Blake Zante has been named as the next executive director of the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at Fresno State.
Zante, a staffer for Speaker Emeritus Kevin McCarthy, was a former student body president at the university and an alumnus of the Maddy Institute Legislative Intern Scholar Program.
The big picture: The position opened up after longtime executive director Mark Keppler retired.
- Keppler led the Maddy Institute – which provides nonpartisan and fact-driven analysis of public policy issues – for 19 years and stepped down to hand the leadership off to a new director as the institute implements a new collaborative plan with UC Merced, CSU Bakersfield and CSU Stanislaus.
- Zante will oversee the management of the institute, which includes coordinating its intern programs, increasing participating in the democratic process and producing and hosting public affairs programs.
What they’re saying: Zante said in a statement that the experience he gained as a Maddy intern played a significant role in his career and professional development.
- “I look forward to helping train the San Joaquin Valley’s next generation of public servants, strengthening the cooperative relationship among the Valley’s four public universities, fortifying our role as a thought leader on issues impacting the prosperity of our Valley, and cultivating deeper partnerships from Modesto to Bakersfield,” Zante said.
