Rate My Professor Sean Cunningham

Sean Cunningham serves as Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations for the Texas State University System, the governing body that includes Sam Houston State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in government and his doctor of jurisprudence from The University of Texas at Austin. While attending law school, Cunningham completed a judicial internship with a member of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. He also studied international law during a semester abroad at University College London. These experiences provided foundational knowledge in legal and governmental processes that have informed his career in public service and higher education administration.

Prior to his appointment in 2010, Cunningham held significant roles in the Texas Legislature. He served as Chief of Staff to Representative Brian McCall since 1996, managing staff, budget, and the legislative package across seven regular sessions. From 2009, he acted as senior policy advisor to the House Committee on Calendars, helping prioritize the daily legislative agenda. Over 19 years, he worked as a legislative aide and clerk for subcommittees and committees, including Higher Education, Ways and Means, State Affairs, Public Health, and the Sunset Advisory Commission. Cunningham is president of The Empowerment Project, Inc., a non-profit organization that has distributed more than $10 million in science and math textbooks to students in South Africa and contributed over $350,000 to children's health initiatives in north Texas. In his current role, he engages with university events, such as the ribbon cutting for Sam Houston State University's Health Professions Building.