Michele Davis
Encyclopedia
Michele A. Davis served in a number of senior communications positions in the U.S. Treasury Department, Fannie Mae, and the White House
during the George W. Bush
era from 2001 to January 20, 2009. In her last government position, she served as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Director of Policy Planning
in the U.S. Department of Treasury, where she advised Secretary Hank Paulson. She was also a senior member of the Treasury team addressing the credit crisis of 2007-2009 in 2008.
She is currently a Partner at the Brunswick Group http://www.brunswickgroup.com, a global corporate communications advisory firm.
. She earned a B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University
in 1988 and an M.A. in economics from American University
.
from 1991 to 1993. From 1997 to January 2001, Michele served as Communications Director for the House Majority Leader Dick Armey
(R-Texas), during which time she advised Congressional leadership on communications strategy for the House agenda and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs under Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill
.
Davis did not stay in the Treasury Department for long, however. She soon went on to work as the Senior Vice President for Regulatory Policy at Fannie Mae in 2002, where she was "responsible for the company's public policy research activities and policy development on a wide range of issues related to mortgage financing and the capital markets" and assumed the duties of "managing the company's relationship with its regulators." Her predecessor at Fannie Mae, Arne L. Christenson, moved on to a new position as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and head of American Express
Company's Washington, DC office.
In 2005, Michele was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Global Outreach.
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
during the George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
era from 2001 to January 20, 2009. In her last government position, she served as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Director of Policy Planning
Director of Policy Planning
The Director of Policy Planning is the United States Department of State official in charge of the Department's internal think tank, the Policy Planning Staff. The position of Director of Policy Planning has traditionally been held by many members of the U.S. foreign policy establishment...
in the U.S. Department of Treasury, where she advised Secretary Hank Paulson. She was also a senior member of the Treasury team addressing the credit crisis of 2007-2009 in 2008.
She is currently a Partner at the Brunswick Group http://www.brunswickgroup.com, a global corporate communications advisory firm.
Early life and education
Davis is a native of Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. She earned a B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1988 and an M.A. in economics from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
.
Early career
She began working as an advocate for free market economics at Citizens for a Sound EconomyCitizens for a Sound Economy
Citizens for a Sound Economy was a conservative political group operating in the United States, whose self-described mission was "to fight for less government, lower taxes, and less regulation." In 2004, Citizens for a Sound Economy split into two new organizations, with Citizens for a Sound...
from 1991 to 1993. From 1997 to January 2001, Michele served as Communications Director for the House Majority Leader Dick Armey
Dick Armey
Richard Keith "Dick" Armey is a former U.S. Representative from Texas's and House Majority Leader . He was one of the engineers of the "Republican Revolution" of the 1990s, in which Republicans were elected to majorities of both houses of Congress for the first time in four decades. Armey was...
(R-Texas), during which time she advised Congressional leadership on communications strategy for the House agenda and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs under Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill
Paul O'Neill
Paul Henry O'Neill served as the 72nd United States Secretary of the Treasury for part of President George W. Bush's first term. He was fired in December 2002 for his public disagreement with the administration and became a harsh critic...
.
Years in the U.S. Department of Treasury and Fannie Mae
Michele Davis was nominated by President George W. Bush to be Assistant Treasury Secretary for Public Affairs on February 8, 2001. She was then confirmed as by a unanimous vote by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2001 and sworn in by Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill on August 7, 2001. In this role, Davis was "the Department's lead representative for media, business, professional trade organizations, consumer groups and the public." Davis also oversaw the Office of Public Liaison and the Office of Public Education.Davis did not stay in the Treasury Department for long, however. She soon went on to work as the Senior Vice President for Regulatory Policy at Fannie Mae in 2002, where she was "responsible for the company's public policy research activities and policy development on a wide range of issues related to mortgage financing and the capital markets" and assumed the duties of "managing the company's relationship with its regulators." Her predecessor at Fannie Mae, Arne L. Christenson, moved on to a new position as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and head of American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
Company's Washington, DC office.
In 2005, Michele was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Global Outreach.