Michael Cavaliere has been named Georgia College & State University’s new assistant vice president of University Communications and chief communications officer, effective Oct. 1.

Cavaliere joins Georgia College with 15 years of experience in communications—10 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he currently serves as executive director of News and Media Relations.

“Mike comes to us with more than a decade of higher education communications experience— plus news, journalism and creative writing experience, all of which will impact our ability to tell the impressive stories of Georgia College in a more comprehensive and positive way,” said GCSU President Cathy Cox.

“He also brings a positive, thoughtful and can-do persona that will be a great fit for our campus,” Cox said. “We are all looking forward to his leadership.” 

Raised in Flagler County, Florida, Cavaliere got his Bachelor of Arts in English/creative nonfiction at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He worked at Ocean Publishing in Flagler Beach as proofreader and editor, before joining the Observer Media Group in Palm Coast, Florida, where he wrote and edited for their Palm Coast and Ormond Beach Observer newspapers.

Cavaliere started as a communications specialist at Embry-Riddle in 2014—moving to digital communications coordinator, digital managing editor and news manager before pursuing his master’s in business administration and leadership at the same university.

He wrote talking points and speeches for senior leaders, headed a team of veteran communicators, created databases, managed websites, overseen social media and successfully led that university’s crisis communication during hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Georgia College’s Office of University Communications, Cavaliere will lead a team of 12 staffers handling media and public affairs, Front Page content, the alumni magazine and campus publications, marketing, web, photography, video, public radio and creative services, as well as  communications for University Housing and Auxiliary Services.

“I'm looking forward to working with a bunch of positive and passionate people,” Cavaliere said. “There's a huge amount of wisdom and knowledge on every team, and I plan to tap into that at GCSU to help craft a vision for the future that we can all buy into and feel proud of.”

Please see attached photo and Front Page for more information.