Charles A. Wolfe

BA '85 (Political Science), Pi Kappa Alpha

President and CEO, Victory Fund

Washington, D.C.

Chuck Wolfe has devoted his public service and political career to moving the nation forward on some of the biggest issues of the day. From electing gays and lesbians to preventing youth access to tobacco, Chuck's leadership has been critical to the success of these efforts. Currently Chuck is President and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute, which identifies, trains and supports openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates, campaign staff and public officials. The Victory Fund has grown fivefold during Wolfe's tenure and accomplished many firsts, including supporting a record 255 candidates in the 2012 cycle and seeing the first openly gay member elected to the U.S. Senate.

He has an extensive background in politics, issue advocacy, organizational development and marketing. He previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Legacy Foundation, and is credited for launching the award-winning "Truth" campaign to reduce youth tobacco use. He entered the public sector as an appointee to the late Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles and served the Governor for seven years in such capacities as director of the Florida Relief Center following Hurricane Andrew, director of external affairs, director of tobacco control, executive director of the Miami Financial Oversight Board, and operations manager of the Governor's re-election efforts in 1994. An Eagle Scout, he has a long history of leadership within the Boy Scouts of America, including a two-year term on the National Executive Board. For more than 10 years, he was active and outspoken in the effort to rid Scouting of its discriminatory policies toward gays and lesbians. He has served on the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors since 2008, and was appointed chair in 2011.