It may not be February, but Erica Loewe is making Black history. The Florida Gator turned Capitol Hill communications specialist has transitioned into a history-making role within the Biden-Harris administration. After successfully managing a portion of the White House’s media and communications portfolio, she has secured a role as the special assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for the White House Office of Public Engagement. By doing so, she joins Karine Jean-Pierre as the latest Black woman to serve in a senior communications role during the Biden-Harris administration.
“It is our pleasure to congratulate Erica P. Loewe who will serve as Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for the White House Office of Public Engagement,” the Black Women’s Congressional Alliance wrote in a LinkedIn post celebrating the announcement.
“Erica P. Loewe has almost [single-handedly] elevated the import of African-American media in the White House. I could not be more pleased about her continued trajectory,” Delaware State University President Tony Allen wrote in a separate celebratory post.
Loewe may be new to this particular position, but she is far from unfamiliar with the inner workings of Capitol Hill. Shortly after graduating from the University of Florida, she worked as a White House intern during the Obama-Biden administration. Then, she transitioned into a fellowship role on the Presidential Inaugural Committee during Obama’s second term. Since then, she’s worked in several communications roles of federal lawmakers like Reps. Maxine Waters and James E. Clyburn. In 2021, she returned to the White House as the Director of African-American Media.
“This role has existed in previous administrations, but the Biden-Harris administration is the first to take an unprecedented whole of government approach to advance racial equity,” Loewe told AFRO Contributing Editor Deborah Bailey when asked about her work with the Biden-Harris administration thus far.
“President Biden issued a mandate to staff : ensure an inclusive and accessible environment where everyone has a seat at the table. That is what led me to this role. It has been a life-changing experience.”
