LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former television news anchor will serve as Gov. Pete Ricketts’ communications director for greater Nebraska.

Brittany Hardin will be based in North Platte. She previously worked on the governor’s campaign as 3rd district director. Prior to that, she a producer, anchor and reporter for KNOP-TV in North Platte.

Hardin is also a former executive producer at KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo, California, where she earned an Emmy Award for coverage on Sept. 11, 2001.

Hardin earned a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In a statement, Ricketts says Hardin will help his office bridge Nebraska’s urban-rural divide by connecting the public to the daily business of state government.

The governor’s State Capitol press secretary, Taylor Gage, will be based in Lincoln.