Yale Bulletin and Calendar

April 6, 2001

Volume 29, Number 25

Helaine S. Klasky

Ex-Treasury Department official
named director of public affairs

Helaine S. Klasky, who has held senior public affairs positions with the U.S. Department of Treasury, the U.S. Department of State and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, has been appointed the University's director of public affairs and special assistant to the president, President Richard C. Levin announced.

Klasky most recently served at the U.S. Department of the Treasury as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, working for Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and Deputy Secretary Stuart Eizenstat. At Treasury, she was instrumental in raising the public's awareness on such issues as money laundering, gun control and debt relief.

Prior to Treasury, she worked at the White House as deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for public affairs for Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, developing and implementing communications strategies on a broad range of trade issues affecting the nation.

Klasky began her career in government working on Capitol Hill for Senators Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Dennis DeConcini of Arizona. She then joined the U.S. Department of State, where she was named director of media outreach. In that position, she worked with local and regional media outlets across the country to explain how U.S. diplomacy touches the lives of all Americans, their families and communities.

"I am delighted Helaine Klasky is coming to Yale to lead the public affairs efforts," said Levin. "She has worked with great success in demanding assignments. She shares our commitment to higher education and the values that Yale represents. She is the right person for Yale as we move into our fourth century."

Linda Koch Lorimer, vice president and secretary, commented, "Helaine's experience in the international arena and with press across the nation along with an impressive ability to convey complex issues to the public will be tremendous assets for Yale."

As director of public affairs and special assistant to the president, Klasky will be responsible for leading the institution's public affairs program and for developing and implementing a communications plan that supports the major initiatives of the University. She will direct the staff in the University's Office of Public Affairs, and work with University officers to advance the institution through multiple communications channels, including print, broadcast and the worldwide web.

"I am honored to have this opportunity and look forward to expanding the communications efforts of one of the world's finest universities," Klasky said. "I especially look forward to working with the faculty, staff, and students at Yale and to becoming a close part of the New Haven community."

She earned her B.A in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with honors in 1986. She earned a master's degree in international relations from American University and a master's degree in education from the University of Virginia.

Klasky, who will begin work on May 7, will report to Lorimer and also will work directly with the president as his special assistant.

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