Mary Breslauer, director of university communications at Northeastern University, has been named director of communications and public affairs at the Kennedy School of Government, effective Aug. 1.

Breslauer will lead the development and implementation of the Kennedy School's communications strategy.

"With 20 years of experience, Mary brings an outstanding record in communications and government service to the Kennedy School," said Joseph Nye, Dean of the Kennedy School. "She has the right mix of skills and background to help us chart a new communications strategy."

"I am both thrilled and honored to join the Kennedy School of Government," said Breslauer. "Public service, government, and journalism have been mainstays of my career and I'm excited about bringing it all together to advance the School's important mission. I look forward to working with Dean Nye and the School's distinguished and unique mix of scholars and practitioners."

Breslauer, in her current position at Northeastern since 1991, successfully helped reposition Northeastern's reputation as an academic and civic leader in Boston. Previously, she worked in the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General as director of communications (1987-1991), serving as spokesperson on all major policy and political issues and directing all external communications for the office. She also directed the Office of Communications for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Human Services (1984-1987) and was the press secretary on the Committee to Re-Elect Congressman Gerry E. Studds (1984). Breslauer began her career in journalism, working in radio and in daily and weekly newsrooms in Boston and on Martha's Vineyard.

Breslauer currently is co-chair of the national board of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay and lesbian political organization in the country, and co-host and executive producer of "One in Ten" on WFNX, Boston. She has also published political columns and opinion pieces in The Advocate, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Phoenix. She earned a bachelorÕs degree in English from Elmira College in 1972.

She lives in Jamaica Plain with her partner, Rebecca Haag.