Kate Klimow heads community, government relations
New assistant vice chancellor is an experienced O.C. exec who will engage local and state leaders in supporting UCI priorities.
Kate Klimow has joined UC Irvine as assistant vice chancellor for community and government relations. In this role, she provides leadership in developing and implementing programs and strategies to engage community and government leaders in support of campus priorities.
Most recently, Klimow served as vice president for government and community affairs at the Orange County Business Council, where she directed public affairs strategies and managed an advocacy program championing legislative, regulatory and public policy issues to improve Orange County’s economic and business climate.
“I am thrilled to be part of such a prestigious and respected institution as UCI,” said Klimow, who started her new job Aug. 27. “With a public affairs career focused on bridging business and government, I look forward to applying my skills to help make UCI’s next 50 years as successful as the first. Of course, being married to an Anteater (Dave Golbeck ’81) a makes it personal too.”
She will offer support, assistance and information to campus leadership regarding governmental and community developments, policies and actions; maintain a strong understanding of the university’s planning process; and work collaboratively with senior administrators at UCI and the University of California Office of the President. Additionally, she is responsible for advocacy and community engagement programs and managing the Office of Community & Government Relations.
Klimow has nearly 15 years of experience in public affairs outreach. Before joining the OCBC, she worked for KB Home as a director of local government affairs for the Inland Empire and Orange County and as a region director for government and public affairs. Klimow also served for several years as manager of public relations for Walt Disney Imagineering and as manager of civic relations for the Disneyland Resort.
She comes to UCI with an extensive network of strong relationships with key elected officials as well as local business and community leaders. She’ll represent UCI in the Orange County community, in Sacramento, in district offices of state and federal legislators, and at other venues as required.
Klimow grew up in Phoenix and braved the cold of upstate New York winters to earn a bachelor’s degree with honors in anthropology from Colgate University. She has two adult stepchildren, one granddaughter and another grandchild on the way.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UCI is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County’s second-largest employer, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $4 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.
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