USU expands lobbying position
A Washington, D.C., lobbyist has accepted a position at USU as a special assistant to the president for state and federal relations, a position that will be important in USU’s lobbying efforts in both the state Legislature and in Congress.
Michael J. Kennedy has worked in Washington for the past six years as a lobbyist with Lee & Smith, P.C., a firm that represents USU with Congress but now will take a more specific role at the university.
“I’m excited to work with the president and his team,” Kennedy said in a phone interview. “They’re doing some great things.”
The position was recently expanded to include the federal lobbying responsibilities. Lee Burke, who has been the assistant to the president for government relations for 30 years, will be retiring in November. Kennedy is set to take up the reins Nov. 1.
Kennedy and Albrecht spoke glowingly of Burke and the work he has done with USU.
“Lee has done a great job representing the school on the state level for years,” Kennedy said. “Everyone seems really comfortable with him. I’m looking forward to getting on the ground.”
Albrecht said the position was expanded to include federal relations because the university “needs a stronger presence in Washington.” Though the school does work with a lobbying group, Albrecht said USU needs to extend its work past dependence on earmarking in Congress.
USU Vice President for Research Brent Miller said USU’s relations with the federal government are important to keep funding flowing to the university. Miller said combining the positions will allow Kennedy to increase his leverage on Capitol Hill in both Salt Lake and Washington. Of the $150 million in grants given to USU in the last year, 70 percent was from federal dollars. USU is in the top 100 public schools in the country in the amount of research money granted by the federal government.
Miller said Kennedy is “especially well-qualified” for the position.
Albrecht said of Kennedy, “He understands universities. He understands the federal appropriations process. He knows all of the key agencies that provide important funding support to Utah State University, and he will quickly develop the necessary contacts on the state level that will allow us to continue building on our past success with the Utah Legislature and the governor’s office.”
Kennedy is originally from Salt Lake City. He has a bachelor of arts in government from Harvard University and was most recently the director of legislative affairs at Lee & Smith, P.C.
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