After 11 years as senior special assistant to the chancellor at the University of Wisconsin, LaMarr Billups is moving on.

Billups said Wednesday he has accepted an offer from Georgetown University to become assistant vice president for business policy and will be heading to the Washington, D.C., campus this May.

Calling the opportunity a "wonderful capstone" to his career, Billups, 54, said the opportunity at Georgetown has come at a time after he has raised his family and achieved many successes in the Madison area.

In an interview Wednesday, Billups said he is leaving UW on good terms after receiving the valuable offer in the same city where he had previously worked for Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.

"I believe that I was adequately compensated here, so that wasn't an issue that caused me to leave," Billups said. "It's a great opportunity for me and the rest of my career. I wasn't dissatisfied. I've been treated very well here. That's one of the reasons I'm going to miss it so much."

Julie Green Bataille, assistant vice president of communications at Georgetown, said Billups would be helping the university with labor-related issues.

"[He'll also handle] how Georgetown reviews collegiate licensing, just employment, and international practices that impact Georgetown and outreach to local business," Green Bataille said.

At his new position, Billups said he would be developing corporate relations with the Washington, D.C., corporate community and lead initiatives similar to the ones he directed at UW — like his work on the Labor Licensing Policy Committee.

Green Bataille said faculty at Georgetown received an e-mail Wednesday about Billups' new position.

"We're really exciting to have him come and join us and lend the expertise he's developed throughout his career at Madison," Green Bataille said. "His leadership and support and knowledge of these complex issues will really help us."

Billups said he has lived in Madison for nearly 30 years and developed several relationships with his work in community relations for UW.

"It was a wonderful opportunity that sort of just happened," Billups said. "They came to me and were interested in whether I was interested in coming there, I talked to them for a while; it was just an opportunity too great to pass up."

Outside his career at UW, Billups was extensively involved with the Madison community, serving on dozens of volunteer boards and committees.

In 2003, when Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was first elected, Billups served as transition director, developing a close relationship with the mayor.

"The mayor will be sad to see him go — he has made great contributions to the Madison community," said George Twigg, spokesperson for Cieslewicz. "Our loss is certainly Georgetown's gain."

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he has worked extensively with Billups even before he began at UW and has witnessed his extensive involvement.

Verveer said Billups started his work for former Chancellor David Ward at a time when UW was not known for its strong relationship with the city.

"I think it's a big loss for certainly the campus, but moreover for the community. He was seemingly involved in every aspect of the community," Verveer said. "He's done a lot to strengthen the relationship between Bascom and City Hall."

Billups called his split with the city "bittersweet" after developing strong bonds with city officials to utilize resources in "our front and backyards."

The Student Labor Action Coalition has worked extensively with Billups for his entire career at UW — many times butting heads on labor issues with athletic contracts.

"LaMarr and SLAC have had a long and storied history," SLAC representative Joel Feingold said. "A lot of different things have happened; he's being really supportive of workers and when we couldn't see eye-to-eye, he's been pretty responsive to work with some students."

Billups said he will work with students who are equally as active at Georgetown, but appreciated the "tenacious" student input at UW.

"I've had the opportunity to work with some great students. They're committed, passionate and they know what they're talking about," Billups said. "I like the fact they're pushing the envelope, that's what they're supposed to do."