Geoffrey Gonsher

Geoffrey Gonsher is a Professor of Practice and an Associated Students Centennial Professor in the Arizona State University School of Public Affairs and has been teaching undergraduate and graduate courses since 2010.  

Gonsher has had an extensive career in municipal and state government as a public policy advisor, cabinet member, agency executive, and speechwriter for over 30 elected officials. He has served four Arizona governors, several City of Phoenix mayors and city councilmembers, and other public officials.  

Gonsher has managed the operations of several state agencies. He served as Director of the Arizona Department of Racing and Boxing, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery, Executive Secretary (Director) of the Arizona Corporation Commission, Acting Director of the Governor’s Division of Workforce Development, and Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures. He has also been appointed to city and state advisory boards for arts and culture, public libraries, elected officials’ salaries, Major League Baseball expansion, Spring Training Baseball, and government productivity.  Gonsher was inducted into the Cactus League Hall of Fame in 2026 for orchestrating the State of Arizona public policy efforts to save spring training baseball and establishing the foundation for Major league Baseball expansion in Arizona.  

Gonsher earned his M.Ed. and B.A. in Political Science/Education from Arizona State University.