US President-elect Joe Biden on Friday named Mala Adiga, an Indian-American, director of policy for his wife Jill Biden, who will be the first lady.
Adiga has served as Jill’s senior advisor and senior policy advisor on the Biden-Kamala Harris campaign. Previously, Adiga was Director of Higher Education and Military Families at the Biden Foundation.
During the administration of former President Barack Obama, Adiga served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs in the Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in the Office of Global Women’s Affairs of the Secretary of State as chief of staff and principal advisor to the Ambassador to -Grande, as well as director of human rights in the National Security General Staff.
A native of Illinois, Adiga graduated from Grinnell College, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and the University of Chicago School of Law.
An attorney by training, Adiga had been a secretary for a federal agency and worked for a Chicago law firm before joining former President Obama’s campaign in 2008.
She started out in the Obama administration as an advisor to the Assistant Attorney General.
Biden made the announcement of his appointment by announcing the names of four new members of his senior staff at the White House.
Cathy Russell, vice president of the Biden-Harris campaign, has been named director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.
Louisa Terrell, who currently oversees legislative affairs for the Biden-Harris transition team, will serve as director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs in the Biden administration.
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Carlos Elizondo, special assistant to the president and social secretary to the vice president and Dr. Jill Biden during the eight years of the Obama-Biden administration, was named social secretary of the White House.
In a statement, Joe Biden praised the “dedication” of the additional members of his team, saying the new addition will serve the American people and help rebuild better, creating a more just, equitable and united nation.
“I am proud to name additional members of our team who will help bring about the change America needs in these difficult times. His dedication to overcoming the challenges our country faces today is rooted in his diverse backgrounds and experiences. They will serve the American people and help rebuild better, creating a more just, equitable, and united nation, “said President-elect Biden.
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