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IU PRESIDENT BRAND ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF KATHY SMITH TO IU STATE RELATIONS OFFICE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University President Myles Brand today (April 6) announced the appointment of former State Sen. Kathy Smith as the associate director of state and federal relations at IU.
Smith is currently Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon's executive assistant for education, a position she has held since January 1997. For 10 years prior to that, she served District 46 in the Indiana State Senate.
Brand said that Smith's primary responsibility will be to work with Don Weaver, the assistant to the president for state relations, to enhance IU's efforts with the Indiana General Assembly. She will also assist IU's Office of Federal Relations.
"Kathy Smith will nicely complement the stellar work of Don Weaver, who has led Indiana University's state relations efforts for many years," Brand said. "Under Don's leadership, IU has made great strides in this area.
"Kathy is highly experienced in legislative matters and has been a strong advocate for education throughout her career. She has displayed a continuing commitment to this university and, along with Don, will work for the good of IU, higher education and all of Indiana."
Smith, a 1966 graduate of IU, said, "I am so excited to be back home. I have always felt a great love and connection to the university both by having graduated from IU and from my work in the Senate. I'm honored to represent IU and to have the opportunity to work with Don Weaver. Don is so highly regarded in the Indiana General Assembly, and I can think of no better teacher, mentor or friend."
Smith, who was elected to the Indiana State Senate in 1987, taught English at Hazelwood Junior High School in New Albany for 30 years. While serving the state, she was assistant minority caucus chairman, and a member of the Appointments and Claims Committee, Education Committee, Health Subcommittee and Planning and Public Service Committee. During her last four years in the Senate, she was the ranking minority member of the Education Committee.
(DeAnna J. Hines, executive director of communications, 812-855-0850, djhines@indiana.edu)