{"id":3974,"date":"2014-12-02T14:45:06","date_gmt":"2014-12-02T19:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=3974"},"modified":"2024-08-28T14:47:12","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T18:47:12","slug":"maher-road-to-the-white-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/maher-road-to-the-white-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Road to the White House"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
In her years as a special assistant to President Barack Obama, Jessica Maher focused on the big picture of the nation\u2019s environment, as well as specific legislative language on myriad topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her duties: serving as the primary White House liaison to about 20 Senate offices, the primary contact for four committees in the United States Senate, and as a point person on tracking updates for the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now a private consultant, Maher sees a consistent thread through her career \u2014 starting with experiences and opportunities in 2004. That year she worked for U.S. Rep. Sam Farr of California when she participated in the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship<\/b>, offered by the National Sea Grant College Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“My job in Sam Farr\u2019s office gave me the launching pad for my career that ultimately led to the White House,\u201d Maher says. \u201cFinding positions on Capitol Hill is very competitive. I know Ph.D.s who want to work on The Hill and they are answering phones,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next, she handled energy, environment and conservation policy for two United States senators, Russell Feingold of Wisconsin and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Immediately following the 2009 inauguration, she was named associate director for legislative affairs for the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality. In 2011, she moved to the special assistant role working with the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n