Jackie Norris, Susan Sher | 06/05/2009 8:20 am
First Lady Staff Shake-up: Friend Susan Sher Replaces Jackie Norris as Chief of Staff
Another longtime Obama friend and colleague joins Michelle Obama’s inncer circle.
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First Lady Michelle Obama is so popular and closely watched that even normally mundane First Lady personnel changes are making news.
Mrs. Obama has replaced Jackie Norris, her chief of staff, with White House lawyer Susan Sher. Norris’s new job will be senior adviser to the Corporation for National and Community Service, and will still work with the First Lady and Obama administration to implement the Serve America Act. Sher was described by the White House as a "longtime colleague and friend of the First Lady’s." The Obamas brought many old friends and advisers from Chicago and elsewhere with them to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue when they came to Washington — including top adviser Valerie Jarrett. Sher worked with Mrs. Obama in city government in Chicago and the University of Chicago, and was the one who passed Mrs. Obama’s resume on to Valerie Jarrett back in the day, when they worked for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. She has been a senior administration member since President Obama took office, giving legal advice, working as a member of the health-care reform task force and leading Jewish outreach.
"I am grateful to President and Mrs. Obama for the opportunities and friendship they have given me over the last few years and I am looking forward to becoming an integral part of this administration’s efforts to advance the cause of national and community service," Norris said in a White House press release.
Said Sher: "Mrs. Obama and I have worked together for many years on issues that we both care deeply about and I appreciate the opportunity to be of greater service to her and this administration."
Read more about: First Lady, Jackie Norris, Michelle Obama, News, Obama Administration, President Obama, Staff Changes, Susan Sher, U.S., Valerie Jarrett, White House
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19 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
The Serve America Act (Kennedy/Hatch) umbrellas so many great intiatives. I’m glad to see that it will be given additional attention by Mrs. Norris. Among numerous other goals, the Summer of Service program engages middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs. Students will be eligible to participate in two terms of service and earn up to a total of $1,000. It also involves retirees’ participation in their communities and on many levels.
The First Lady continues to advance her commitment for community service and support. Good for her.
Congratulations to all ! … We as a nation will benefit from The Save America Act! Think of all the wonderful possibilities for contributions and imput from all of our citizentry!
This is also a great opportunity for young people and an opportunity for seniors to share their wealth of experience!
First Lady Michelle Obama looks radiant in the above outfit!
Maybe it is time to remember that Michelle Obama works just as hard as her husband. To be an effective First Lady she needs people that understand her work habits.
It sounds to me like Jackie Norris gave it a shot, but decided that she was not getting enough time for her three young sons. Now she has a job that better suits her and her family, and the First Lady has someone running her staff that she has a long-established working relationship with.
I would call it an adjustment rather than a shake-up.
Serve America Act????? Well, why can’t Americans merely use Volunteer Match, an NGO many of us worked hard to establish, and still serves the nation with volunteers, IRL, and cyber as well??? What’s the use of replicating programs?
Volunteerism is a vocation - a career in fact, by many Americans. Committed people don’t like being toyed with.
www.volunteermatch.org