Ryan Piurek is assistant vice president for strategic communications in the IU Office of the Vice President for Government Relations and Economic Engagement, where he oversees strategic communications initiatives to raise awareness of IU’s expertise and resources in the areas of economic development, entrepreneurship, innovation and tech transfer, civic and political engagement, and research that addresses important regional needs and opportunities.

Piurek also is the director of the Office of the University Chancellor at Indiana University, working with IU’s university chancellor and president emeritus to define and execute a vision for the office and overseeing all research and academic activities, communications and public relations initiatives, and special projects and initiatives.

An alumnus of IU’s Media School, Piurek has served IU for nearly two decades in a variety of communications roles, including as chief communications officer for IU’s president. As a longtime member of IU’s senior communications leadership, he has led the development and execution of a broad range of strategic communications and public relations activities in support of IU’s president, academic programs, university initiatives and institutional priorities, while also serving as a liaison with important constituents both within and outside IU’s academic community.

Piurek is a native of Connecticut who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from the University of Connecticut. He lives in Bloomington with his wife, Jennifer, and two children, Xander and Veronica.