Debbie Van Saun, the assistant city manager, is leaving City Hall to take a job with the Kansas University athletics department.

The announcement was made today in an e-mailed press release by the university.

Van Saun had been in her current post since July 2000, serving most of that time, along with David Corliss, as one of two assistants to longtime City Manager Mike Wildgen. Wildgen resigned and was replaced in September 2006 by Corliss.

In her job, Van Saun oversaw annual preparation of the city budget.

In her new job – as associate athletics director and senior women’s administrator at KU – Van Saun will monitor the athletics department’s compliance with Title IX and NCAA gender equity rules, prepare financial aid budget reports, among other duties.

“Debbie has shown outstanding management and leadership qualities during her many years in city government,” Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins said. “Those skills, plus her obviously strong organizational skills, will serve as a tremendous asset to the University of Kansas.”