Kennesaw State University announced Tuesday it’s hired an official who’s worked in several state agencies and the Georgia Legislature as its new government relations director.

Michael Parkerson’s duties will include working with some of those state officials, community leaders and others on initiatives that Kennesaw State hopes will benefit the university.

“Michael’s expertise in government relations and higher education will be a tremendous asset to our efforts to expand the University’s reach and impact,” KSU President Sam Olens said in a statement. “His skill set combines broad knowledge of how government functions at all levels and valuable expertise in public-sector administration and management. Michael will be a highly effective representative and persuasive advocate for Kennesaw State.”

Parkerson was most recently a budget and policy analyst for the Georgia House of Representatives Budget and Research Office. His duties included developing spending policy and priorities for Georgia’s higher education agencies. He’s also worked for the state’s Public Safety Training Center, the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia and the state’s agriculture department.

Parkerson’s job starts Aug. 1.

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