Dorothy McAuliffe
Special Representative for Global Partnerships
Assumed office
June 3, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byPosition established
First Lady of Virginia
In office
January 11, 2014 – January 13, 2018
GovernorTerry McAuliffe
Preceded byMaureen McDonnell
Succeeded byPamela Northam
Personal details
Born
Dorothy Swann

(1963-05-02) May 2, 1963 (age 60)
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1988)​
Children5
EducationCatholic University (BA)
Georgetown University (JD)

Dorothy Swann McAuliffe (born May 2, 1963) is an American attorney who is serving as the U.S. State Department's Special Representative for Global Partnerships. She previously was the First Lady of the Commonwealth of Virginia from January 2014 to January 2018.

Early life and education

McAuliffe was born Dorothy Swann on May 2, 1963, to Richard and Doris Swann.[1][2] She graduated from the Catholic University of America with a Bachelors of Arts in political science in 1985 and from the Georgetown University Law Center.[1][3]

Career

Early career

McAuliffe practiced banking and security law for several years and worked for the law firms of Thompson & Mitchell and Heron Burchette Ruckerett & Rothwell.[4][3]

First Lady of Virginia

McAuliffe was the first Virginia first lady to set up an office in the Patrick Henry Building, where cabinet secretaries and agency heads work.[5]

As First Lady of Virginia, McAuliffe launched and advocated for anti-hunger programs and food access initiatives in the state. In 2014, Terry McAuliffe created the Commonwealth Council on Bridging the Nutritional Divide and named Dorothy McAuliffe head of the council.[6] Dorothy McAuliffe also advocated for several programs to feed hungry children in schools, including a Breakfast after the Bell program, which made breakfast part of the school day,[7] and programs that provided summer and after school meals for students with food insecurity.[5][8][9][10]

McAuliffe also advocated for the creation of the Virginia Grocery Investment Fund, a fund set up to attract supermarkets to food deserts across the state.[11][12] McAuliffe served on the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which helps military children integrate into new schools due to frequent moves while their parents are serving in the military.[13]

In 2016, McAuliffe initiated and led the effort for the addition of a disability ramp to Virginia's Governor's Executive Mansion.[14][15]

Later career

McAuliffe speaking at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in 2022.

Non-profit work

Dorothy has served on the boards of FoodCorps,[16][17] the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,[1][4] and the Smithsonian Institution.[18] After her term as First Lady of Virginia ended, McAuliffe joined Share Our Strength as the National Policy Advisor for the No Kid Hungry VA campaign.[19]

Politics

In 2018, McAuliffe considered running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Barbara Comstock (R) for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia's 10th congressional district,[20] but ultimately decided not to.[3]

In 2020, McAuliffe advocated for the passage of a bill in Virginia that would allow workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child, or to take care of a sick family member.[21]

On 3 June 2022, it was announced that McAuliffe was appointed as the Special Representative for Global Partnerships by President Joe Biden.[22][23]

Academics

She was a spring 2018 fellow at the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service.[5][24]

Personal life

McAuliffe married Terry McAuliffe on October 8, 1988.[1][25] They have five children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Sullivan, Heather (9 January 2014). "Meet Virginia's new First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe". NBC12. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  2. ^ Lemongello, Steven (22 August 2019). "Richard Swann, 'godfather of Democratic fundraising in Florida,' dies at 79". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  3. ^ a b c Portnoy, Jenna (10 May 2017). "Dorothy McAuliffe, wife of Virginia governor, says she will not run for Congress". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b "President Clinton Names Four to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts". Clinton White House Archives. Office of the Press Secretary. 9 November 2000. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Vozzella, Laura (19 December 2017). "Dorothy McAuliffe put aside pomp as hard-lobbying Virginia first lady". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  6. ^ Reid, Zachary (21 November 2014). "McAuliffe creates nutrition panel". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  7. ^ "Virginia schools to receive grants for Breakfast After the Bell programs". WDBJ7. 7 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  8. ^ Domingo, Ida (2019-11-18). "Local school districts recognized with 2019 Dorothy S. McAuliffe School Nutrition Awards". WSET. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  9. ^ Shirley, Victoria (28 September 2017). "Virginia's first lady eats lunch with Roanoke City students". WDBJ7. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  10. ^ "First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe receives Hungry Hero Award". Salem Times-Register. 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-05-18.
  11. ^ Wetzler, Jessica (11 January 2018). "Virginia Grocery Investment Fund Seeks to End 'Food Deserts'". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2018-01-12.
  12. ^ "Virginia Grocery Investment Fund Seeks to End 'Food Deserts'". NBC 12. 12 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  13. ^ Rockett, Ali (19 November 2017). "Virginia military families emphasize impact on children during lunch with Gov. McAuliffe and the state's first lady". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  14. ^ Moomaw, Graham (21 March 2016). "'This project is about respect:' McAuliffes christen ramp at Executive Mansion". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  15. ^ Slipek, Edwin. "Dorothy McAuliffe: A Visit With the First Lady of Virginia". Style Weekly. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  16. ^ "Podcast: How Food Corps is Helping Americans Eat Better". The Chronicle of Philanthrop. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  17. ^ "Our Team". FoodCorps. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  18. ^ "Minutes of the Board of Regents" (PDF). Smithsonian Institution. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  19. ^ "No Kid Hungry: Providing essential nutrition to children even away from school". WTVR. 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  20. ^ Portnoy, Jenna (25 April 2017). "Dorothy McAuliffe, wife of Va. governor, is testing the waters for a congressional run". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  21. ^ Burns, Jake (2020-01-29). "Paid family medical leave legislation aims to ease burden for families". WTVR. Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  22. ^ "Announcement of Dorothy McAuliffe as the State Department's Special Representative for Global Partnerships". United States Department of State. Office of the Spokesperson. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  23. ^ Vozzella, Laura. "Former Va. first lady Dorothy McAuliffe named to State Department post". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Meet the GU Politics Spring 2018 Fellows". Georgetown University. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  25. ^ Terry McAuliffe. "Happy 30th Anniversary @DSMcAuliffe. 5 great children & a ton of fun. Here's to 30+more". Twitter.
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