The University of Kansas will soon have a new face lobbying on behalf of its interests on Capitol Hill as Jack Cline prepares to depart for a new opportunity after a decade as a Jayhawk.
Cline, who joined KU as its associate vice chancellor for federal relations in 2012, has taken a similar job at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, he said in an email Tuesday. His tenure with KU will conclude May 1.
“I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed being a part of this great university. KU has become a second family to me,” Cline said.
“When I think of the role of the federal lobbyist for the University of Kansas, I don’t just think about working with the Kansas Congressional Delegation, in Washington, but (with) all the KU stakeholders,” including students, researchers, industry partners and the Lawrence community, he said.
Cline said he’s going to miss being a part of “this great university” and playing a role in championing its priorities on Capitol Hill.
In a news release Tuesday, KU Chancellor Douglas Girod called Cline’s departure “bittersweet.”
“On the one hand, we are sad to lose such a talented colleague,” Girod said. “On the other, we are happy for Jack to pursue this new opportunity with an outstanding university in a city where he has professional and personal ties.”
Girod said he would speak with Cline in the coming days to determine the steps for filling his role. He praised Cline’s ability to win federal grants for organizations such as the KU Cancer Center, the Alzheimer’s Disease Center, and the new KU Innovation Park in Lawrence.
“In addition to these specific achievements, Jack has been an incredible colleague and friend to so many of us,” Girod said in the release. “While he is a great lobbyist, he is an even better person. I know I can speak for the countless faculty, staff and students with whom Jack has interacted over the years in saying he will be missed on both a professional and personal level.”
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Conner Mitchell (he/him), reporter, can be reached at cmitchell (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com or 785-435-9264. If you have sensitive information to send Conner, please email connermitchell (at) protonmail (dot) com. Read more of his work for the Times here.
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