Eight years go by fast. Many substantial careers have been boosted by the experience of working in the White House for the first African-American president of the United States. The historic importance of President Barack Obama's time in office was always a certainty. What is never certain is how a career may turn out as a result of the experience.
While many of the African-American members of the Obama administration who started at the White House in early 2009 have moved into higher-profile spaces, others have maintained a relatively low profile at consulting firms and in other forms of public service. Below is a look at where 11 African-American staffers were in 2009 and where they are today.
Lauren Victoria Burke is a Washington, D.C.-based political reporter who writes the Crew of 42 blog. She appears regularly on NewsOne Now with Roland Martin on TV One. Follow her on Twitter.
Reggie Love, Then
A graduate of Duke and the Wharton business school, Reggie Love enjoyed a high-profile position as President Obama’s “body man,” a role he filled 2009-2011.
Reggie Love, Now
Love is now a partner and vice president at Ron Transatlantic Advisors.
Bill Burton, Then
As a member of the Obama administration, Bill Burton was the deputy White House press secretary under Bob Gibbs from 2009 to February 2011.
Bill Burton, Now
In 2011 Burton co-founded the super PAC Priorities USA Action. In 2013 Burton was hired by Global Strategy Group as a political consultant. Burton is now a political consultant as the managing director of SKDKnickerbocker in California.
Eric Holder, Then
One of the most popular members of the Obama administration in the black community was Eric Holder, President Obama’s first U.S. attorney general.
Eric Holder, Now
After serving as the nation’s top law-enforcement officer for six years, Holder returned to his old job as a partner at the law firm Covington & Burling LLP.
Lisa Jackson, Then
Lisa Jackson served in the Obama administration as the administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency 2009-2013.
Lisa Jackson, Now
Jackson started at Apple in June 2013 to oversee the computer company’s environmental policy. She reports directly to CEO Tim Cook.
Melody Barnes, Then
Melody Barnes served as director of the Domestic Policy Council Director before leaving the White House in January 2012.
Melody Barnes, Now
Barnes has since moved on to take a position at the Aspen Institute as chair of its Forum for Community Solutions. Barnes is also on the board of directors for Booz Allen Hamilton.
Joshua DuBois, Then
Joshua DuBois was director of the White House Office of Faith Based Initiatives.
Joshua DuBois, Now
DuBois is now the CEO of the Values Partnerships consulting firm. The firm links companies and nonprofits with minority and religious entities.
Desiree Rogers, Then
Former White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers served one year in the position, beginning in 2009 and leaving in 2010.
Mona Sutphen, Then
From 2009 to 2011, Mona Sutphen worked as the White House deputy chief of staff for policy. She had also served on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration.
Mona Sutphen, Now
After leaving the White House, Sutphen became managing director at UBS AG and is now a partner at Macro Advisory Partners LLP, New York, a global consulting firm.
Desiree Rogers, Now
After leaving the White House, Rogers became the CEO of the Johnson Publishing Co. and ran Ebony and Jet. This year a private equity firm, Clear View Group, based in Texas, bought Ebony and Jet. Rogers is now CEO of Fashion Fair Cosmetics.
Corey Ealons, Then
Corey Ealons worked as director of specialty media at the White House, advising senior staff on strategic communications issues, from 2009 to August 2010.
Corey Ealons, Now
For the last six years, Ealons has worked at Vox Global, a global strategic communications firm.
Michael Blake, Then
After working as President Obama’s Iowa deputy political director during the 2008 presidential campaign, Michael Blake became the associate director of public engagement and deputy associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House.
Michael Blake, Now
In 2014 Blake was elected to the New York Assembly, representing the 79th District, which covers parts of the New York City borough of the Bronx.
Will Jawando, Then
Will Jawando worked at the White House as the associate director of the Office of Public Engagement January 2010-April 2011 and then worked at the Department of Education as the deputy director of strategic partnerships for a year before leaving in 2012.
Will Jawando, Now
Jawando ran for Congress in Maryland's 8th Congressional District to replace Rep. Chris van Hollen, who ran for the Senate. Though Jawando was defeated, he won the endorsements of Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) in the Democratic primary, and he is widely viewed as someone who will be an elected official in the future.