Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has appointed Kansas University political science department chair Burdett Loomis as her director of administrative communications.

Loomis will coordinate the flow of information within the administration and between state government and the public, the governor’s office announced today.

His $88,000 salary will be shared by KU and the governor’s office.

“State government needs to be more efficient, and more focused on serving the people,” said Sebelius. “Burdett Loomis has spent a career studying state government. He is uniquely qualified to help agencies within the administration work together, and help them better communicate with the public.”

David Shulenburger, KU provost and executive vice chancellor, said, “The university appreciates Professor Loomis’s willingness to serve in this capacity, and the appointment demonstrates the range of service that KU faculty and staff can offer to the state.”

He said Loomis will continue to direct the internship program, which annually brings twenty KU students of all disciplines to the Capitol during the legislative session.

Since coming to the KU in 1979, Loomis has written or edited 25 books, including a study of the Kansas Legislature, Time Politics and Policy: A Legislative Year (1994), and Setting Course, a manual for helping newly elected members of Congress learn the legislative ropes as quickly as possible.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to continue serving the state,” Loomis said. “I look forward to finding ways to help the state government work more effectively, to connect it to the people of Kansas, and to help it be as responsive as possible to their needs.”

Loomis said he would not take part in any deliberations over university-related funding or policies, and that he would play no political role in Sebelius’ campaign for re-election. “I thank the Governor for making available this chance to work with the government, and I am grateful to the university for allowing me to take advantage of this unique opportunity,” he said.