymouth Meeting in 2003, include the American College of Physicians, Comcast, Easter Seals, the Goldenberg Group, Verizon, Merck & Co. Inc. and Trump Entertainment Resorts.

Prior to launching PAS, Lawrence worked as a manager of global product communications and as a public affairs associate at Merck, where he managed two national disease-awareness campaigns.

Before Merck, Lawrence worked at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce performing policy development and analysis, grassroots outreach, event management and lobbying on regional business issues. Lawrence also has served as a staffer in the offices of U.S. Reps. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky and Chaka Fattah and worked for Pennsylvania's Department of Education.

"Ken is a great addition to the team at Temple University," said Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “The experience, energy and enthusiasm that he brings to this new role will strengthen Temple’s links to the community and cement the special bond that exists between the university and the City of Philadelphia.”

Lawrence earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Temple and holds a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Fels School of Government.

Lawrence was profiled by Comcast during Black History Month in 2007. His other honors include the 40 Under 40 award from the Philadelphia Business Journal (2005) and a Big Brother of the Year award for North Central Philadelphia (1999). Lawrence was selected as an African American Making History Today by the Philadelphia Daily News (1997), a CBC intern by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (1996) and a James A. Finnegan Fellow by the Finnegan Foundation (1995).

Lawrence currently serves on the boards of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau and the James A. Finnegan Foundation. Among other volunteer roles, he is a past board member of the Young Professionals Network of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Community Advocacy Committee of the Sickle Cell Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Corporate Leadership Council of the Philadelphia Zoo, the Big Brother Big Sister Association of Philadelphia, the 21st Century Society of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the WYBE Community Advisory Board.

"Ken Lawrence is a perfect example of accomplished Temple alumni — people who are committed to Temple's mission of access and excellence, its unique diversity and its important role in the city, region and world," said Daniel H. Polett, chair of Temple's board of trustees.