President Biden is expected to nominate Courtney O’Donnell, a top aide to Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, to represent the US at UNESCO.
A White House official confirmed to The Associated Press that O’Donnell will be the choice to represent the US in the United Nations-based agency.
O’Donnell, who was communications director for first lady Jill Biden, serves as a senior adviser in Harris’s office and acting chief of staff for Emhoff.
O’Donnell, who spent seven years at US vacation rental company Airbnb, also lent her expertise on several key issues to the first and second couple, according to the AP.
Among them was Jill Biden’s effort to raise awareness and support for American military families and promote community colleges, and Emhoff’s main topic: countering prejudice against Jewish people.
In a statement, former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain expressed excitement over O’Donnell’s impending promotion and said her colleagues trust her.
“This is a fantastic choice and she will do a fantastic job at UNESCO,” said Klain.
O’Donnell’s nomination comes months after the US officially announced its intention to rejoin UNESCO.
It’s been nearly six years since the Trump administration announced it was leaving UNESCO over what it called anti-Israel bias. Last year, Israel, which also left the agency, told the State Department it would not oppose a US return to the agency.
The Biden administration wanted to rejoin the agency over concerns about China’s influence in the agency.
The Senate will vote to confirm O’Donnell’s nomination for the position.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment and more information.
The Associated Press contributed.
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