Valerie Jarrett

Valerie Jarrett is an American businesswoman, lawyer, and former government official who served as a senior advisor to President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. A trusted confidante to both the President and First Lady Michelle Obama, she played a central role in shaping domestic policy, political strategy, and public engagement throughout the Obama administration. Her career spans significant roles in Chicago city government, real estate development, and corporate governance, establishing her as a formidable figure in Democratic politics and civic leadership.

Early life and education

Valerie June Bowman was born in Shiraz, Iran, where her father, James Bowman, a prominent pathologist and geneticist, was working at the local hospital. Her mother, Barbara Bowman, was a noted expert in early childhood education who co-founded the Erikson Institute. The family returned to the United States, settling in Chicago, where she was raised. She attended the prestigious Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts before enrolling at Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She later obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.

Career before the White House

After law school, Jarrett began her career as an associate at the law firm Sidley Austin in Chicago. It was at Sidley Austin in 1991 that she first met a young summer associate named Barack Obama, whom she would later mentor. She transitioned into public service, serving as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Finance and Development for the City of Chicago under Mayor Harold Washington. She subsequently held several key appointed positions, including Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development and Chair of the Chicago Transit Authority board under Mayor Richard M. Daley. In the private sector, she served as Chief Executive Officer of The Habitat Company, a real estate development firm, and held board positions at major corporations like USG Corporation, Navigant Consulting, and Chicago Stock Exchange.

Senior Advisor to President Obama

In 2009, Jarrett was appointed Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and Assistant to the President for Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, making her one of the most influential members of the White House Office. She oversaw the Office of Public Engagement and the Council on Women and Girls, acting as a primary liaison to business, labor, and civil rights communities. Jarrett was deeply involved in crafting and advocating for key administration initiatives, including the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and reforms to the United States criminal justice system. Her close personal relationship with the First Family and her strategic counsel on personnel and policy earned her the nickname "the night stalker" for her frequent late-night meetings in the West Wing.

Post-White House career

Following the end of the Obama administration, Jarrett joined the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company in 2017. She became a senior advisor to the Obama Foundation and the nonprofit organization When We All Vote, which focuses on voter registration. She also serves as President of the Loyola University Chicago Board of Trustees and co-chairs the United State of Women. In 2019, she published her memoir, Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward. She remains a sought-after public speaker and commentator, frequently appearing on networks like CNN and MSNBC.

Personal life

Jarrett was married to William Robert Jarrett from 1983 until their divorce in 1988; they have one daughter, Laura Jarrett, a journalist who co-hosts CNN This Morning. She is a longtime resident of Chicago's South Side. Her family has a legacy of public service and academic achievement; her father-in-law was the famed Chicago Sun-Times columnist Vernon Jarrett, and her daughter-in-law is Tony Balkissoon. Jarrett is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has received numerous honorary degrees from institutions including Mills College and Howard University.

Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:American businesspeople Category:Advisors to the President of the United States Category:Obama administration personnel