Garrett Groves

Dr. Garrett Groves is Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives for Austin Community College (ACC). He joined the college in 2018 and leads the institution’s efforts to identify emerging labor market needs, evaluate opportunities for industry collaboration, and build strategic partnerships benefiting the region and ACC students.

Before joining ACC, Garrett directed the Economic Opportunity Program at Every Texan where he led a team of policy analysts working to increase educational attainment and ensure economic prosperity for all Texans. He also served as a scholar in residence at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas studying workforce practices and consumer credit conditions in the state. Preceding his work at Every Texan, Garrett served at the National Governors Association where he worked with state and local entities on workforce, postsecondary education, and economic development policy. He supported governors, senior policy advisors, and local leaders on initiatives to improve postsecondary to workforce transitions, including advancing performance measurement strategies, coordinating employer engagement activities, and fostering regional collaboration.

Preceding his work at the National Governors Association, Garrett oversaw the rigorous evaluation of education and training programs in the Office of Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Labor, including random assignment evaluations of the YouthBuild program, Community-Based Job Training Grants and the ARRA High Growth and Emerging Industries grantees. He also served at various levels of Colorado state government, including the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Joint Budget Committee of the General Assembly, and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Garrett earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver, his master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas-Austin, and his doctorate from the Higher Education Leadership Program at the University of Texas-Austin.