Melody Barnes
Encyclopedia
Melody C. Barnes
was chosen by President Barack Obama
to serve as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council for his administration. Obama announced her appointment on November 24, 2008. She was previously Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress
and led the CAP's Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative. She left the CAP in June 2008 to work on the Obama campaign. She also served on the advisory board for the Obama presidential transition team
,.
She is a member of the New York State Bar Association
and the District of Columbia Bar Association. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Constitution Project. She received her law degree
from the University of Michigan Law School
and her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where she graduated with honors in History in 1986. As an undergraduate, she was a Brother of Alpha Phi Omega
National Service Fraternity and a Sister of Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority.
From 1995 to 2003 Barnes served as chief counsel to Senator
Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee
.
She previously served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
and as assistant counsel to the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
, where she worked with Congress to pass the Voting Rights Improvement Act of 1992. She was a board member of EMILY's List
.
Barnes began her career as an attorney with Shearman & Sterling
.
Her mother is a teacher with a Master's degree in Education and her father is a retired member of the United States Army.
Melody Barnes married Marland Buckner Jr. on June 13, 2009 in Washington DC.
was chosen by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to serve as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council for his administration. Obama announced her appointment on November 24, 2008. She was previously Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress
Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress is a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization. Its website states that the organization is "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action." It has its headquarters in Washington D.C.Its President and Chief...
and led the CAP's Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative. She left the CAP in June 2008 to work on the Obama campaign. She also served on the advisory board for the Obama presidential transition team
Presidential transition of Barack Obama
The presidential transition of Barack Obama began when he won the United States presidential election on November 4, 2008, and became the President-Elect. He was formally elected by the Electoral College on December 15, 2008...
,.
She is a member of the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
and the District of Columbia Bar Association. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Constitution Project. She received her law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
and her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where she graduated with honors in History in 1986. As an undergraduate, she was a Brother of Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members...
National Service Fraternity and a Sister of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
sorority.
From 1995 to 2003 Barnes served as chief counsel to Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
.
She previously served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
and as assistant counsel to the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
The Subcommittee on the Constitution is one of five subcommittees of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary.-Jurisdiction:According to the official website:...
, where she worked with Congress to pass the Voting Rights Improvement Act of 1992. She was a board member of EMILY's List
EMILY's List
EMILY's List is a political action committee in the United States that aims to help elect female candidates to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1984....
.
Barnes began her career as an attorney with Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City with 20 offices located in major financial centers around the world founded in 1873. It is well known for both its litigation and transactional capabilities, especially in International Arbitration, Capital Markets, Finance, and...
.
Her mother is a teacher with a Master's degree in Education and her father is a retired member of the United States Army.
Melody Barnes married Marland Buckner Jr. on June 13, 2009 in Washington DC.
Further reading
- Personality Spotlight: Melody Barnes. United Press International, November 24, 2008
- Milk, Leslie. "Ten Well Dressed Women: Melody Barnes", Washingtonian, October 1, 2007.
- "Q&A", C-SPAN, January 14, 2007.
External links
- Wedding announcement, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, June 20, 2009 - Gallery of pictures from wedding to Marland Buckner, Washington Post