American political advisor
Jen Psaki
34th White House Press Secretary Assumed office January 20, 2021President Joe Biden Deputy Karine Jean-Pierre Preceded by Kayleigh McEnany White House Communications Director In office April 1, 2015 – January 20, 2017President Barack Obama Preceded by Jennifer Palmieri Succeeded by Sean Spicer Spokesperson for the United States Department of State In office April 5, 2013 – March 31, 2015President Barack Obama Deputy Marie Harf Preceded by Victoria Nuland Succeeded by John Kirby White House Deputy Communications Director In office December 19, 2009 – September 22, 2011President Barack Obama Preceded by Daniel Pfeiffer Succeeded by Jennifer Palmieri White House Deputy Press Secretary In office January 20, 2009 – December 19, 2009President Barack Obama Leader Robert Gibbs Preceded by Tony Fratto Succeeded by Bill Burton
Personal details Born Jennifer Rene Psaki
(1978-12-01 ) December 1, 1978 (age 42) Stamford, Connecticut , U.S.Political party Democratic Spouse(s) Gregory Mecher
(
m. 2010)
Children 2 Education College of William & Mary (BA )
Jennifer Rene Psaki (; born December 1, 1978)[1] [2] [3] is an American political advisor serving as the 34th White House Press Secretary .[4] A member of the Democratic Party , she previously served in the Obama administration as Spokesperson for the United States Department of State from 2013 to 2015 and as White House Communications Director from 2015 to 2017.[5] Psaki was a political contributor for CNN from 2017 to 2020.[6]
Early life and education
Psaki was born in Stamford, Connecticut , to James R. Psaki and Eileen Dolan Medvey.[7] Her father is a retired real estate developer, and her mother is a psychotherapist.[8] She is of Irish , Greek , and Polish descent.[9] She graduated from Greenwich High School in 1996. In 2000, she graduated from the College of William & Mary with a degree in English and sociology .[10] She is a member of the Chi Omega sorority.[11] At William & Mary, Psaki was a competitive backstroke swimmer for the William & Mary Tribe athletic team for two years.[11] [12]
Career
Early career
Psaki began her career in 2001 with the re-election campaigns of Iowa Democrats Tom Harkin for the U.S. Senate and Tom Vilsack for governor. Psaki then became deputy press secretary for John Kerry 's 2004 presidential campaign . From 2005 to 2006, Psaki served as communications director to U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley and regional press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee .[13]
Obama administration
Throughout the 2008 presidential campaign of U.S. senator Barack Obama , Psaki served as traveling press secretary.[13] After Obama won the election , Psaki followed Obama to the White House as Deputy Press Secretary and was promoted to Deputy Communications Director on December 19, 2009.[14] [15] On September 22, 2011, Psaki left this position to become senior vice president and managing director at the Washington, D.C. , office of public relations firm Global Strategy Group .[16] [17]
In 2012, Psaki returned to political communications as press secretary for President Obama's 2012 reelection campaign .[18] On February 11, 2013, Psaki became spokesperson for the United States Department of State .[18] Her hiring at the Department of State fueled speculation that she would replace White House press secretary Jay Carney when he left the White House,[19] but, on May 30, 2014, it was announced that Josh Earnest would replace Carney. In 2015, she returned to the White House as communications director and stayed through the end of the Obama administration.
On February 7, 2017, Psaki began working as a political commentator on CNN .[2]
Biden administration
In November 2020, Psaki left CNN and joined the Biden-Harris transition team .[20] Later that month, Psaki was named as the White House press secretary for the Biden administration.[21] [22] [23] She held her first press briefing on the evening of January 20, after the inauguration.[24]
Personal life
In 2010, Psaki married Gregory Mecher, a deputy finance director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee .[25] They have two children.[26]
References
^ Allen, Mike (December 1, 2013). "Welcome to December! -- The sentence in today's NYT that will make a few people with .gov addresses cringe -- What Obama Bought at Politics and Prose" . Politico . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2014 .
^ a b Concha, Joe (February 8, 2017). "Jen Psaki joins CNN" . The Hill . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2017 .
^ Papp, Justin; Munson, Emilie (December 1, 2020). "Who is Jen Psaki? CT native expected to reset media relations as Biden's press secretary" . CTInsider.com . Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris Announce Members of White House Senior Communications Staff" . President-Elect Joe Biden . November 29, 2020. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020 .
^ "Jen Psaki returns to White House" . Politico . Archived from the original on May 8, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015 .
^ "Jen Psaki" . Carnegie Endowment for International Peace . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2018 .
^ "Clipped From The Bridgeport Post" . July 18, 1976. p. 30 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Jennifer Psaki, Gregory Mecher" . The New York Times . May 7, 2010. ISSN 0362-4331 . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 .
^ "Biden Picks Greek-American Jen Psaki to Lead Confirmation Team" . The National Herald . November 19, 2020. Psaki is of Irish, Greek and Polish descent with her Greek roots in Messinia through her father James R. Psaki
^ "Psaki '00 named White House communications director" . College of William & Mary. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020 .
^ a b Sawicki, Stephen (February 2011). "Meeting the Press" . Greenwich Magazine . Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013 .
^ "Women's swimming and diving roster" . College of William & Mary. Archived from the original on June 16, 1997.
^ a b "Jennifer Psaki" . Center for Responsive Politics. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2013 .
