Obama

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

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Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Kathleen Sebelius has been a leader on health care, family and seniors issues for over 20 years. Currently, Sebelius is the CEO of Sebelius Resources LLC and engages in policy work with the Kaiser Family Fund and co-leads the Health Strategy Group for the Aspen Institute.

While leading the Department of Health and Human Services under President Barak Obama, Secretary Sebelius guided the implementation of the historic Affordable Care Act. She was also at the forefront of the Obama Administration’s efforts to build a 21st century health care system, from putting a new focus on prevention to promoting electronic health records to expanding the primary care workforce. Under her leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services has also played a leading role in meeting some of the country’s biggest challenges of the last two years, providing critical support to families during the economic downturn and coordinating the U.S. government response to the H1N1 flu. With partners across the Cabinet, she has launched new efforts to make government work better for the American people, joining with Attorney General Holder to crack down on health care fraud, working with Secretary Vilsack to build a 21st century food safety system, and collaborating with Secretary Duncan to raise the quality of early childhood education.

Before joining the Obama Administration, Secretary Sebelius served as Governor of Kansas, where she was named one of Time Magazine’s Top Five Governors, and Kansas Insurance Commissioner, where Governing Magazine selected her as their Public Official of the Year.

Secretary Sebelius was hosted by The Common Good in 2006 for a Meet & Greet.

Twitter: @SecSebelius

Ted Strickland

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Ted Strickland

Psychologist, religious leader, politician

Ted Strickland is a former minister, psychologist, congressman and governor of Ohio. Strickland created one of the nation’s leading advanced energy laws, preventing runaway electricity rate hikes and making Ohio a national leader in green energy jobs. Strickland held tuition increases to the lowest rate in the nation and made Ohio the first state to offer free tuition to veterans from across the country. Under Strickland’s leadership, Ohio’s primary and secondary schools won the nation’s top prize for education innovation from the Education Commission of the States.

In Congress, Ted was instrumental in passing the Children’s Health Insurance Program that provides health coverage to millions of children nationwide. He was a leading advocate for funding the Appalachian Regional Commission and he voiced opposition to the Iraq War.

After serving as governor, Ted was nominated by President Barack Obama to be a public delegate to the 68th U.N. General Assembly. He also served as a senior advisor to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Most recently, Ted ran the Center for American Progress Action Fund where he spoke out on behalf of policies to strengthen America’s working families.

Strickland spoke at The Common Good in 2015 for a Meet & Greet.

Twitter: @Ted_Strickland

Alan Krueger †

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Alan Krueger †

Economist

Alan B. Krueger was the Bendheim Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University. He served as Chairman of President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers from November 2011 to August 2013, and was a Member of the President’s Cabinet. From 1987 until his death, he held a joint appointment in the Economics Department and Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. He was the founding Director of the Princeton University Survey Research Center.

In 2009-2010 he served as Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy and Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and in 1994-95 he served as Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Labor. He wrote for the New York Times Economic Scene column and Economix blog from 2000 to 2009. He was named a Sloan Fellow in Economics in 1992 and an NBER Olin Fellow in 1989-90. Krueger was editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives from 1996 to 2002. He was elected a Fellow of the Econometric Society in 1996, a fellow of the Society of Labor Economists in 2005 and a member of the Executive Committee of the American Economic Association in 2004. Krueger was awarded the Kershaw Prize by the Association for Public Policy and Management in 1997 and the Mahalanobis Memorial Medal by the Indian Econometric Society in 2001. In 2002 he was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and in 2003 he was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.

On March 16, 2019, Krueger was found dead at his home in Princeton.

Alan Krueger spoke at The Common Good Forum 2015.

Secretary Tom Vilsack

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Secretary Tom Vilsack

30th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Tom Vilsack serves as the Nation’s 30th Secretary of Agriculture.

As leader of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Vilsack is working hard to strengthen the American agricultural economy, build vibrant rural communities and create new markets for the tremendous innovation of rural America. In five years at the Department, Vilsack has worked to implement President Obama’s agenda to put Americans back to work and create an economy built to last. USDA has supported America’s farmers, ranchers and growers who are driving the rural economy forward, provided food assistance to millions of Americans, carried out record conservation efforts, made record investments in our rural communities and helped provide a safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for the American people.

As chair of the first-ever White House Rural Council, Secretary Vilsack and USDA are taking steps to strengthen services for rural businesses and entrepreneurs by finding new ways to partner with other Federal agencies and the private sector to spur investment in rural America.

Prior to his appointment, Vilsack served two terms as the Governor of Iowa, in the Iowa State Senate and as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vilsack was born into an orphanage and adopted in 1951. After graduating Hamilton College and Albany Law School, he moved to Mt. Pleasant, his wife Christie’s hometown, where he practiced law. The Vilsacks have two adult sons and two daughters-in-law – Doug, married to Janet; and Jess, married to Kate. They also have two grandchildren.

Neera Tanden

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Neera Tanden

President of the Center for American Progress and Counselor to the Center for American Progress Action Fund

Neera Tanden is the President of the Center for American Progress and Counselor to the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Tanden has served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations. Most recently, Tanden served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Center, where she oversaw strategic planning, operations, and fundraising.

Tanden previously served as senior advisor for health reform at the Department of Health and Human Services, working on President Barack Obama’s health reform team in the White House.

Prior to serving as senior advisor, Tanden was the director of domestic policy for the Obama-Biden presidential campaign. Tanden also served as policy director for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.

Tanden was also legislative director for Sen. Clinton, and served as associate director for domestic policy in the Clinton White House and senior policy advisor to the first lady.

Tanden was named one of the “Most Influential Women in Washington” by National Journal, was recently included on Elle magazine’s “Women in Washington Power List,” and was recognized as one of Fortune Magazine’s “Most Powerful Women in Politics.”

Twitter: @Neera Tanden