Political career path leads alum Eddie Woodhouse to new White House appointment
Sometimes what seems like a small step at the time can lead to the most interesting journeys in life.
Kim Chaudoin |
Eddie Woodhouse, a 1982 Lipscomb graduate, and his wife, Michele.
When Eddie Woodhouse transferred to Lipscomb in 1980 from North Carolina State University, little did he know how this decision would lead to a fascinating political career. Woodhouse recently received a White House appointment with the Trump Administration.
In April, the White House appointed Woodhouse as the new state executive director for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in North Carolina. In this role, Woodhouse is implementing USDA policies in the planning, organizing and administering of FSA programs in that state.
“Serving in this role, Eddie Woodhouse will work to ensure that USDA is offering targeted customer service to meet the needs of our producers across the state,” says FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “FSA plays a critical role in supporting farmers and farming communities, and state executive directors are able to connect with the people in their states. Our goal is to help rural America prosper. Eddie Woodhouse will be of great assistance in that task.”
Woodhouse with President Donald Trump.
According to USDA data, agriculture, food and related industries contributed $1.053 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017, a 5.4-percent share. The output of America’s farms contributed $132.8 billion of this sum—about 1 percent of GDP. Woodhouse encourages young people – especially college students — to consider careers in agriculture.
“Working on behalf of the president, the vice president and Secretary (Sonny) Perdue to put North Carolina’s farm producers in a position of success is the urgent focus of my work at USDA,” he says. “This secretary and USDA’s executive leadership are very forward-thinking,” said Woodhouse, citing Perdue’s launch of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program or CFAP. Up to $16 billion in direct payments will be delivered in relief to America’s farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Woodhouse’s journey from Lipscomb’s campus in Nashville to his current White House appointment began with a chorus performance and a game of basketball in Raleigh, North Carolina.
He first learned of Lipscomb — David Lipscomb College at the time — when the university’s chorus, The A Cappella Singers, made a tour stop at his home congregation in Raleigh in 1980. Joe Ward, a Lipscomb admissions counselor at the time, traveled with the chorus and shared information about the institution with those in the audience, which included Woodhouse.
But it wasn’t Ward’s pitch about Lipscomb that motivated Woodhouse to engage.
Woodhouse (center) with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Sen. Jesse Helms.
“Joe made a parenthetical comment about wanting to play a little late-night basketball,” said Woodhouse. “Afterwards, I went up to Joe and told him I keep a basketball and a pair of basketball shoes in the back of my car. Let’s go!”
It was during that pick-up game that the Raleigh native decided to visit Lipscomb.
“The campus vibe and Nashville as its background made my decision to transfer instantaneous,” Woodhouse noted. “I’ll be ever grateful to Joe.”
Woodhouse studied communications with a little economics thrown in the mix. He said his life was profoundly transformed during his days at Lipscomb. He grew close to the late-Mack Wayne Craig, former dean and vice president at Lipscomb.
“Following Tuesday night devotionals, Dr. Craig I and would go to the Shoney’s in Green Hills and just talk for a couple of hours,” shares Woodhouse. “I was just smart enough to realize his wisdom was greatly superior to mine. So, I’d ask him questions and then sit intentionally quiet, letting him answer.”
When he graduated in 1982, Woodhouse briefly worked at a radio station, then transitioned to his first experience in the political realm as a campaign fundraising coordinator for a U.S. senator’s successful re-election. Woodhouse was immediately asked to be that senator’s state liaison.
Woodhouse with wife, Michele, and former President George W. Bush.
Woodhouse’s passion for campaigning and political advising led him to work on Capitol Hill, and then for President George W. Bush as a special assistant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Later, Woodhouse would chair a County Board of Elections during the 2016 presidential election.
Woodhouse and his wife, Michele, owner of Purple Door Aesthetics, an aesthetic medical consulting firm – he affectionately said is “also a political junkie” - were delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio and attended the Trump/ Pence inauguration in D.C.
“America’s founders and framers, though, imperfect, designed a brilliant system of self-governing,” said Woodhouse, who preaches and provides motivational speaking to churches. “So, I advocate – ‘recruit’ may be a better description – people of faith getting involved in their local political process and influencing the system with their values.”
Woodhouse smiles when he says, “Once you get the political campaign cycle in your system, it never leaves you.”
Woodhouse’s career has provided him with unique experiences, introducing him to U.S. presidents, prime ministers, ambassadors, U.S. senators and house members, including his friend, former congressman and now White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows.
But no matter where his political career has taken him, the impact Lipscomb had on his life is never far from Woodhouse’s mind.
“I never need an excuse to visit Nashville or Lipscomb’s campus,” said Woodhouse. “I’m amazed at what Dr. Lowry and the board have done with the place.” Woodhouse said he and Michele look forward to the 2021 Summer Celebration, which closes with her favorite hymn, "The Greatest Commands."
“Any time I visit campus, I grab a postcard and send it to my mom and dad to say thank you for sending me there,” he said.