MaryEllen McGuire

MaryEllen McGuire directed the New America Foundation's Education Policy Program until she left in the fall of 2009 to become President Obama's Senior Advisor for Education on his Domestic Policy Council.

Prior to joining New America, Ms. McGuire was the senior education policy advisor to Senator Chris Dodd on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Majority Staff Director of the Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families. During her tenure with Senator Dodd, Ms. McGuire oversaw the Senator's HELP Committee agenda, and authored and negotiated numerous bills related to college affordability, K-12 education, and national service. In 2007, Ms. McGuire took leave from the Senate to serve as the policy director to the Chris Dodd for President Campaign. Prior to her work on the Senate HELP Committee, Ms. McGuire worked on education and social policy issues for Senator Joe Biden, was the assistant director of research to former First Lady Hillary Clinton, worked for the Connecticut General Assembly, and served as a Connecticut public school teacher. In 2002, Ms. McGuire received her Ph.D. in politics and education from Columbia University and holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Connecticut. She has spent her entire career committed to equity and excellence in our public schools.

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