Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace was sworn in as cabinet secretary for the Kansas Department of Administration during a ceremony Feb. 17 at the Kansas Capitol. The appointment of Burns-Wallace, nominated by Gov. Laura Kelly, was unanimously approved by the Kansas Senate in January.

In addition to leading the Department of Administration since July, Burns-Wallace was named the chief information technology officer (CITO) for the State of Kansas Executive Branch in August. Burns-Wallace is the first woman of color to serve as secretary for the Department of Administration or as executive branch CITO.

Prior to Governor Kelly’s appointment, Burns-Wallace served as the vice provost for undergraduate studies at the University of Kansas. Her 15-year career in higher education includes positions at the University of Missouri and Stanford University. Burns-Wallace began her career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. She served Foreign Service tours in Guangzhou and Beijing, China; Pretoria, South Africa; and in Washington, D.C.

She earned a dual bachelor’s degree in international relations and African American studies from Stanford University, a master of public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania.