(Upated to reflect developments from 9:15 a.m. news conference)
Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday morning named an official from the University of Kansas with experience at the U.S. State Department as her new secretary for the Department of Administration.
Kelly nominated DeAngela Burns-Wallace – vice provost for undergraduate studies at University of Kansas – to run the administration department. Burns-Wallace still need confirmation by the state Senate.
She will replace Duane Goossen, who has been working as the interim administration secretary as Kelly transitioned to a permanent leadership team. She starts July 1.
Kelly described Burns-Wallace as “energetic” and “accomplished.”
“Dr. Burns-Wallace is a highly qualified leader,” Kelly said. “Without a doubt, she’s a skilled, trained public policy leader. Not only does she have public policy skills she also has great management skills.
“She’s a leader who knows what it takes move Kansas forward.”
Before coming to KU, she served assistant vice provost for undergraduate Studies at the University of Missouri.
“I have forgiven her,” Kelly said playfully.
She has also worked as assistant dean in the office of undergraduate admission at Stanford University.
She also is steeped in government as well, starting her career as a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department.
Burns-Wallace served tours in Guangzhou and Beijing, China; Pretoria, South Africa; and in Washington D.C.
She also worked numerous in foreign service office positions including management officer, nonimmigrant visa officer, press Attaché, and special Assistant on legislative affairs.
Burns-Wallace earned bachelor’s degrees in international relations and African-American studies from Stanford as well as master’s degree in public policy from the Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
She also has a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania.
