Shuwanza Goff
White House Director of Legislative Affairs
Assumed office
August 1, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byLouisa Terrell
Personal details
Born
Shuwanza Rebecca Goff

1983 or 1984 (age 39–40)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Tennessee (BA)
American University (MS)

Shuwanza Rebecca Goff (born 1983/1984)[1] is an American political advisor serving as the director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. In January 2019, she was named floor director for legislative operations for Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, making her the first African-American woman to serve as floor director.

Early life and education

Shuwanza Goff lived in New York City, alongside her sister April, as a child. Her parents are Robert and Hershular Smith-Goff.[2] In the 1990s, the family moved to Mechanicsville, Virginia.[2][3] Goff attended a private school in Richmond, Virginia.[2][3]

Goff became interested in politics at a young age. When Goff was young, her parents used to take her and her sister with them on Election Day to vote. They would let Goff pull the voting machine lever to submit their votes. The family talked about politics regularly at dinner. When David Dinkins lost to Rudy Giuliani in New York City's 1993 mayoral race, Goff wrote a letter to Dinkins expressing her frustration. Hillary Clinton visited Goff's school when Goff was in the fourth grade. The fourth graders did not get to see Clinton, resulting in Goff holding a protest to bring attention to the fact the grade didn't get to see Clinton.[2]

Goff decided to attend the University of Tennessee after a student at the university spoke to Goff's class in high school.[3] Goff earned her bachelor's degree in political science in 2006. She earned her Master of Arts degree in justice, law, and society from American University in 2008.[4][5] She served as an intern on Capitol Hill.[5]

Career

In 2008, Goff joined Steny Hoyer's office as staff assistant with the intention to leave the position at the end of the congressional cycle.[6] However, by 2012 she was serving as Hoyer's deputy director of legislative operations.[5]

In January 2019, Goff was named floor director for legislative operations for Hoyer. Goff was the first African American woman to serve as floor director.[5][7] In this position, Goff communicates across party lines, negotiating on behalf of the Democrats, preparing the agenda and schedule for bills, and wider coordination between Congress, the Senate, and the White House.[5]

Goff was named deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs as the liaison for House affairs for the Biden administration in November 2020, alongside Reema Dodin as deputy director and liaison for Senate affairs.[7] She briefly stepped down from OLA in late February 2023 to become a principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs.[8][9] In July 2023, it was announced that Goff was named the Director of the White House Office of Legislative affairs following the former Director, Louisa Terrell, who is stepping down from the position at the end of that month.[10][11]

Personal life

Goff lives in northern Virginia.[2]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.postandcourier.com/news/local_state_news/shuwanza-goff-with-georgetown-roots-to-join-president-elect-bidens-white-house-staff/article_992653c4-2f52-11eb-a5ca-570acd913952.html
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Purtell, David (January 18, 2019). "History made on Capitol Hill has Georgetown roots". Post and Courier.
  3. 1 2 3 Dunlap, Karen (January 28, 2019). "Alumna Makes Political History with House Shift to Democratic Majority". News. University of Tennessee.
  4. ↑ Hill, Selena (January 3, 2019). "Meet the First Black Woman to Serve as Floor Director in Congress". Black Enterprise.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 McCaskill, Nolan D. (January 2, 2019). "House Dem majority welcomes first black female floor director". POLITICO.
  6. ↑ Erickson, Andrew (March 2019). "Point of View: Shuwanza Goff". American University.
  7. 1 2 Jansen, Bart (November 23, 2020). "Biden names 2 White House staffers to help negotiate legislation with Congress". USA TODAY.
  8. ↑ Evers-Hillstrom, Karl (February 15, 2023). "Lobbying World: Top White House aide leaves for K Street". The Hill.
  9. ↑ "Shuwanza Goff". Cornerstone.
  10. ↑ "Biden's top legislative director to step down". POLITICO. July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Biden chooses a longtime Hill aide respected by Republicans as his new legislative affairs director". AP News. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
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