Biden will nominate longtime aide to turn out to be US ambassador to UNESCO

By Darlene Superville | Related Press

WASHINGTON — A longtime aide to President Joe Biden who’s a senior adviser in Vice President Kamala Harris’ workplace is Biden’s option to characterize the USA on the United Nations company dedicated to training, science and tradition.

The U.S. not too long ago rejoined the U.N. Academic, Scientific and Cultural Group after a five-year hiatus initiated by Biden’s instant predecessor within the White Home, Donald Trump.

The Democratic president’s option to turn out to be the U.S. everlasting consultant to the Paris-based UNESCO, with the rank of ambassador, is longtime aide Courtney O’Donnell, in keeping with a White Home official, who spoke Monday on the situation of anonymity to debate the nomination earlier than a proper announcement.

O’Donnell at the moment wears two hats: She’s a senior adviser in Harris’ workplace and appearing chief of workers for Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, and lends her experience to a variety of nationwide and world points, together with gender fairness and countering prejudice in opposition to Jews, a high difficulty for Emhoff, who’s Jewish.

O’Donnell additionally was communications director for Jill Biden, when she was second woman throughout Joe Biden’s vice presidency when Barack Obama was president. O’Donnell helped Jill Biden increase consciousness and assist for U.S. army households and promote neighborhood faculties.

She has in depth expertise in growing world partnerships, public affairs and strategic communications, having held senior roles in two presidential administrations, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, nationwide political campaigns and the personal sector, in keeping with her official bio.

O’Donnell most not too long ago oversaw world partnerships at Airbnb.

Former White Home chief of workers Ron Klain stated O’Donnell is trusted by colleagues worldwide.

“It is a improbable choose and she is going to do a improbable job at UNESCO,” he stated in an announcement.

Cathy Russell labored with O’Donnell within the second woman’s workplace and stated she is expert at growing world partnerships, creating social affect campaigns and offering strategic counsel on a variety of points.

“Everybody who is aware of Courtney is aware of she is dedicated to the worth of world engagement and strengthening American management world wide,” Russell stated.

The Senate should vote on O’Donnell’s nomination.

The primary woman attended a ceremony in late July at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the place the U.S. flag was raised to mark Washington’s official reentry into the U.N. company after the absence initiated by Trump, a Republican. She spoke in regards to the significance of American management in preserving cultural heritage and empowering training and science throughout the globe.

The US introduced its intention to rejoin UNESCO in June, and the group’s 193 member states voted in July to approve the U.S. reentry. The ceremony formally signified the U.S. changing into the 194th member — and flag proprietor — on the company.