Kristin Clouser, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Administration, is departing from her role next week, Gov. Phil Scott announced in a press release Friday.
Clouser has been in charge of the agency since December 2021. Before that, she served as deputy secretary starting in November 2020, and previously worked in the human services division of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and as general counsel to the Agency of Human Services.
Scott said in the press release that Clouser has been a “highly effective leader” of the agency and a “thoughtful steward” of Vermont’s finances during the pandemic, when the state received large sums of federal aid.
“I will certainly miss her loyalty, humbleness, intellect and humor, but I’m thrilled for her new opportunity to return to her roots and love of the law,” he said in the release. The release did not elaborate on Clouser’s plans, and Jason Maulucci, a spokesperson for Scott, did not immediately respond to an inquiry.
The administration secretary — one of the top positions in the governor’s cabinet — heads up an agency charged with overseeing the operations of state government, which includes a wide variety of duties: budgeting for state departments and activities, running payroll and benefits for state employees, maintaining state buildings and grounds, and managing state contracts, among others.
Clouser’s last day on the job will be May 24, according to the release. The agency’s deputy secretary, Sarah Clark, will step in as interim secretary after Clouser leaves.
In the release, Clouser said the job has been “the challenge of a lifetime,” but added that it was “an honor and joy to serve” alongside agency employees and fellow members of Scott’s cabinet.
“Most importantly, I want to thank Governor Scott for the opportunity to serve Vermont as Secretary of Administration and for entrusting me with helping to execute his vision for our brave little state,” she said.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Administration Secretary Kristin Clouser to leave after 2 years.