Shuwanza Goff
Shuwanza Goff is an American political administrator who serves as Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. In January 2019, she was named floor director for legislative operations for United States House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, making her the first African-American woman to serve as floor director.
Shuwanza Goff | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Leader | Louisa Terrell |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Tennessee (BA) American University (MS) |
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.[1] In the 1990s, the family moved to Mechanicsville, Virginia.[1][2] Goff attended a private school in Richmond, Virginia.[1][2]
Goff became interested in political 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.[1]
In high school, Goff decided to attend the University of Tennessee after a University of Tennessee student spoke to Goff's class in high school.[2] Goff earned her bachelor's degree in political science from at Tennessee in 2006. She earned her master's degree, in 2008, from American University in justice, law and society.[3][4] She served as an intern on Capitol Hill.[4]
Career in Congress
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.[5] However, by 2012 she was serving as Hoyer's deputy director of legislative operations.[4]
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.[4][6] 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.[4]
Goff was named Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, alongside Reema Dodin, for the Biden administration in November 2020.[6]
Personal life
Goff lives in northern Virginia.[1]
References
- Purtell, David (January 18, 2019). "History made on Capitol Hill has Georgetown roots". Post and Courier.
- Dunlap, Karen (January 28, 2019). "Alumna Makes Political History with House Shift to Democratic Majority". News. University of Tennessee.
- Hill, Selena (January 3, 2019). "Meet the First Black Woman to Serve as Floor Director in Congress". Black Enterprise.
- McCaskill, Nolan D. (January 2, 2019). "House Dem majority welcomes first black female floor director". POLITICO.
- Erickson, Andrew (March 2019). "Point of View: Shuwanza Goff". American University.
- Jansen, Bart (November 23, 2020). "Biden names 2 White House staffers to help negotiate legislation with Congress". USA TODAY.
External links
- Shuwanza Goff's profile from the Biden-Harris Transition website
