Somehow, you knew this was coming:
Deesha Dyer, a former music and hip-hop culture writer, has been selected as President Obama’s new social secretary, overseeing the parties and public events held almost daily at the White House. Ms. Dyer, 37, who spent the past two years as the deputy social secretary, will fill the position to be vacated by Jeremy Bernard, the first man and the first openly gay person to serve in that role. By choosing Ms. Dyer, the White House is drawing from a group of people who have been working for the Obamas since early in the administration.
She began in the White House in 2009, as an intern in the Office of Scheduling and Advance. Two years earlier she had gone back to school to earn an associate degree in women’s studies from a community college in Philadelphia, after working as an assistant at a real estate investment trust and writing freelance articles about rap music for publications like The Philadelphia City Paper.
After Ms. Dyer began working at the White House, she quickly ascended to more senior roles in the scheduling office, and traveled with the president and first lady to handle news media, lodging and site logistics.
Well, at least there’s no fixation on credentialism, a rare departure from the Ivy League bunch that runs the American government these days. But there is “diversity”:
In a statement, President Obama said that Ms. Dyer represented the diversity in race, gender and socioeconomic backgrounds outside the Washington beltway. “Deesha shares our commitment to a White House that reflects America’s history, highlights our culture and celebrates all Americans,” he said. “Michelle and I look forward to working with her in this new role as we welcome visitors from across the country and around the world to the people’s house.”
Ms. Dyer is also the creator of a hip-hop AIDS program based in Philadelphia, and serves as a mentor for Michelle Obama’s program for high school girls.
Somewhere, Letitia Baldrige is… reacting perfectly.
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