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Jarrett was born to American parents [[James E. Bowman]] and [[Barbara T. Bowman|Barbara Taylor Bowman]] in [[Shiraz, Iran]], where her father, a pathologist and geneticist, ran a hospital for children as part of a program where American doctors and agricultural experts sought to help jump-start developing countries' health and farming efforts. When she was five, the family moved to London for one year, returning to Chicago in 1963.
Jarrett was born to American parents [[James E. Bowman]] and [[Barbara T. Bowman|Barbara Taylor Bowman]] in [[Shiraz, Iran]], where her father, a pathologist and geneticist, ran a hospital for children as part of a program where American doctors and agricultural experts sought to help jump-start developing countries' health and farming efforts. When she was five, the family moved to London for one year, returning to Chicago in 1963.


In 1966 her mother, [[Barbara T. Bowman|Barbara Taylor Bowman]], was one of by four child advocates that created the [[Erikson Institute]]. The Institute was established to provide training for people working in the recently created [[Head Start]] program and once had as its chairman of the Board of Trustees [[Thomas G. Ayers]], chairman (1973–1980) of Commonwealth Edison and father of [[Bill Ayers|William C. Ayers]] once the leader of the radical Weather Underground.
In 1966 her mother, [[Barbara T. Bowman|Barbara Taylor Bowman]], was one of by four child advocates that created the [[Erikson Institute]]. The Institute was established to provide training for people working in the recently created [[Head Start]] program and once had as its chairman of the Board of Trustees [[Thomas G. Ayers]], chairman (1973–1980) of Commonwealth Edison and father of [[Bill Ayers|William C. Ayers]] once the leader of the radical Weather Underground. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_Organization


As a child she spoke [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[French language|French]].<ref name=NYT_Kantor_20081123>{{cite news
As a child she spoke [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[French language|French]].<ref name=NYT_Kantor_20081123>{{cite news

Revision as of 02:31, 20 September 2009

Valerie Jarrett
Senior Advisor to the President and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 20, 2009
Serving with David Axelrod and Peter Rouse
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJulie E. Cram
Personal details
Born
Valerie Bowman

(1956-11-14) November 14, 1956 (age 68)
Shiraz, Iran
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseWilliam Jarrett (div. 1988)
ChildrenLaura Jarrett (Daughter)
EducationB.A.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan Law School (J.D.)
Stanford University (B.A.)
OccupationSenior Advisor to President Obama

Valerie Bowman Jarrett (born November 14, 1956) is a Chicago lawyer, businesswoman, and civic leader. She is best known for her role as an advisor to President Barack Obama. Jarrett is a Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Obama administration. Prior to that she served as a co-chairperson of the Obama-Biden Transition Project.[1][2]

Personal

Jarrett was born to American parents James E. Bowman and Barbara Taylor Bowman in Shiraz, Iran, where her father, a pathologist and geneticist, ran a hospital for children as part of a program where American doctors and agricultural experts sought to help jump-start developing countries' health and farming efforts. When she was five, the family moved to London for one year, returning to Chicago in 1963.

In 1966 her mother, Barbara Taylor Bowman, was one of by four child advocates that created the Erikson Institute. The Institute was established to provide training for people working in the recently created Head Start program and once had as its chairman of the Board of Trustees Thomas G. Ayers, chairman (1973–1980) of Commonwealth Edison and father of William C. Ayers once the leader of the radical Weather Underground. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_Organization

As a child she spoke Persian and French.[3]

Jarrett graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon, a New England boarding school, in 1974. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University in 1978, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Michigan Law School in 1981.

In 1983 Jarrett married Dr. William Robert Jarrett, son of famed Chicago Sun-Times reporter Vernon Jarrett. She attributes her switch from a private to a public career to their daughter Laura's birth and her own desire to do something that would make the daughter proud.[4] Laura is a graduate of Amherst College and a Harvard Law School student.[5]

To one reporter's e-mailed question about her divorce, she replied, "Married in 1983, separated in 1987, and divorced in 1988. Enough said."[4] In a Vogue profile, she further explained "We grew up together. We were friends since childhood. In a sense, he was the boy next door. I married without really appreciating how hard divorce would be."[4] William Jarrett died of a sudden heart attack in 1993.[4]

Career

Chicago politics

Jarrett got her start in Chicago politics in 1987 working for Mayor Harold Washington[6] as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Finance and Development.[7]

Jarrett continued to work in the mayor's office in the 1990s. She was Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard Daley, during which time (1991) she hired Michelle Robinson, then engaged to Barack Obama, away from a private law firm. Jarrett served as Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development from 1992 through 1995, and was Chair of the Chicago Transit Board from 1995 to 2005.[7]

Business administration

Until joining the Obama Administration, Jarrett was the CEO of The Habitat Company, a real estate development and management company which she joined in 1995. She has been replaced by Mark Segal, a lawyer who joined the company in 2002, as CEO. Daniel E. Levin is the Chairman of Habitat, which was formed in 1971.[8] Jarrett was a member of the board of Chicago Stock Exchange (2000–2007, as Chairman, 2004–2007).

