Becca Kenna-Schenk named Government Relations director at WWU

Becca Kenna-Schenk has been named director of Government Relations at Western Washington University.

“Becca Kenna-Schenk’s service on behalf of higher education and her extensive experience with the Washington State Legislature make her an excellent choice for Western,” said Western President Bruce Shepard.

Kenna-Schenk, most recently director of Government Relations for the Washington Student Achievement Council, began at Western on Sept. 15, 2014, and will serve as an advocate and liaison for Western with the Legislature, Governor and other agencies. She will succeed Sherry Burkey, who is retiring on Oct. 10.

“I am absolutely delighted to be working with the campus community and legislators, the executive branch and other leaders in our state to enhance support for Western. I have long admired Western’s outstanding reputation for academic achievement and its strong commitment to meet continuing and emerging state needs,” Kenna-Schenk said.

As director of Government Relations, she will part of Western’s Division of University Relations and Economic Development, which is led by Vice President Steve Swan.

“We are delighted that Becca will be leading our government relations operation. Because of her prior professional experiences, she has a comprehensive understanding of the Washington State Legislature and of higher education-related issues. She has a strong network of relationships with legislators, their staffs and with legislative staff personnel. Those experiences and relationships, combined with her understanding of public policy and her strong commitment to public service, position her well to continue Western’s strong presence in Olympia,” Swan said.

Kenna-Schenk has a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio and a master’s of Public Administration from The Evergreen State College. Prior to her service with the Washington Student Achievement Council, she worked as a policy analyst for the Senate Democratic Caucus in the state Senate; as a graduate policy intern with the Office of Program Research with the state House of Representatives; as an assistant coordinator with the state Senate; and as a legislative assistant with the Senate Democratic Caucus.