(AUSTIN) — To focus greater attention on education and work force development, issues that impact the state’s economic future, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has appointed Kevin Dieters to head the new Educational Opportunities and Investment Division at the Comptroller’s office. Beginning May 1, the new division will manage the state’s 529 College Savings Programs; the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Program, which is closed to new enrollment; and Texas Tomorrow Fund II, a new prepaid tuition program that will be launched later this year. The college savings plans were formerly housed in the Comptroller’s Local Government Assistance and Economic Development Division.

“By placing our college savings programs in a unique division, the agency will be able to focus more energy on expanding the education savings options available to Texas families,” Combs said. “Kevin Dieters shares in our strong commitment to education and to building a well-trained work force to ensure the continued growth of the Texas economy.”

Dieters previously worked at the Office of the Fire Fighters’ Pension Commissioner as the director of policy, a position he held since 2001. There, he developed rules governing pension benefits and system administration, and he gained experience working with the Legislature to implement policy changes and new initiatives.

Dieters earned a degree in government/economics from the University of Texas at Austin, and he is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary trained at the Center for Fiduciary Studies.

Combs also announced that the Local Government Assistance and Economic Development Division will soon expand and broaden its scope. The division works with local government entities to help them adopt best practices in management and to provide them with economic, demographic and other vital information they can use in their economic development planning.