The most visible member of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s staff is leaving next month to become the state Lottery’s deputy director.

Brownback announced Friday that Communications Director Sherriene Jones-Sontag will be joining the lottery July 8.

Jones-Sontag has overseen Brownback’s communications and served as his press secretary and chief spokeswoman since he took office in January 2011. She had the same role in his successful gubernatorial campaign in 2009 and 2010.

The governor praised Jones-Sontag in a statement as a “trusted adviser.” She said she looks forward to “a new career challenge.”

Jones-Sontag is a former broadcast journalist who also operated her own communications firm. She was communications director to then-House Speaker Melvin Neufeld in 2007 and 2008.

Brownback said he’ll name a new communications director soon.