A former Kent State student will help communicate Kent State’s message as a government liaison in Columbus.

Kathy Stafford, vice president for University Relations, said the university recently hired Crystal Cook, a 2004 Kent State graduate, to serve as a senior legislative officer in Columbus. She will work with Pat Myers, director of government relations, who spends much of her time in Columbus.

Stafford said the higher education issues related to the state, such as the University System of Ohio and focus on the Ohio economy, made it necessary for Kent State to add the position.

“There’s just a lot of work and a lot of communication to do,” she said. “Most of the universities in the state have had more than one person assigned to the state government level for a long time.

“We feel the need to make sure we are able to adequately communicate and put Kent’s position forward.”

Stafford said Cook will begin March 3 with an annual salary of $65,000.

Cook said she is excited to be able to combine her legislative experience with her passion for higher education at her alma mater.

“Because I’m a first-generation college student, I’ve always had a passion for higher education because it’s brought me to where I am today,” she said.

Cook graduated from Kent State as a political science major with a concentration in public policy. Since then, she has worked in Columbus in a variety of government-related roles, most recently as a legislative liaison for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Contact administration reporter Jackie Valley at [email protected].