Cecilia Muñoz

Cecilia Muñoz (born July 27, 1962) is an American political advisor who served as Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Obama, a position she held for five years. Prior to that, she served as the White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for three years.

This article is about Cecilia Muñoz. For other uses, see Celia Álvarez Muñoz.
Cecilia Muñoz
Director of the Domestic Policy Council
In office
January 10, 2012 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
DeputyJames Kvaal
Preceded byMelody Barnes
Succeeded byAndrew Bremberg
Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
In office
January 20, 2009 – January 10, 2012
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJanet Creighton
Succeeded byDavid Agnew
Personal details
Born (1962-07-27) July 27, 1962
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAmit Pandya
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BA)
University of California, Berkeley (MA)

Before working for the White House, she was Senior Vice President for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest Latino advocacy organization in the United States.[1] At NCLR, she supervised all legislative and advocacy activities conducted by NCLR policy staff. She was also the Chair of the Board of the Center for Community Change and served on the U.S. Programs Board of the Open Society Institute and on the boards of directors of the Atlantic Philanthropies and the National Immigration Forum. In 2000, she was named a MacArthur Fellow for her work on civil rights and immigration.[2]

She was featured in several episodes of the documentary series How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories, and she contributed a chapter to West Wingers: Stories from the Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside the Obama White House discussing her experiences in the Obama White House.[3]

Early life and education

Muñoz was born in Detroit, Michigan[4] the youngest of four children. Her parents had moved to the United States from La Paz, Bolivia,[5] so that her father, an automotive engineer, could attend the University of Michigan. When she was three, the family moved to Livonia, Michigan, a Detroit suburb. Muñoz attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.[6] As a volunteer, she tutored Hispanic American inmates at the state prison in nearby Jackson, Michigan. She earned undergraduate degrees in English and Latin American studies in 1984. Following graduation, Muñoz continued her education at the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned a master's degree, also in Latin American studies.[7]

Career

As Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Muñoz was the Obama Administration's main liaison with state, local and tribal governments, including the Big Seven organizations that represent most state and local officials, including the Council of State Governments, the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures. She co-chaired the White House Task Force on Puerto Rico's Political Status, where her work prompted several politicians from both sides to celebrate her designation as head of the Domestic Policy Council.[8]

She was featured in the documentary film Last Best Chance,[9] story twelve of the series How Democracy Works Now, from filmmakers Shari Robertson and Michael Camerini. A cut of the film premiered on HBO in March 2010, under the title The Senator's Bargain.[10]

Muñoz appeared in Mountains and Clouds,[11] story two in the series How Democracy Works Now, where she and Frank Sharry discuss being at a potential "watershed moment" for comprehensive immigration reform, in 2001. Additionally, she was featured in Ain't the AFL for Nothin',[12] story seven in the series where she is shown working on a proposal for immigration, in 2003.

In 2020, Muñoz authored More than Ready, an autobiography about her life and tenure in the White House.[13][14]

Muñoz works at New America, a think tank based in Washington, D.C.[15]

In November 2020, Muñoz was announced as a member of Joe Biden's transition staff.[16]

Personal life

Muñoz is married to Amit Pandya, a human rights lawyer. They have two daughters.[17]

See also

References
  1. "President-Elect Barack Obama names two new White House staff members". Office of the President-elect (Press release). November 26, 2008. Archived from the original on January 26, 2009. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  2. "Director of Domestic Policy Council, Cecilia Muñoz". whitehouse.gov. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2016 – via National Archives.
  3. West Wingers | PenguinRandomHouse.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  4. Notable Hispanic American Women (1999). "Cecilia Muñoz" (Website). Hispanic Heritage. Gale Biography Resource Center. Archived from the original on September 24, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  5. Clift, Eleanor (June 22, 2018). "Obama Immigration Vet Cecilia Munoz: 'The Choices Are All Terrible'". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  6. "University of Michigan's star alums share stage during True Blue!". MLive.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  7. "Cecilia Muñoz". whitehouse.gov. August 17, 2011. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via National Archives.
  8. "Home - El Nuevo Día". Elnuevodia.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  9. "Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now | Story | The Senators' Bargain | Last Best Chance". How Democracy Works Now. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  10. "The Senators Bargain: Home". HBO. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  11. "Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now | Story | Mountains and Clouds". How Democracy Works Now. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  12. "Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now | Story | Ain't the AFL for Nothin'". How Democracy Works Now. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  13. "Cecilia Muñoz, Obama's history-making adviser, tackles doubts, doubters in 'More Than Ready'". NBC News. April 7, 2020. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  14. More than Ready. September 24, 2019. ISBN 9781549184857. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  15. "Cecilia Muñoz". New America. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  16. Fox, Ben; Spagat, Elliott (November 11, 2020). "Some big, early shifts on immigration expected under Biden". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  17. Nakamura, David (September 8, 2014). "White House immigration adviser Cecilia Muñoz is taking the heat for Obama". Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

Further reading
  • "Congress Weakens Immigration Policies." Associated Press. December 1, 1997.
  • Eversley, Melanie. "A Leading Authority: Detroit Native Speaks Out Proudly for Latino Issues." Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1997.
  • Hayward, Brad. "Welfare Reform Has Legal Immigrants Wary." Sacramento Bee. September 4, 1996.
  • "Immigrants Add $10 Billion to Economy Annually, Study Says." Washington Times. May 19, 1997.
  • McDonnell, Patrick J. "Proposed Cutbacks in Aid Alarm Legal Immigrants." Los Angeles Times. July 30, 1996, p. A1.
  • Navarrette, Ruben, Jr. "Groups Ask for Cuts in Immigrants." Arizona Republic. November 11, 1997.
  • Sample, Herbert A. "Activists Want Food Stamps Restored to Immigrants." Orange County Register. August 22, 1997, p. A15.
  • Sun, Lena H. "White House Queries Activist on Citizenship." Washington Post. March 21, 1997, p. A28.
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