Duke grad with NC ties becomes Biden’s ‘nerve-center’ with her new White House role
White House officials announced Friday morning that Stefanie Feldman, who has ties to the Triangle, is now assistant to President Joe Biden and staff secretary.
Feldman, who has worked with Biden for more than a decade, is a Duke University graduate and her family lives in the Triangle.
The White House considers the staff secretary position “the nerve center of the White House.” Feldman will oversee Biden’s decision-making process and manage information flow.
If someone wants memos, briefs, intelligence reports, a list of potential nominees, speeches or correspondence in front of Biden, they will have to go through Feldman, who will decide if, when and how the president receives those items.
“Stef is one of my longest-serving and most trusted advisors,” Biden said in a news release. “I have ... asked her to serve as Staff Secretary because I know I can trust her to ensure that I am equipped with the best advice and counsel.”
She will also travel with the president.
Feldman replaces Neera Tanden, who is taking over for Susan Rice as Biden’s senior domestic policy advisor, The White House confirmed to McClatchy Friday morning. Rice announced last week that she would leave her position on May 26.
Feldman currently serves as deputy assistant to the president and senior advisor to the White House domestic policy advisor.
She has spent her career working for Biden, beginning with an internship in his domestic and economic policy office when Biden served as vice president.
Feldman previously served as national policy director for Biden’s presidential campaign, the inaugural policy director for the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden School of Public Policy & Administration and in various policy roles in his office during his vice presidency.
“I asked Stef to join me from the White House to the University of Delaware, to my presidential campaign, and back to the White House because of her talent and tenacious pursuit of policies that make life better for hard-working Americans,” Biden said.
She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Duke University and a juris doctor degree from Yale Law School.
This story was originally published May 5, 2023 at 11:19 AM.
