President Joe Biden has chosen Courtney O’Donnell, a longtime aide and current top adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, as the United States’ permanent representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The nomination comes as the U.S. recently rejoined UNESCO following a five-year hiatus initiated by former President Donald Trump.
Courtney O’Donnell, who will hold the rank of ambassador, currently serves as a senior adviser to Vice President Harris and as the acting chief of staff for Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff. She is known for her involvement in various national and global issues, including gender equity and addressing prejudice against Jewish communities, which is a top priority for Emhoff, who is Jewish.
O’Donnell’s background includes a stint as communications director for Jill Biden during her tenure as second lady during Joe Biden’s vice presidency in the Obama administration. In that role, O’Donnell focused on raising awareness and support for U.S. military families and promoting community colleges.
She brings extensive experience in developing global partnerships, public affairs, and strategic communications, having held senior positions in two presidential administrations, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, national political campaigns, and the private sector. O’Donnell most recently worked on global partnerships at Airbnb.
Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain praised O’Donnell’s selection, stating that she is widely trusted by colleagues around the world. Colleague Cathy Russell, who worked with O’Donnell in the second lady’s office, highlighted O’Donnell’s ability to create global partnerships, initiate social impact campaigns, and provide strategic counsel on various issues.
The U.S. Senate will need to confirm O’Donnell’s nomination to the UNESCO role.
In late July, First Lady Jill Biden attended a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where the U.S. flag was raised to officially mark the country’s reentry into the organization. The U.S. decided to rejoin UNESCO in June, with member states voting in favor of the reentry in July. The move was prompted by concerns that China had filled a leadership void since the U.S. withdrawal, reflecting broader geopolitical dynamics and China’s increasing influence in international institutions.
The U.S. had withdrawn from UNESCO in 2017, citing an alleged anti-Israel bias within the organization. The decision followed UNESCO’s 2011 move to admit Palestine as a member state, leading both the U.S. and Israel to halt their financial support for the agency. The U.S. officially completed its withdrawal in 2018.