U.S. President
Barack Obama has called upon a number of
Rattlers to help him lead the country in a better direction. FAMU Interim
President
Larry Robinson answered the call to serve as an assistant secretary
of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The president also chose alumni
Kendrick B.
Meek and
Teddy B. Taylor to serve as ambassadors.
Melanie N. Roussell now joins the distinguished group of
Rattlers who’ve received appointments from the 44th president of the United
States. Yesterday, the White House announced that she is Obama’s nominee to
serve as assistant secretary for public affairs in the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
Roussell is currently the national press secretary for the
Democratic National Committee, a position she has held since August 2011. From
February 2009 to July 2011, she was press secretary for the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. Prior to that, Roussell served as spokesperson
for the Presidential Inaugural Committee and Southern Regional Communications
Director for Obama for America. From February 2007 to July 2008, she was
Communications Director for the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of
Representatives under Chairman John Conyers, Jr. She was honored as one of
Florida A&M University’s “40 under 40” Young Alumni in 2011. Roussell
earned a B.S. in broadcast journalism from FAMU and an M.A. in Public Communication
from American University.
“I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen
to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time
for our country,” Obama said in a press release that announced his intention to
appoint Roussell and others to key administration posts. “I look forward to
working with them in the months and years ahead.”
