Herbert to create new VP position

IU President Adam Herbert will make the initial appointment of Thomas C. Healy as vice president for government relations Friday at the IU board of trustees meeting at IU-Southeast in New Albany, Ind. If approved, Healy will oversee public resources at a state and federal level, though the position of state relations director has not been filled yet.\nHealy is currently listed as assistant to the president for government relations at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla., on the school's Web site.\nIU Vice President for Public Affairs Bill Stephan said, if approved, state and federal directors would report to Healy, who would then report to Herbert directly. \nHealy has more than 20 years of experience in this sort of field, Stephan said.\n"Healy worked representing all the Florida universities in Washington (D.C.) and worked for the system in the Florida legislature," Stephan said. "Herbert became familiar with Healy's abilities when he served at the University of North Florida, where Herbert was president."\nStephan said Healy served as director of government relations for the Florida university system, of which Herbert was chancellor. He also said Healy has served at a number of senior administrative positions, including positions in government relations.\nDon Weaver, former director of state relations for IU, retired in October, leaving vice presidents and other staff members to head IU's relationship with the Indiana General Assembly this session, according to a Jan. 15 Indiana Daily Student article. But IU board of trustees President Frederick Eichhorn Jr. said Healy's job will not replace Weaver's, as it is a different position. Stephan said a candidate for the state relations position hasn't been identified yet. \n"The vice president, assuming it is approved, will have responsibility for federal and state governmental relations," Eichhorn said. "This position will be involved in securing grants from the federal and state government."\nWeaver's duties only included dealing with government on a state level. Currently, John Walda, former president of the board of trustees, serves as executive director for federal relations and deals only with federal issues. Healy's position would encompass the responsibilities of both Walda and Weaver.\n"The position is new in a way," Eichhorn said, "but it's related to University efforts in the political (system)."\nEichhorn said Herbert is nominating Healy because of his expertise in government relations.\nStephan said the board will talk more about the duties of the position at this week's meeting but said it will involve directing, leading and coordinating government relations at the state and federal levels. \nThe agenda for the board of trustees meeting says Healy will start June 30, but Stephan said if it is discovered he is needed, Healy might begin at his position slightly earlier.\nHealy could not be reached for comment Tuesday.\n-- Contact assistant copy chief Brittany Hite at bhite@indiana.edu.