University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken has announced the appointment of Dara L. Troutman of Lincoln as senior associate to the president. Troutman will serve as the senior staff aide to the president and will manage operations of the Office of the President. Her appointment is effective December 13, 2004.

Troutman, 37, has been assistant general manager for communications and government affairs at Nebraska Educational Telecommunications since 1999. Prior to that, she worked at University of Nebraska as assistant vice president for external affairs and director of communications under former vice presidents Milliken and Kim Robak. She is a former press secretary to Governor Ben Nelson and began her career as a reporter.

“Dara’s experience and talent will be a significant addition to our staff, and I look forward to having her rejoin the university administration,” Milliken said.

Troutman holds a Bachelor of Journalism and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America. In 2003, she was awarded a prestigious American Marshall Memorial Fellowship by the German Marshall Fund of the United States.