^ "Jen Psaki" . WhoRunsGov . WashingtonPost.com. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2013 .
^ Allen, Mike (December 19, 2009). "Jen Psaki named Deputy Communications Director -- Summit accepts Obama deal -- Health reform could effectively pass at 1 a.m. Monday -- Shannon Flaherty b'day" . Mike Allen's Playbook . Politico.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2013 .
^ Calmes, Jackie (September 20, 2011). "White House Deputy Communications Director Steps Down" . The Caucus . NYTimes.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2013 .
^ Lewis, Charles J. (September 22, 2011). "Greenwich High alum resigns White House job" . Greenwich Time . Retrieved July 6, 2013 .
^ a b "Jen Psaki, Department Spokesperson" . US Department of State. Archived from the original on July 12, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013 .
^ Rogin, Josh (February 15, 2013). "What Jen Psaki faces as the new State Department spokeswoman" . The Cable . FP Group, a division of the Washington Post Company. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013.
^ Kate Sullivan (November 30, 2020). "Biden announces all-female senior White House communications team" . edition.cnn.com . CNN . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020 .
^ "Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary" . President-Elect Joe Biden . Retrieved January 5, 2021 .
^ Linskey, Annie; Stein, Jeff. "Biden hires all-female senior communications team, names Neera Tanden director of OMB" . Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020 .
^ "White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Holds First Briefing | C-SPAN.org" . www.c-span.org .
^ New White House press secretary holds 1st briefing this evening CBC. Retrieved January 21, 2021
^ McCarthy, Ellen (May 16, 2010). "OnLove Wedding: Jen Psaki and Gregory Mecher get married in Maryland" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 14, 2014 .
^
"Archived copy" . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020 .CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jen Psaki .
Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009–10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009–10 Pete Rouse 2010–11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010–13 William M. Daley 2011–12 Susan Rice 2013–17 Jack Lew 2012–13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009–10 Denis McDonough 2013–17 Denis McDonough 2010–13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Mona Sutphen 2009–11 Antony Blinken 2013–14 Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011–13 Avril Haines 2015–17 Rob Nabors 2013–15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009–13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009–11 Lisa Monaco 2013–17 Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute † 2009–13 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014–17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009–17 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009 Kristie Canegallo 2014–17 Denis McDonough 2009–10 Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011–13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011–12 John Podesta 2014–15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009 Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009–11 Anita Dunn 2009 David Plouffe 2011–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2013–15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013–15 Shailagh Murray 2015–17 Jen Psaki 2015–17 Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009–10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009–11 Brian Deese 2015–17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011–14 Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009–17 Amy Brundage 2014–16 Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016–17 Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009–11 Director, Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009–11 Jay Carney 2011–13 Jon Carson 2011–13 Josh Earnest 2013–17 Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013–17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009–11 Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009–12 Josh Earnest 2011–13 David Agnew 2012–14 Eric Schultz 2014–17 Jerry Abramson 2014–17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010–11 Director, National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009–10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009–13 Gene Sperling 2011–14 Cody Keenan 2013–17 Jeffrey Zients 2014–17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009–13 Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009–10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015–17 Austan Goolsbee 2010–13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009–11 Jason Furman 2013–17 Rob Nabors 2011–13 Chair, Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009–11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013–16 Chair, Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011–13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016 Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009–12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016–17 Cecilia Muñoz 2012–17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009–11 Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009–13 David Simas 2011–16 Melissa Rogers 2013–17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009–13 Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009–11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013–14 Director, Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009–11 Valerie E. Green 2014–15 Grant N. Colfax 2011–13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016–17 Douglas M. Brooks 2013–17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009–11 Director, Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión Jr. 2009–10 Rajesh De 2011–12 Racquel S. Russell 2010–14 Douglas Kramer 2012–13 Roy Austin Jr. 2014–17 Joani Walsh 2014–17 Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009–11 White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009–10 Katy A. Kale 2011–15 Bob Bauer 2010–11 Maju S. Varghese 2016–17 Kathryn Ruemmler 2011–14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009–11 Neil Eggleston 2014–17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011–14 White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009–13 Chase Cushman 2014–17 Danielle C. Gray 2013–14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015–17 Broderick D. Johnson 2014–17 Director, Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009–11 Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009–11 Beth Jones 2011–15 Brian Mosteller 2011–12 Cathy Solomon 2015–17 Marvin D. Nicholson 2012–17 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009–17 Director, Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012–17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009–12 Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009–11 Todd Park 2012–14 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011–14 Megan Smith 2014–17 Ferial Govashiri 2014–17 Director, Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009–10 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010–12 Susan Sher 2009–11 Jeffrey Zients 2012–13 Tina Tchen 2011–17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013–14 White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers 2009–10 Brian Deese 2014 Julianna Smoot 2010–11 Shaun Donovan 2014–17 Jeremy Bernard 2011–15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009–11 Deesha Dyer 2015–17 Steven VanRoekel 2011–14 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009–11 Tony Scott 2015–17 Bruce Reed 2011–13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009–13 Steve Ricchetti 2013–17 Michael Froman 2013–17 White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon † 2009–11 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009–14 Angella Reid 2011–17 Michael Botticelli 2014–17 Director, White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009–13 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009–14 Emmett Beliveau 2013–15 Michael Boots 2014–15 Dabney Kern 2016–17 Christy Goldfuss 2015–17