Lincoln Mayor Appoints New Councilor | local government

TJ McDowell, deputy vice chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will become an adviser to Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird.

McDowell, who was executive director of the Malone Community Center and worked for Lincoln Public Schools and Nebraska Wesleyan University before joining UNL, will take office with the city on March 21, according to a press release from the mayor’s office.

He will replace Adelle Burk, who worked as deputy mayor before leaving to work in the private sector.

McDowell is transitioning from his role as Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for Student Life and Leadership at UNL. His experience also includes serving as Program Manager at the Community Health Endowment, Executive Director of Lighthouse, and Director of Education Outreach at the Lincoln Action Program.

He will lead the city‘s One Lincoln initiative to foster equity, diversity and inclusion. His duties will be similar to those of Burk.

“TJ is a recognized and accomplished leader at Lincoln, and we are thrilled to have him on our team,” Gaylor Baird said. “His experience serving our community in the education and non-profit sectors is significant. His extensive network across Lincoln will provide a solid foundation to lead our One Lincoln initiative.

McDowell is an active volunteer leader at Lincoln and serves on the boards of the Cooper Foundation, the Foundation for Educational Services, and the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation.

Burk was one of three mayoral aides to leave office for other job opportunities in recent months. The city hired Mairead Safranek to replace Kevin Cass. The position of Kate Bolz, who left to be the USDA’s director of rural development in Nebraska, remains vacant.

McDowell will receive $120,000, city officials said.