Jane Hays Surgent

Jane Hays Surgent serves as the Assistant Director for Local and Rural Outreach at the University of Arizona and plays a key role on the Government & Community Relations team. Collaborating closely with the University’s Cooperative Extension, Jane's portfolio covers all four corners of the state, where she explores ways to advance UA’s land grant mission. She engages with elected officials and fosters connections with farmers, ranchers, non-profits and community leaders in urban and rural areas across the state.

Before joining the UA, Jane was a Government Affairs Senior Associate at Summit Consulting Group, where she worked on government relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs and higher education policy issues. She is a proud fifth-generation Arizonan with a rich family history in ranching, farming and public service.

Jane resides in Central Phoenix with her three (mostly) adult children. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego and a master’s degree in education from Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ.