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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release June 30, 1997

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES WENDY RUTH SHERMAN AS COUNSELOR WITH THE RANK OF AMBASSADOR AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

President Clinton today announced his nomination of Wendy Ruth Sherman to be Counselor of the Department of State with the Rank of Ambassador.

Ms. Sherman, of Bethesda, Maryland, is currently President and CEO of the Fannie Mae Foundation. Prior to assuming this position, Ms. Sherman was Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, where she directed the legislative efforts of the State Department with the U.S. Congress. Known for her strategic, managerial and communication skills, Ms. Sherman has worked for over twenty years in both the public and private sectors. She has held the position of Director of Maryland's Office of Child Welfare; was appointed Special Secretary for Children and Youth in Maryland (a cabinet-level position); served as Chief of Staff for three years for Senator Barbara Mikulski, then a Congresswoman from Maryland; and specialized in strategic communications as a partner in the media consulting firm of Doak, Shrum, Harris and Sherman. She attended Smith College from 1967 to 1969 and completed her B.A. cum laude from Boston University in 1971. She earned a Master's degree in Social Work, Phi Kappa Phi, from the University of Maryland in 1976.

In her capacity as Counselor of the Department of State, Ms. Sherman will serve the Secretary of State as special advisor and consultant on major issues of foreign policy, and provide guidance to the Department on such matters. She will conduct special international negotiations and consultations, and undertake special assignments as directed by the Secretary.

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