Linda Robertson, vice president of government, community and public affairs for the university and vice president for government affairs and community relations at Johns Hopkins Medicine, will become assistant to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. In that role, which she will assume July 18, she will be senior adviser to Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and the other governors of the Fed on strategic planning and day-to-day issues involving their interactions with the Congress.

Before joining Johns Hopkins, Robertson had focused on federal legislative issues for more than 25 years, working in both government and private sector positions. She has served in both the legislative and executive branches, including eight years at the Treasury Department, where she rose to assistant secretary for legislative and public liaison.

In a letter sent to the Johns Hopkins community on Friday, university President Ronald J. Daniels said, "Linda has made transformative contributions to Johns Hopkins during her years here. Bringing together resources that had been scattered across the organization, she put together a coordinated, highly effective government and community relations organization. With her team, she has created invaluable connections between our institutions, elected officials and the communities we serve. She has been an ardent, eloquent advocate not only for public support of research universities but also particularly for recognition of the essential role these universities play in society."

Tom Lewis, director of state affairs, will serve as interim vice president, effective July 18. Lewis joined Johns Hopkins in 2005 after more than 17 years in Maryland state government, including 11 years as top aide to two speakers of the House of Delegates.

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