William Generett Jr.

William Generett Jr. serves as the senior vice president of the office of civic engagement and external relations where he oversees the University's office of community engagement, its government affairs function, and the office of corporate and foundation relations. He also serves as an executive in residence in the Palumbo Donahue School of Business. Prior to assuming this role, he served as president and chief executive officer of Urban Innovation21, unique entrepreneurship and community-based economic development focused public-private partnership. Generett received local, national, and international recognition for the organization's fierce advocacy for equality and its groundbreaking work to connect underserved communities and underrepresented populations to Western Pennsylvania's innovation economy.

Generett is a very active member of the community where he has served and serves on several boards and advisory committees including The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Carnegie Museums, Center of Life, Shady Side Academy, and the Business Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburgh Chapter. In 2018, he was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to serve as a member of the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. In 2014, he was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Pritzker to serve as a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

A Pittsburgh native, Generett earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law and is a Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude graduate of Morehouse College. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and Georgia and for several years he practiced real estate and corporate law with an Atlanta, Ga law firm. He also serves as a consultant in many venues. In 2016, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Carlow University.