Higher Ed Chief Broadway Among 7 Applicants For ASU Post

Shane Broadway, director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, is among seven applicants for a government affairs VP position with the Arkansas State University System.

Broadway has been asked by Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson to remain in his post with ADHE. Hutchinson made that announcement on Friday (Dec. 5) at a higher ed trustees conference.

“I’m blessed to have a lot of options,” Broadway tells Talk Business & Politics. In addition to his current ADHE post and the potential ASU position, Broadway said he’s contemplating opportunities in the public and private sector, in-state and out-of-state.

“Any time you have an opportunity at your alma mater, you have to consider it. I’ve always said if not for that institution (ASU) and the opportunities it gave me, I would not be where I am today,” he said.

Other applicants for the ASU governmental affairs job include Charisse Childers, Kandi Alison Granberry, Shawn Smith, Leslie Smith Doan, Jillian Danielle Hicks, and Raymond Christopher Bratschi, according to documents released by university system officials. All of the applicants except Hicks and Bratschi hold degrees from Arkansas State University.

A job summary and functions of the government affairs job with ASU cite the VP as the “chief liaison with elected officials” and “part of the executive team of the president,” Dr. Charles Welch. The post meets with legislators during the General Assembly and also handles ASU System business with the state’s federal delegation.

If Broadway were to be chosen for the position, he could not register as a lobbyist or participate in activities that are not allowed by a state law for one year from his resignation date. A similar situation occurred earlier this year when then-State Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, resigned his seat to accept a job as vice chancellor for governmental relations at the University of Arkansas.

The ASU vice-president for governmental relations job is currently held by Robert Evans, who is retiring Dec. 31, 2014. According to the 2013-14 ASU System operating budget, the salary Evans was paid was $187,286, but the new position will be “commensurate with experience,” according to the job posting. Broadway currently earns $166,464 in his ADHE position.

ASU officials are hoping to fill the government affairs position by Jan. 1, 2015.