Illinois State University has a new chief lobbyist in Springfield.
Brad Franke was hired Tuesday as ISU’s director of public affairs and policy, part of the President’s Office. He succeeds Jonathan Lackland, who left his role as ISU’s director of governmental relations in December, a few months before President Terri Goss Kinzy’s resignation. Aondover Tarhule is now interim president.
Franke comes to ISU from the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he was bureau chief of state legislative affairs. He previously was a senior advisor to State Treasurer Michael Frerichs.
ISU says that “Franke has spent significant time working on legislative initiatives, traveling statewide, and communicating with public officials at the local, state, and federal levels combined with a high level of participation in political campaigns as well as statewide referendums.”
He’s a graduate of Illinois College and the University of Illinois at Springfield.
“I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to utilize my education and experience to contribute to the ongoing success of Illinois State University,” Franke said in a statement.
