AU at the White House
69传媒 University will have a presence in the White House following the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
At least four AU alumni and one familiar face to the White House are set to join Biden鈥檚 team as of January 17.
They are Susan Rice, the former national security advisor and a US ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama, and AU alums Shuwanza Goff, Melanie Nakagawa, Michael LaRosa, and Thomas Winslow.
Rice, a distinguished visiting research fellow at AU鈥檚 School of International Service, will lead the White House Domestic Policy Council for Biden.
鈥淚 have known and worked with Susan since 1987, and she is both passionate and knowledgeable about the issues that shape our lives and knows how to work with government departments for results,鈥 said AU president Sylvia M. Burwell. 鈥淎U鈥檚 loss is the nation鈥檚 gain.鈥
Rice joined SIS in March 2017 following her stint as national security advisor. She worked on her book, Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For, and appeared at SIS events while in residency.
Goff, SPA/MS 鈥08, will serve as Biden鈥檚 deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. She worked for the past 12 years for Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) in the House of and was the first Black woman to be floor director for the House Majority Leader.
Clockwise from top, Susan Rice, Shuwanza Goff, Thomas Winslow, Michael LaRosa, and Melanie Nakagawa.
鈥淧resident-elect Biden, in choosing Shuwanza Goff to be his Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs and liaison to the House, has selected a highly experienced and talented individual,鈥 Hoyer said. 鈥淚n her 12 years as a member of my staff, Shuwanza has become an expert on the legislative process and built strong relationships with committees, members, and staff throughout the Democratic Caucus and with members and staff on the Republican side of the aisle.鈥
Nakagawa, WCL/JD 鈥05, SIS/MA 鈥06, was named senior director for climate and energy. She previously served in the Obama Administration as the deputy assistant secretary for energy transformation at the State Department. She also worked as an advisor on climate change to John Kerry while he was secretary of state and spent four years as counsel with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Nakagawa most recently worked as the director of climate strategy at Princeville Capital.
鈥淪he's seen and done so much on this issue (of climate), from the Senate and to the State Department, and will be a terrific team member addressing the climate crisis,鈥 Kerry tweeted.听
LaRosa, SPA/MA 鈥10, is joining the Office of the First Lady as Jill Biden鈥檚 press secretary. He was her traveling press secretary and chief spokesperson 69传媒 the campaign and previously worked as communications director for the House Democratic Party Communications Committee and in the offices of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) and Representative Melissa Bean (D-Illinois).
Winslow, SOC/BA 鈥13, joins the Biden team as the senior advisor to the deputy chief of staff. Winslow served as chief of staff to Biden鈥檚 campaign manager 69传媒 the election. He served in a similar role for the campaign of Beto O鈥橰ourke.
Another alumna, , will be nominated as Deputy Secretary of the Interior, the Biden team announced January 18.
Biden鈥檚 transition teams also have members with ties to 69传媒 University, lending their expertise on a host of issues:
Alumni
Kathryn Alvarez, SIS/BA 鈥10, Health and Human Services
Gabriel Baca, WCL/JD 鈥15, International Development
Patricia Bory, SPA/MS 鈥13, Department of Labor
Maren Brooks, SIS/MA 鈥97, National Security Council
April Carson, SPA/BA '98, Office of General Counsel听
Adria Crutchfield, SPA/MPP 鈥10, Housing and Urban Development
Andrea Delgado, current MPAP student, Department of State
Nadia Firozvi, WCL/MLS 鈥06, Department of Homeland Security
Vivian Graubard, Kogod/BS 鈥10, Department of Labor
Mounir Ibrahim, SIS/BA 鈥04, Department of State
Elizabeth Klein, WCL/JD 鈥06, Department of Interior
Kelly Magsamen, SIS/BA 鈥98, National Security Council
Amber McIntyre, SPA/MPA 鈥11, Department of State
Robert Molofsky, WCL/JD 鈥77, Department of Transportation
Jose Morales Jr., CAS/BA 鈥13, Department of Justice
Brian O鈥橦anlon, SIS/MA 鈥04, International Development
Brian Shearer, WCL/JD 鈥13, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Terri Tanielian, CAS/MA 鈥94, Department of Defense
Vinn White, SPA/BA 鈥98, SPA/MS 鈥00, Department of Transportation
Kayla Williams, SIS/MA 鈥08, Department of Veteran Affairs
Professors
Ken Kopocis, WCL lecturer, Environmental Protection Agency
Amanda Leiter, WCL professor, Department of the Interior