Jenn Baker takes over on May 1 as chief of staff for House Speaker Dan Rayfield. She succeeds Lindsey O’Brien, who had continued in that role after Tina Kotek resigned as speaker in January. Baker, who first worked with Rayfield on his initial campaign for public office in 2010, most recently was labor policy adviser and legislative director for Gov. Kate Brown.

Dr. Sukhwant Jhaj will become president of Western Oregon University on Aug. 1. Jhaj, a vice provost and dean at Arizona State University, was an administrator and faculty member at Portland State University for more than 16 years. Retired educator and legislator Betty Komp chairs the WOU Board of Trustees, which last week selected Jhaj to succeed Dr. Rex Fuller and Interim President Dr. Jay Kenton.

John C. Powell of John Powell & Associates has joined the Oregon Bankers Association team as a contract lobbyist.

Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and Rep. John Lively, D-Springfield, have been appointed as the legislative members of the Oregon Cultural Trust Board of Directors.