New AVP rounds out legislative affairs staff
Oct. 2, 2003
KALAMAZOO--The finance director of Michigan's Senate Democratic Fund will join the Office of Legislative Affairs at Western Michigan University.
Melissa Yutzey Bourke has been appointed assistant vice president for legislative affairs, effective Oct. 13. She joins Vice President Greg Rosine, who was appointed by WMU President Judith Bailey last month to lead the University's governmental relations efforts. In addition to her state relations duties, Bourke will lead the day-to-day federal relations efforts, under Rosine's direction.
Bourke is currently serving in Lansing as a special projects coordinator for Senate Democratic Leader Bob Emerson. She also has worked since 2001 as the finance director of the Senate Democratic Fund, where she was instrumental in raising $3 million and coordinated all aspects of fund-raising events. From 1999 until 2001, she served as a legislative aide in the office of Rep. Jack Minore, and during calendar year 1998, she served as assistant to the deputy chief of staff in the office of House Speaker Curtis Hertel.
Bourke earned her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University, with a dual major in international relations and political theory and constitutional democracy. Active in the Lansing community, she has worked as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
She replaces Charlie Devries, who left the University in August to become director of program management for the Automation Alley Technology Center in Troy, Mich.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 616 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu