Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Michelle Tapped Longtime Pal, Mentor as Staff Chief

Longtime friends worked together in Chicago

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 20, 2009 9:56 AM CDT

(Newser) – Looking for change, Michelle Obama turned to longtime mentor and friend Susan Sher to serve as her chief of staff, the Chicago Tribune reports. They met when Obama dropped off a resume at Chicago’s City Hall; Sher, then the city’s No. 2 lawyer, was immediately impressed by the younger woman. Now, Sher will be handling Obama’s affairs as she begins “thinking more strategically” about her role as first lady.

After City Hall, the two worked together at the University of Chicago medical center. Lunching together, “we'd always get to the work issues, but when we had time, we'd talk about things that were most important to us,” Sher says. “I just like the way Susan thinks, in broad strokes,” Obama notes. The two also worked alongside Valerie Jarrett, now an adviser to the president—creating a built-in “support group” in Washington, Sher says.

First lady Michelle Obama waves as she leaves a NATO summit spouses group photo at the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany on Friday, April 3, 2009.
First lady Michelle Obama waves as she leaves a NATO summit spouses group photo at the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany on Friday, April 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)
First lady Michelle Obama looks on during a visit to Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in London, Thursday, April 2, 2009.
First lady Michelle Obama looks on during a visit to Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in London, Thursday, April 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski)
Michelle Obama drinks a cup of tea during a visit to Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre in west London, accompanied by Sarah Brown, wife of Britain's prime minister, April 1, 2009.
Michelle Obama drinks a cup of tea during a visit to Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre in west London, accompanied by Sarah Brown, wife of Britain's prime minister, April 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

It's a very easy relationship. There's a lot of laughter, a lot of listening. - Cindy Moelis, friend of Sher and Michelle Obama

Susan and I both started out as mentors. Over time, Michelle matured and became far more of a peer. Now we're at a point where we mentor each other.
- Valerie Jarrett, adviser to President Obama

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
skeptik
Jul 20, 2009 5:08 AM CDT
Been noshing a little too heartily on the Meow Mix again girls?
MrsK
Jul 20, 2009 4:25 AM CDT
No kidding!!

More Newser Stories

Did Chatty Michelle Break Voting Laws?

Rahm Emanuel: Report I'm Quitting Is 'BS'

Rahm Emanuel: I Want to Be Chicago Mayor

A Year of First Lady Fashion

How Michelle Became the Popular Obama


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne