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October 15, 2002 Purdue's new governmental relations office appoints 3 officersWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University has reorganized its governmental relations efforts to maintain closer ties with state and federal policy-makers. Terry D. Strueh, vice president for governmental relations, announced today (Tuesday, 10/15) three new appointments to direct and coordinate the university's the newly reorganized outreach to legislators. "This reorganization of the Office of Governmental Relations positions Purdue to work more effectively with all areas of government as we implement our strategic plans for preeminence in learning, discovery and engagement," Purdue President Martin C. Jischke said. Strueh (pronounced STREE) said the new governmental relations team was formed to build additional partnerships with government that will, when coupled with private contributions, further advance the university's initiatives for the benefit of the state and beyond. "We believe we have put together a very effective team to represent Purdue to our various elected officials," Strueh said. "These are people who know Purdue well, and they know the government well and are committed to service for both the university and the people." Lisa Arafune, of West Lafayette, has been named director of federal relations and will be responsible for promoting Purdue to the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. She will work with Gary E. Isom, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School, to design and implement the university's federal agenda and to build relationships with federal officials from her base in Washington, D.C. Arafune had been director of communications for Purdue's Department of Freshman Engineering since 2001. Kevin P. Green, of West Lafayette, has been named director of state relations and will be responsible for managing activities that promote Purdue interests among Indiana policy-makers. He will represent the university with the Indiana General Assembly and other units of state government. Green also will coordinate all financial issues with the appropriate state agencies, including the Commission for Higher Education, the State Budget Agency, the State Budget Committee and various university and regional campus offices and departments. He also will review and assess the impact of legislation introduced in the General Assembly. He also will work to build support for Purdue programs with Indiana residents and within the university. Green has been the director of state financial relations at Purdue since 1989. Susan Brock Williams, of Indianapolis, has been named legislative initiative coordinator. Her responsibilities will entail developing campaigns, support materials and support networks to promote Purdue's future legislative initiatives in education and economic development. Strueh said the reorganized governmental relations office will allow Purdue to maintain closer ties with all elected officials and other state leaders interested in the university's future. "We hope to more effectively communicate to elected officials the needs and opportunities of the university," Strueh said. "We also hope to provide additional access for our elected officials to the resources of the university so that the expertise that resides here is available to them." Strueh, who joined the Office of State Relations in 1992 as director of state legislative services, was named assistant vice president in 1996 and vice president in 1999. As the vice president for state relations, he served as Purdue's liaison with the Indiana General Assembly, the Commission on Higher Education and various related groups. Before joining the state relations staff, Strueh was assistant to the dean of the School of Agriculture, director of agricultural services and regulations, and assistant director of the Purdue Agricultural Experiment Station. A native of Evansville, Ind., Strueh earned his degree from Purdue and joined the Purdue staff in 1969. Arafune earned a master's degree in management in 1999 and a bachelor's degree in management in 1996 from Purdue. She also earned an MBA from Budapest University of Economic Sciences in Hungary and attended the University of Limburg in Holland in the Purdue Summer Abroad program. She also has worked as a U.S. House of Representatives project manager in the Office of the Clerk and as a legislative intern for the Indiana State Senate. She also served as a Purdue financial aid administrator. Green earned a bachelor's degree in management from Purdue in 1982. He served as the senior business administrator in the Purdue School of Consumer and Family Sciences and as the academic business administrator for Purdue's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. Green also served as a finance specialist for the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division. Williams earned her law degree from Indiana University School of Law in 1994. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science at Purdue in 1990. She also has served as director of state government relations for Ameritech Indiana, legislative director in the Office of the Indiana Attorney General and as the manager for congressional and legislative affairs for the Indiana State Emergency Management Agency Department of Fire and Building Services. Williams was a Governor's Fellow and assisted in organizing the first "Capital for Day" program and also worked with the Indiana Department of Correction and the Public Employees' Retirement Fund during her fellowship. Writer: Grant Flora, (765) 494-2073, gflora@purdue.edu Sources: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708 Terry Strueh, (745) 494-2096 NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A publication-quality photograph of Terry D. Strueh is available at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/++Mugshots/strueh.t.jpeg.
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