Obama names Cathy Russell to head women’s equality office in State Dept.

President Obama named Cathy Russell on Monday as head of the U.S. State Department’s Office on Global Women’s Issues.

“Cathy is a longtime advocate for women, for justice, for fairness,” Mr. Obama said, as quoted by Politico. “We know that she’s going to be a powerful voice for women and girls around the world.”

Ms. Russell presently serves as chief of staff to Jill Biden. Her background includes work in the Justice Department during the Bill Clinton administration.

“Through the more than 25 years we have known Cathy, she has made a tremendous difference in the fight to promote gender equality and advance the status of women and girls,” Dr. Jill and Vice President Joseph R. Biden said, in a joint statement reported by Politico.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton created the Global Women’s office in 2009.