The saying goes behind every great man there’s a great woman–or in President Obama’s case, great women. His administration is said to be a marker of how black women have transitioned from being outsiders to gatekeepers in Washington. A number of these powerful women are the first African-American women in their respective positions, such as head of the Domestic Policy Council, the Environmental Protection Agency and the the Food and Drug Administration. So whether its advising the president on economic policy, health care and national security, or assisting the First Lady and Vice President with their affairs, these 11 women are a part of an elite group who are responsible for the everyday operations of the White House:
Cecilia E. Rouse
Member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers
As a member of the White House CEA, Rouse works on issues including employment, education, housing, the budget and the economics of workplace flexibility. A former Princeton University professor, she is one of three economics who gives President Obama economic analysis and advice.
