The Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) announced today the selection of Kate Sinner as its new associate vice president for Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships. Ms. Sinner currently serves as the Deputy Legislative Director to Oregon’s Governor Brown. She replaces Lita Colligan who successfully led Oregon Tech’s efforts with the legislature and industry for almost a decade before her recent retirement.
Dr. Nagi Naganathan, president of Oregon Tech said, “We couldn’t be more pleased that Kate is joining Oregon Tech in this role at a very important time in our history. Kate’s extensive background in higher education government relations as well her legislative experiences at the state and federal levels make her a great fit to support Oregon Tech. We welcome Kate to the Oregon Tech family.”
Ms. Sinner joins Oregon Tech from her current role as deputy legislative director in the Oregon Governor’s Office, where she served during the 2016 and 2017 legislative sessions. In that role, Ms. Sinner was a member of Governor Brown’s senior staff responsible for development and execution of a comprehensive legislative portfolio that included policy initiatives and related budget items, among other areas of responsibility. Sinner was the governor’s deputy education policy advisor during the 2016 interim. Before that she was the Governor’s North Central Regional Solutions Coordinator in The Dalles. Prior to that Ms. Sinner was director of Federal Relations in Washington, D.C. and Portland for Oregon State University from 2007 to 2014. There she developed and managed OSU’s federal government relations program including policy, funding and regulatory priorities. From 2004 to 2007, Ms. Sinner was a senior associate for Conkling Fiskum & McCormick, Inc. in Washington, DC and Portland. She also worked briefly for the Democratic National Convention prior to that; and was a legislative assistant to U.S. Congressman Brian Baird in Washington, DC and Vancouver, Washington from 2001 to 2003.
Kate Sinner said, “Oregon Tech’s vision of a future built on a strong and supported workforce for Oregon is a very compelling one. I’ve focused my career on growing Oregon’s economy and strengthening communities and I’m excited to work on behalf of Oregon Tech’s students, and with faculty to support their research agendas, and lead Oregon Tech’s legislative and industry priorities. There’s general consensus that Oregon Tech is at a positive turning point in its history as a higher education leader, and I’m ready to support President Naganathan, the Board of Trustees, and the President’s leadership team to help take it to the next level.”
In her role at Oregon Tech, Ms. Sinner will play an integral part in advancing the University's priorities and programmatic initiatives, and represent the University's position on issues with government and industry stakeholders. She will advise the President and executive leadership of the University on governmental issues, and will assist the president and the university with the development of strategy and initiatives to enhance government and industry support for the institution. She will begin her tenure at Oregon Tech on October 16, and will be based out of its Portland-Metro campus in Wilsonville, with regular travel to Klamath Falls and other Oregon Tech sites.
Ms. Sinner is a graduate of the University of Washington, with a BA in Speech Communications; and received a Master of Public Administration with Certificate in Health Policy Management at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