She is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago Medical Center,[7] Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago and a Trustee of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.[9][9] Jarrett serves on the board of directors of USG Corporation, a Chicago based building materials corporation.

Jarrett's previous year's income, in a 2009 report, was a $300,000 salary and $550,000 in deferred compensation from The Habitat Executive Services, Inc. The Wall Street Journal also reported she disclosed payments of more than $346,000 for service on boards of directors that reflect her political ties, and work in Chicago real estate and community development. She was paid $76,000 for service as a director of Navigant Consulting, Inc. a Chicago-based global consulting group with governmental clients. She received $146,600 from USG, and $58,000 to serve on the board of Rreef American REIT II, a real estate investment trust based in San Francisco. The Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., paid her $34,444.[10]

Advisor to Barack Obama

Jarrett is one of President Obama's longest serving advisors and confidantes and was "widely tipped for a high-profile position in an Obama administration."[11][12]

Unlike Bert Lance, who arrived from Georgia with President [Jimmy] Carter and became his budget director, or Karen Hughes, who was President [George W.] Bush's communications manager, Ms. Jarrett isn't a confidante with a particular portfolio. What she does share with these counterparts is a fierce sense of loyalty and a refusal to publicly say anything that may reflect poorly on the candidate — or steal his thunder.[11]

On November 14, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama selected Jarrett to serve as White House Senior Advisor and for Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs.[13]

Jarrett is one of three Senior Advisors to President Obama.[14] She is Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement,[14] managing the White House Office of Public Engagement (formerly the Office of Public Liaison), Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of Urban Affairs, and Chairs the White House Commission on Women and Girls, and White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic, and Youth Sport. [15]

References

  1. ^ Terry, Don (July 27, 2008). "Insider has Obama's ear: What's she telling him?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  2. ^ King, John (November 9, 2008). "Obama wants Valerie Jarrett to replace him in Senate". CNNPolitics.com.
  3. ^ Kantor, Jodi (November 23, 2008). "An Old Hometown Mentor, Still at Obama's Side". New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d Barack's Rock, Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, October 2008; accessed December 15, 2008.
  5. ^ Cottle, Michelle (August 27, 2008). "The Woman to See: Meet Valerie Jarrett, Barack Obama's fixer". The New Republic. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  6. ^ "Campaign 2008: The Family Friend: Valerie Jarrett". Newsweek. May 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  7. ^ a b c "Valerie Jarrett to lead expanded Board of University of Chicago Medical Center" (Press release). University of Chicago News Office. June 13, 2006.
  8. ^ "Habitat promotes veteran to CEO" by Alby Gallun, ChicagoRealEstateDaily.com (Crain's), Feb. 5, 2009. Retrieved 4/5/09.
  9. ^ a b "Valerie Jarrett Profile". Forbes.com. 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008. Cite error: The named reference "ForbesProfile2008" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Hedge Fund Paid Summers $5.2 Million in Past Year" by John D. McKinnon and F. W. Farnum, wsj.online, April 4, 2009. Retrieved 4/5/09.
  11. ^ a b Belkin, Douglas (May 12, 2008). "For Obama, Advice Straight Up: Valerie Jarrett Is Essential Member of Inner Set". Wall Street Journal.
  12. ^ Bai, Matt (August 10, 2008). "Is Obama the End of Black Politics?". New York Times Magazine.
  13. ^ /president_elect_obama_and_vice_presiden_elect_biden_announce_key_white_hous/ "President-Elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden announce key White House staff" (Press release). President-Elect Barack Obama. November 15, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2008. {{cite press release}}: Check |url= value (help)
  14. ^ a b "Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett". The Administration: White House Staff. WhiteHouse.gov. Retrieved January 29, 2009 Valerie B. Jarrett is Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); line feed character in |accessdate= at position 17 (help)
  15. ^ Kantor, Jodi (November 14, 2008). "Longstanding Obama Adviser Gets Senior Role at the White House". New York Times.

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