Chief of Staff

Institutional Leadership & Presidential Proxy

• Executive Proxy & Liaison: Act as a primary point of contact and proxy for the President with internal and external stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees, Cabinet members, community leaders, and county leadership councils.
  • Ensure alignment across all executive communications.
  • Serve as Board Secretary for the elected board and Kirkwood Facilities Foundation.
  • Develop board agendas and materials.
  • Oversee the daily operations of the President’s Office including supervising the Executive Assistant, who supports both the President and Chief of Staff.
  • Direct and execute high-priority, complex initiatives on behalf of the President’s Office.
  • Drive the agenda for Cabinet and executive-level meetings, ensuring that decision-making processes are efficient, recommendations are vetted, and action items are tracked to completion.
  • Executive Advisory: Synthesize complex data, financial overviews, and policy briefings to advise the President on critical institutional risks, operational priorities, and resource alignment.
  • Crisis & Issues Management: Troubleshoot and resolve highly sensitive, confidential, or escalated matters on behalf of the President, utilizing exceptional diplomacy and judgment.
• Strategic Project Management: Direct and execute high-priority, complex initiatives on behalf of the President’s Office.
• Board and President’s Office Management: Serve as Board Secretary for the elected board and Kirkwood Facilities Foundation. In collaboration with President, develop board agendas and materials. Oversee the daily operations of the President’s Office including supervising the Executive Assistant, who supports both the President and Chief of Staff.

Legislative & Government Relations

• Legislative Advocacy: Serve as the institution's primary point of contact for local, state, and federal legislators and staffers. Actively advocate for Kirkwood’s interests.
• Policy & Fiscal Analysis: In coordination with state and federal association partners; monitor and analyze state and federal legislation, fiscal notes, and administrative rules. Collaborate with Cabinet colleagues to quantify their operational and budgetary impacts on Kirkwood.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Events: Design and execute strategic advocacy initiatives, campus legislative visits, annual legislative reception, and coordination with Community Colleges for Iowa and national bodies such as the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) for Day on Hill visits.