Flanagan leaving Board of Regents for corporate job

Colleen Flanagan Johnson, the former communication director for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, has resigned as the director of public affairs of the Board of Regents for Higher Education to take her first private-sector communication job.

Flanagan Johnson, who survived turmoil over unauthorized raises that cost two other higher-education officials their jobs last fall, confirmed Wednesday that she gave her notice Tuesday and will leave her state post on July 11 to become the director of corporate communications for Magellan Health Services of Avon.

The chief executive officer and chairman of Magellan is René Lerer, a member of the Board of Regents.

Controversy over the raises led to the resignation of Robert Kennedy, the system’s president, and Michael Meotti, its executive vice president. Flanagan Johnson, who had just become chief of staff, saw her duties limited to public affairs.