Matt Banfield

As chief of staff, Matt serves as a strategic partner and advisor to the executive vice president and provost, ensuring alignment of priorities across the university. He is responsible for various strategic, administrative, and programmatic functions for the Division of Academic Affairs, which spans five schools and multiple reporting units. Additionally, Matt develops and implements communications strategy for the Provost’s Office, including messaging to faculty, staff, and students on a host of topics.  

Prior to joining the University of Richmond, Matt served in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost at the University of Virginia (UVA), most recently as associate vice provost for academic affairs. In that capacity, Matt managed a statewide consortium of colleges and universities dedicated to improving efficiencies in higher education across the Commonwealth, led institutional academic policy development, directed the institution’s academic program agreement portfolio, and represented the University in several advisory capacities before the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Prior to joining UVA, Matt worked as a senior public affairs advisor in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C. office and served in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Matt holds an Ed.D. from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Virginia Tech.  

In addition to his professional commitments, Matt is a dedicated advocate for inclusive and accessible education in the Commonwealth; he served as the inaugural chair of the education and workforce committee of the gubernatorially-appointed Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and was a member of UVA’s Diversity Council. Additionally, Matt serves on the board of the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center and has served in several alumni board capacities for Virginia Tech. Matt is a 2018 graduate of the Sorensen Institute's Political Leaders Program.