WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced Dr. R. Kirk Jonas as the new director of its Center for Best Practices.
“I am thrilled to have Kirk join our team as director of NGA’s Center for Best Practices,” said Executive Director and CEO Scott Pattison. “He has expertise in numerous policy areas at the state level and has wide experience in research methodology important to the NGA Center projects that are important to advancing governors’ policies.”
Most recently, Jonas served as director of the Office of Research Compliance and Integrity for the University of Richmond Office of the Provost. For three decades he examined state policies, procedures and agencies as a senior official with the Virginia General Assembly Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. In addition to his background with the state and in academia, Jonas is a retired lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve.
As NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) director, Jonas will be responsible for strategic planning, board relations, operations management, communications and fundraising and stakeholder relations for the department.
The NGA Center develops innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges and is the only research and development organization that directly serves the nation’s governors. The Center is made up of five divisions: Economic Opportunity; Education; Environment, Energy and Transportation; Health; and Homeland Security and Public Safety. To learn more about the NGA Center, click here.
