The Women Behind Biden's Communication Team
- Carly Gegelman
- Dec 12, 2020
- 3 min read
Two weeks ago, president-elect Biden and VP Harris announced their all-female, including women of color, communications team. This decision reflected their campaign pledge of diversifying the White House and changing the image left by the Trump administration. These women represent new possibilities for every woman in America. I will be examining who each of these women are as individuals and detailing their incredible previous accomplishments.
Jen Psaki
White House Press Secretary
Psaki started her career in 2001 working for the re-election campaign of Tom Harkin and Tom Vilsak, who Biden nominated to serve as Secretary of Agriculture in his administration. During Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008, Psaki worked as a traveling press secretary and joined Obama’s White House administration as Deputy Press Secretary. She continued to work with the Obama administration in different capacities until the end of his presidency. In 2017, she became a political commentator on CNN until joining the Biden administration team in November 2020.
Elizabeth E. Alexander
Communications Director for the First Lady
Alexander began her work with Biden in 2006 as his Communications Director in his Senate office and continued to work with him as his Press Secretary during Obama’s presidency. In 2011, she left the White House to practice law and has worked in the US Attorneys’ offices as a federal prosecutor. She also worked at FTI consulting where she advocated for gender equality and inclusion.
Kate Bedingfield
White House Communications Director
Bedingfield also had a start during Obama’s presidency as the Associate Communications Director for V.P. Biden. She also held the positions of Deputy Director of Media Affairs and Director of Response. Bedingfield’s communication background also helped Jeanne Shaheen in her 2008 Senate campaign, John Edwards’ campaign, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Ashley Etienne
Communications Director for the V.P.
Etienne made history by being the first woman and first person of color to be the Communications Director and Senior Advisor to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. In the Obama administration, she held the positions of Special Assistant to the President as well as Director of Communications for the Cabinet. Etienne also helped with communications on Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative, which works to give more opportunities to young children of color through mentoring and networking.
Karine Jean-Pierre
Principal Deputy Press Secretary
Jean-Pierre has experience as a Political Analyst on both NBC and MSNBC as well as being the Chief Public Affairs Officers for MoveOn.org. She has a background advocating for ethical business practices, specifically targeting major corporate companies. Before being Senior Advisor to Biden as well as Chief of Staff to Harris in the Biden-Harris campaign, Jean-Pierre was the Regional Political Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Obama administration.
Symone Sanders
Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson for the V.P.
Sanders made history in 2016 working for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign as the youngest presidential press secretary. Sanders has also worked as a political commentator for CNN as well as with The 360 Group, providing guidance in communication and organization to individuals and campaigns. Sanders also has a background advocating for juvenile justice reform.
Pili Tobar
Deputy White House Communications Director
Before joining the Biden-Harris presidential campaign as the Communications Director for Coalitions, Tobar was the Deputy Director for the news station America’s Voice where she specialized in advocating for immigrants. Tobar also served as the National Director of Hispanic Media and Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee as well as the Hispanic Media Director for Charles E. Schumer. Her career is rounded out by being the Communications Director for both Ruben Gallego and the Latino Victory Project.
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