December 6, 2022 10:20 a.m.

On Tuesday, Oregon Governor-elect Tina Kotek announced that Andrea Cooper will be joining her administration as her incoming chief of staff and identified additional members of her transition team.

A release said Cooper brings fifteen years of experience in Oregon government and public service. That included several leadership roles serving in the Oregon Legislature, advocating on behalf of working families, and most recently working as the deputy chief of staff to Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Cooper will become the first Black woman to serve in this top executive role in Oregon.

Cooper has served as the volunteer Board Chair for Bradley Angle, a domestic violence agency that helps survivors of domestic abuse. She has also served on the boards of Emerge Oregon, a statewide group dedicated to empowering Democratic women to run for office, and the Alliance of Youth, a national organization working to strengthen local youth organizing and power.

In addition, Kotek named several members for her transition team. That includes:

*Transition Director Tim Inman

*Policy Lead Karin Power

*Housing and Homelessness Lead Taylor Smiley Wolfe

*Budget Lead Abby Tibbs

The release said the transition team is also convening work groups with a broader cross section of leaders to advise on system and structures for driving Kotek’s agenda, improving service delivery for Oregonians and increasing accountability across state government.

Kotek said, “In the weeks leading up to inauguration, our focus will be on getting ready to address issues of shared concern across our state: homelessness, mental health and addiction, and successful schools”.

Kotek will take office in January of 2023.