USDE: No One Puts Carmel In The Corner

Arne has added another name to his official list of selections, and she is -- wait for it -- former Kennedy (and Bingaman) education staffer Carmel Martin.  I told you to watch out for former Hill staffers.  (Well, someone told me, and I just passed it on. But I was right to do so.) 

Congrats to Carmel and condolences to everyone else who wanted to be head of Planning and Evaluation (and to the Gates Foundation, which had just hired her). 

Of course, we still don't know how the top jobs are panning out -- Deputy Secretary, etc.  Click below to read Martin's bio (along with Peter Cunningham's who you already knew about).  Or, click over to Mike Petrilli for some more water-cooler gossip about Wendy Kopp, Ted Mitchell, and Ruslyn Ali the likes of which you usually only get here. Say what you will, but I taught him well.

 

CARMEL MARTIN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, EVALUATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT
       Carmel Martin has an extensive background in the education field.  In the mid-90s, Martin was an Associate in the Education Group with Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.  After her tenure there counseling school districts, colleges and universities, Martin moved to the United States Department of Justice where she focused on enforcing key provisions of Civil Rights Act.  She has served as Counsel to both Senator Tom Daschle and Senator Jeff Bingaman before becoming the Associate Director for Domestic Policy at the Center for American Progress in 2004.  Martin's most recent work has been with Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions from 2005 until December 2008.  As Chief Education Advisor, she has counseled the Senator on all education issues and also led negotiations on all education legislation.  Martin received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law and also has a Masters in Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.  She received her B.A. in Economics and International Studies from Manhattan College.

       PETER CUNNINGHAM, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH
       Peter Cunningham is the founder and President of Cunningham Communications, a Chicago communications firm specializing in local government, politics and non-profits. Since its inception in 1997, their clients have included the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Housing Authority, Ariel Investments, Axelrod and Associates and the Regional Transportation Authority.  Previously, Cunningham worked as a speechwriter and aide in the Office of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, the Illinois Attorney General's office and the Finance Committee for the Chicago City Council.  He began his career as a reporter and writer for business and general interest publications including the Southampton Press.  Cunningham received a B.A. in Philosophy at Duke University and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University.