July 21, 2002

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Linda L. Robertson to a new position, vice president of government, community and public affairs.

The trustees and I have created this new vice presidency to strengthen our focus on Johns Hopkins' relationships with the communities surrounding our campuses, with the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland, with the federal government, and with broader audiences nationally and internationally.

You undoubtedly have heard me say many times that the university and the
communities within which it resides depend enormously on each other. I
believe very strongly, for instance, that Johns Hopkins' success is tied
inextricably to Baltimore's, and vice versa.

Working closely with other members of the senior administration of the
university and of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Linda will seek to enhance our
strong ties with our neighbors, civic leaders and elected and appointed
officials in Baltimore and other communities where Johns Hopkins has a
presence. More broadly, she will also work to strengthen relationships with
all those who have a stake in the good work of Johns Hopkins.

Linda comes to this role with a record of achievement in building
relationships, most notably during the 1990s as a senior leader in the
Treasury Department. Serving three secretaries of the treasury, she rose to
become assistant secretary for legislative and public liaison and then
senior advisor to the secretary. She received the department's highest
award, the Alexander Hamilton Award, and in 1999 was one of six Executive
Branch women leaders honored by the White House for extraordinary service.

Linda will work directly with government and community relations staff from
throughout the university and Johns Hopkins Medicine, and with the
communications and public affairs staff in the university's central
administration. But she also will undoubtedly have reason to meet and work
with many of you as she settles into her new role. I know you join with me
in welcoming her to Johns Hopkins when she arrives Sept. 3.

You will be able to find more information about Linda in the Monday, July
22, issue of the Gazette at
<http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2002/22jul02/22vp.html>.

Sincerely,
William R. Brody