Lee Satterfield is an American diplomat who has served as
in the
Biden administration
Joe Biden's tenure as the 46th president of the United States began with his inauguration on January 20, 2021. Biden, a Democrat from Delaware who previously served as vice president under Barack Obama, took office following his victory ...
since November 2021.
Early life and education
Satterfield is a native of
South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the
University of South Carolina.
Career
Satterfield joined the
White House Office
The White House Office is an entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The White House Office is headed by the White House chief of staff, who is also the head of the Executive Office of the President. The s ...
in 1993, serving as a scheduler for Vice President
Al Gore
Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Gore was the Democratic Part ...
, special assistant to President
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
, and staff director of the
Office of Public Liaison
The White House Office of Public Engagement is a unit of the White House Office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Under the administration of President Barack Obama, it was called the White House Office of Public ...
. She then joined the
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is responsible for the administration of federal laws governing occupational safety and health, wage and hour standards, unemploym ...
, serving as deputy chief of staff from 1997 to 1999 and chief of staff from 1999 to 2001 under Secretary
Alexis Herman
Alexis Margaret Herman (born July 16, 1947) is an American politician who served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Herman was the first African-American to hold the position. Prior to serving as Secretary, she was ...
. In 2001 and 2002, Satterfield worked as deputy COO and chief of staff of the
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the governing body of the United States Democratic Party. The committee coordinates strategy to support Democratic Party candidates throughout the country for local, state, and national office, as well a ...
. From 2003 to 2004, she was the DNC's director of convention planning. After working as an independent consultant, Satterfield joined the
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other n ...
during the
Obama administration
Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017. A Democrat from Illinois, Obama took office following a decisive victory over Republican ...
, serving as the deputy chief of protocol and deputy assistant secretary of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. It is responsible for the Un ...
. Satterfield became president and CEO of
Meridian International Center
The Meridian International Center is a non-partisan, non-profit, public diplomacy center headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the historic Meridian House and White-Meyer House, both designed by John Russell Pope. Founded in 1960, the organization ...
in 2015.
Biden administration
On April 27, 2021, President
Joe Biden nominated Satterfield to be an Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the
US State Department
The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nati ...
. Hearings were held on Satterfield's nomination before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the U.S. Senate charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. It is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid pro ...
on July 27, 2021. The committee favorably reported her nomination to the Senate floor on August 4, 2021. The entire Senate confirmed Satterfield on November 18, 2021, by
voice vote
In parliamentary procedure, a voice vote (from the Latin ''viva voce'', meaning "live voice") or acclamation is a voting method in deliberative assemblies (such as legislatures) in which a group vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding vo ...
.
Satterfield assumed office on November 23, 2021.
Personal life
Satterfield married Patrick Steel in 1997.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Satterfield, Lee
Living people
People from South Carolina
University of South Carolina alumni
Clinton administration personnel
Obama administration personnel
Biden administration personnel
Assistant Secretaries of State for Education and Culture
Democratic National Committee people
Year of birth missing (living people)
American diplomats
American women diplomats