Kim Robak, who has served the University of Nebraska as vice president for external affairs and corporation secretary to the Board of Regents since January 1999, has announced she will leave that post effective Dec. 1. She will join the Lincoln firm of Ruth & Mueller LLC, which represents clients before Nebraska Legislature and state agencies.
Robak, 49, a former Nebraska Lieutenant Governor, has been responsible for federal and state government relations, news media relations, marketing and communications for the university and has served as the chief administrative officer for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
“My experience at the University of Nebraska has been extraordinarily rewarding, and I’ve formed many close friendships among members of the faculty, staff and administration on all four of the campuses,” Robak said. “After eight years in state government and nearly six years in university administration, however, I am excited about the opportunity to return to the private sector.”
University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken said Robak has been a tremendous asset to the university. “Kim and I have been friends and colleagues for many years, and I recruited her to succeed me as vice president and corporation secretary when I left for the University of North Carolina in 1998,” Milliken said. “She has served with great distinction and the university community will miss her enormous talent and energy. On a personal note, she has been extremely helpful to me during my transition into the presidency of the university.”
Don Blank, Chairman of the Board of Regents, said Robak has been effective in handling the board’s business. “Kim is the consummate professional, and has managed the operations of the Board of Regents with both efficiency and good humor” Blank said. “We’ve had to take on some tough issues over the past several years, including severe budget cuts, and Kim has always been there to offer sound advice and to help us organize our work to effectively respond to those issues.”
Larry Ruth, co-founder of Ruth & Mueller, said that Robak has a long record of working in the legislative process. “She is highly experienced in applying her keen legal mind to tough legislative issues. We congratulate her on nearly 14 years of public service, and we welcome her interest in formulating public policy through the private sector.”
Ruth and William Mueller lobby as Ruth & Mueller LLC. Ruth has lobbied in the Nebraska Unicameral since 1974. Mueller, who is Robak’s husband, has lobbied since 1984. According to state reports, the firm represented 39 clients before the Legislature in 2004. The firm has announced that it will change its name to Ruth, Mueller & Robak LLC.
Robak will retain some ties to the university, continuing her service on the board of directors of the Nebraska Medical Center and as a member of the Cather Circle, a mentoring program for University of Nebraska-Lincoln women students.
A Columbus native, Robak is a graduate of Scotus High School. She earned a bachelor of science degree with distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1977, and a law degree with highest distinction in 1985, also from UNL. She was a teacher in the Lincoln public schools from 1979 to 1982, and a partner in the Remboldt, Ludtke, Parker and Berger law firm from 1985 to 1991. Governor Ben Nelson appointed her to be his chief of staff in 1992, and Lieutenant Governor in 1993, an office to which she was elected in 1994. She and her husband have two daughters.