A North Carolina State University grad has been named Senior Vice President of External Affairs for the UNC System, in a move announced on Monday.

Kevin Howell was appointed by UNC President Margaret Spellings to the newly created position to lead a new UNC Division of External Affairs. Howell is charged with serving as a spokesperson for the UNC system.

Howell’s role is to develop key advocacy and branding strategies and forge partnerships with policy-makers, business leaders, community members and alumni, according to a release.

Spellings issued a statement calling Howell the perfect candidate with his track record within UNC and the state government.

“Since graduating from NC State nearly three decades ago, he has devoted most of his professional career to serving the state of North Carolina in one capacity or another,” Spellings said.

Prior to this position, Howell worked as the assistant to the chancellor for external affairs at NC State. In that role, he worked closely with the UNC General Administration and he worked with legislators in the NC General Assembly.

Prior to joining NC State, he worked as a legislative liaison for two North Carolina governors – Mike Easley and Jim Hunt – where he was responsible for analyzing and tracking legislative proposals.

A native to North Carolina, Howell graduated from NC State in 1988 with a degree in political science. He is also a graduate from UNC Law School in 1992.