Business leader joins Morrison Institute for Public Policy

The Morrison Institute for Public Policy has announced the appointment of Cathy McKee as fellow for community engagement.

McKee sports 30 years of community engagement and investment experience, most recently as senior vice president and director of communication, customer and community services for General Dynamics C4 Systems.

McKee is a recognized leader in the Phoenix business community and has long been involved with ASU.

Her appointment is a reflection of the institute's expanding role for ASU as an effective leader of community engagement, outreach and social embeddedness.

The Morrison Institute, Arizona's oldest “think tank,” is known for its ability to affect critical public policy issues facing our communities and Arizona at large.

In her new role, McKee will lead initiatives designed to enlarge the scope of the Morrison Institute's community engagement and enhance its base and involvement of partners, opinion leaders and decision makers.

“Cathy McKee is a recognized and effective leader on public policy issues in Arizona and nationally,” says said Ed Fox, vice president of communications, environment and safety for APS. “She is a bright force who, through intelligence, tenacity and persuasive interpersonal skills, has influenced many critical policy issues in our state, including taxes, health care and education. She is an excellent addition to the Morrison Institute.”

“Cathy McKee has developed and led efforts in Arizona and nationally that have made significant quality of life improvements for families, children and youth,” adds Judy Jolley Mohraz, the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust president. “She knows how to engage diverse populations and facilitate action to benefit a mutual cause. Cathy is the genuine definition of ‘community leader.' ”

McKee's career has focused on corporate responsibility and citizenship. She has chaired and/or served on numerous boards of civic and private organizations. Some of her affiliations include chair of Hospice of the Valley, as well as being a board member of Valley of the Sun United Way Public Policy Committee, the National Forest Foundation and Jobs for America's Graduates.

McKee was appointed to Gov. Janet Napolitano's “P-20” (preschool through college) Education Council. She is a founding member of the Arizona Foundation for Women and an emeritus board member of Scottsdale Healthcare.

McKee also was named the 2005 Humanitarian of the Year by the National Conference for Community and Justice.
“We are thrilled to have Cathy join the Morrison Institute in this capacity,” says Rob Melnick, the institute's director. “The kinstitute's new downtown Phoenix destination, coupled with Cathy's rich knowledge of business and community issues, will strengthen our capacity to conduct timely, applied public policy research and help expand our outreach.”

“It's exciting to join the Morrison Institute at this pivotal time,” McKee says. “Working at the intersection of the institute's internal and external communities will be a privilege. The potential for the institute to make an impact on the public policy of the state of Arizona has never been greater.”