Oral history interview with Jennifer J. Simon, 2021
Abstract
Jennifer Simon reflects on her time as executive office liaison to the White House Offices of Cabinet Affairs and Presidential Personnel, and as lead advisor for strategic planning and implementation of Michelle Obama's policy and international affairs agency from 2011 to 2015. Simon begins with a detailing of the women who served as her role models in the Biden administration, an account of her te nure as senior advisor to Ambassador Susan Rice from 2009 to 2010, and her admiration for Secretary Hillary Clinton. Simon recounts her experience as chief of staff to Raj Shah of the U.S. Agency for International Development and how that led to her being recruited by the Obama administration, working with the Millennium Development Goals and the Global Health Initiative. Simon goes into detail about the Council on Women and Girls, the International Violence Against Women Act, Reach Higher, Girl Effect and Let Girls Learn, going over the interaction between different agencies in government, the East and West Wing, and characterizing Barack and Michelle Obama. Simon highlights the importance of gender equality and Michelle Obama's role as a diplomat, giving as examples her trips to Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and China
Presidents--United States; Women--Political activity--United States; Simon, Jennifer; Obama, Barack; Obama, Michelle, 1964-; Millennium Development Goals; Global Health Initiative (U.S.); White House Council on Women and Girls (U.S.); Girl Effect (Organization); Let Girls Learn (Program); United States. White House Presidential Personnel Office; United States. Agency for International Development; United States. Office of the First Lady
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
66 pages
Note (Biographical)
Jennifer Simon served as senior advisor to Ambassador Susan Rice from 2009 to 2010, as deputy chief of staff to Raj Shah at the U.S Agency for International Development, and as executive office liaison to the White House Offices of Cabinet Affairs and Presidential Personnel. From May 2011 to April 2015, Simon was the lead advisor for strategic planning and implementation of First Lady Michelle Obama's policy and international affairs agenda. At the time of this interview, Simon is the senior director for advocacy and community engagement at USA for UNHCR
Note
Interviewed by Mary Marshall Clark on March 19 and April 16, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Jennifer J. Simon, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022