Public U Leaders: William Thro

Your Name: William Thro
Your Title: General Counsel
Your Institution: University of Kentucky
Year You Started Your Current Role: 2012

What’s the most exciting work your APLU Council or Commission is currently undertaking? As we are a brand new Council, the Council on Legal Affairs needs to explore how we can be most helpful to APLU and to the other Councils.

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing individuals in your role on campus? Addressing sometimes rapid and substantial swings in public policy at various levels of government.

What are the most important and valuable partnerships on campus for individuals in your role? President/Chancellor, Government Affairs, Public Relations, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs

What makes your university great? Our commitment to improving Kentucky in everything that we do.

What experience best prepared your current role? Being Solicitor General of Virginia and being in-house counsel at a public liberal arts university.

If you could go back and give yourself advice on the first day of your job, what would you say? Focus on the forest and delegate the trees to your staff.

What is your favorite way to spend your free time? Going on cruises.

What is the best book you’ve read recently? Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage

If you could travel to one place you’ve never visited, where would it be and why? Israel. I want to see where Jesus did his ministry.