By Becca Clemons

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Jon Huntsman has connections all over: He campaigned across the country as a Republican candidate for president in 2012, served as the governor of Utah, and has been a U.S. ambassador to China and Singapore.

When he comes to speak at UK next week, he’s bringing a Kentucky connection with him.

Ryan Smith, a UK alumnus who was student body president from 2009 until 2011, is working as Huntsman’s personal aide — a job Smith refers to as “chief of stuff.”

His responsibilities include traveling — both during the presidential campaign and for events Huntsman attends now — communicating with other staff members, doing some event planning and even just listening if Huntsman needs an ear.

“We traveled from California to Nebraska to Texas to Michigan to New York in one single day from morning to night,” Smith said, recalling the campaign. “I remember when we got to New York at the end, it kind of hit me that ‘Wow, I’m really on a presidential campaign.’ ”

Now Huntsman splits his time serving on the boards of corporations, including Chevron and Ford Motor Company; working as a co-chair of No Labels, a nonpartisan political group aimed at problem-solving in Washington; and doing speaking engagements. A high-profile political figure and businessman, Huntsman has a $45,000 speaking fee.

“Working for the governor has been just an absolute pleasure,” Smith said. “He is just one of the most genuine and intelligent people I’ve ever met, and someone who kind of restores your faith in the political process and in wanting to do something for the right reasons.”

When the opportunity arose for Huntsman to come to UK, Smith thought, “I’m sure the governor would love to come to Kentucky.”

Huntsman appeals to voters in many parties, and especially to people frustrated with Washington, said Derrick Meads, the manager of marketing and communications for UK’s International Center, which is sponsoring Huntsman’s visit with the Office of the President and the Confucius Institute.

His talk at UK, “China: Opportunities and Challenges,” connects with UK’s curriculum and study-abroad opportunities, said Susan Carvalho, UK’s associate provost for internationalization. UK partners with Chinese universities and recruits Chinese students to UK as part of a broader effort to diversify campus, Meads said.

Huntsman will discuss his experience working with American business owners regarding Asian markets and will talk about how to bring jobs back to America.

“The rise of China as a global economic power” is a major part of the workplace many students will be entering, Carvalho said. She said she hopes Huntsman’s talk will get students thinking beyond a “surface view” of technology and human rights in China.

“I hope that the topic and the name help focus them on the fact that this campus is a place to have those high-level conversations,” she said.

Huntsman will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, in Memorial Hall, and a Q-and-A session will follow his speech.

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. They can be picked up at the Student Involvement Ticket Center, room 253 in the Student Center; ordered on Ticketmaster.com with a $1.75 processing fee; or acquired at the door starting at 7 p.m. the day of the event.