Mayor John Cooper today named Ginger Hausser as Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs, effective Monday, July 26, 2021.
Hausser will lead state and federal government relations, as well as support fellow senior advisor Mike Jameson in his work with Metro Council, in order to move the mayor’s policy priorities forward.
She brings nearly 30 years of community building experience to the mayor’s staff.
“As we create a Nashville that works for everyone, we need leaders who can build partnerships and solve problems,” Mayor Cooper said. “Ginger cares deeply about our community, and I’m confident she’ll use her talents to build a successful future for Nashville.”
Under Hausser’s current leadership at Nashville State Community College, the school improved college retention and graduation rates through the Nashville GRAD program. As Director of External and Legislative Affairs for the Tennessee Board of Regents (2011-2018), Hausser secured a $20 million state investment in job training programs at public colleges statewide.
And at Tennessee State University (2006-2012), the community and government partnerships Hausser created led to the Go Green North Nashville initiative, reading clinics at Metro Nashville Public Schools and the transformation of an Interstate 40 underpass into a public plaza.
“I am thrilled at this opportunity to build governmental partnerships to support Mayor Cooper’s vision of a Nashville that works for everyone,” Hausser said.
Hausser is immediate past chair of the Metro Nashville Industrial Development Board, having served as a member since 2011 to guide pivotal projects that include the redevelopment of Bellevue Mall and relocations and expansions by Amazon, Alliance Bernstein, Bridgestone, Oracle, Philips Healthcare, Smile Direct, Warner Music and UBS. She will resign her board membership prior to July 26.
Hausser served as a Metro Council member for District 18 from 1999 to 2007. She is a former board chair for New Level Community Development Corporation, an affordable housing nonprofit organization; a former board member for the economic development planning board of the Greater Nashville Regional Council and a former grants review committee member for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Hausser holds a master’s degree in public policy and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she served as a Patricia Roberts Fellow of Public Policy.
