Valerie Jarrett

Valerie Jarrett
Joyce Boghosian · Public domain · source
Name	Valerie Jarrett
Birth date	January 14, 1956
Birth place	Shiraz, Iran
Occupation	Advisor, consultant, author
Years active	1979–present
Alma mater	Stanford University, University of Michigan Law School
Spouse	William J. Jarrett (divorced)

Valerie Jarrett

Valerie Jarrett is an American civic leader and former government official who served as a senior advisor to Barack Obama during the 2008 United States presidential election and throughout the Obama administration. A longtime figure in Chicago public life, Jarrett has worked at the intersection of municipal administration, corporate governance, nonprofit leadership, and national politics, advising leaders on urban development, public policy, and civic engagement. Her career spans roles with the City of Chicago, corporate boards, philanthropic organizations, and national political campaigns.

Early life and education

Jarrett was born in Shiraz to parents with careers in diplomacy and public service; her father was an engineer and businessman affiliated with American University of Beirut networks and her mother was a United States citizen and a social worker connected to the United Nations community. She grew up in Shah's Iran and later in London, before settling in Chicago, where she attended York Community High School and became active in neighborhood civic groups. Jarrett earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, where she studied Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory-adjacent social policy topics and participated in campus organizations involved in public service. She received a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, where she engaged with student government and legal clinics addressing civil rights and urban policy, later clerking and working in municipal legal settings.

Legal and business career

After law school, Jarrett practiced law and entered public service in Chicago, initially working as a judicial clerk for the Cook County legal system and then as an associate at firms that interfaced with city agencies. She served in municipal roles under Mayor Harold Washington and later Mayor Richard M. Daley, holding positions within the Chicago Housing Authority and the Department of Planning and Development that dealt with housing policy, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization. Jarrett transitioned to the private sector as a consultant and executive, joining the board of directors of corporations such as The Coca-Cola Company and later serving on advisory boards connected to JPMorgan Chase and corporate philanthropy initiatives like those of the Ford Foundation. She also led nonprofit ventures and chaired civic organizations including the Chicago Urban League and boards associated with cultural institutions in Cook County and the Metropolitan Museum of Art-adjacent networks, bringing together public-private partnerships focused on workforce development and small-business lending.

Political career and White House service

Jarrett’s political trajectory included advisory and managerial roles on local campaigns, then advancing to national prominence as a senior advisor to Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign and subsequent presidency. In the Obama administration, she held the title of Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, coordinating outreach to constituencies spanning municipal leaders, civil rights organizations such as the NAACP, and professional associations like the American Hospital Association. Jarrett worked on policy coordination with cabinet members including Hilda Solis, Kathleen Sebelius, and Arne Duncan, and interfaced with legislative leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid on administration priorities like health-care reform tied to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She played a visible role in communications strategy with media organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and network outlets during crises and initiatives such as the Great Recession recovery efforts and philanthropic responses to natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy. Jarrett also engaged with international counterparts at forums including the United Nations General Assembly and transatlantic meetings involving the European Union.

Post-White House activities and advocacy

Following her White House tenure, Jarrett founded and led a consultancy and a civic-impact firm that advised elected officials, corporate leaders, and nonprofit executives on issues including urban resilience, climate adaptation, and community investment. She has been active on corporate and nonprofit boards, including governance roles at major cultural and financial institutions such as The Walt Disney Company and philanthropic advisory boards associated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Jarrett co-founded initiatives focused on girls’ leadership and civic mentorship in collaboration with organizations like Girls, Inc. and the United Nations Foundation, and served as a senior fellow and lecturer at universities including Harvard University and Columbia University engagement programs. She authored opinion pieces and delivered keynote addresses at conferences hosted by The Aspen Institute, Clinton Global Initiative, and the World Economic Forum, emphasizing equitable economic development, inclusive civic participation, and entrepreneurship in legacy cities.

Personal life and recognition

Jarrett married William J. Jarrett, with whom she has one daughter; the marriage ended in divorce. She has been recognized with awards and honors from institutions such as The Chicago Tribune civic awards programs, the NAACP Image Awards–adjacent civic honors, and alumni recognitions from Stanford University and the University of Michigan. She received honorary degrees from universities including Howard University and has been profiled in publications such as Time (magazine), Vanity Fair, and Essence (magazine). Jarrett’s public profile includes media appearances on programs like 60 Minutes and participation in documentary projects about recent American presidencies and urban policy. Her career continues to connect municipal, corporate, and philanthropic spheres through board service and mentorship programs that intersect with leaders from Chicago, Washington, D.C., and global urban networks.

Category:American political advisors Category:People from Chicago Category:Stanford University alumni Category:University of Michigan Law School alumni