Baldwin Alum Named White House Fellow

The following was provided to Patch by The Baldwin School:

The Baldwin School is proud to announce that Marisa Porges, member of its graduating class of 1996, was appointed as a White House Fellow. Marisa is the second Baldwin alumna to receive this honor, joining Kinney Zalesne, class of 1983, who was a member of the White House Fellows Class of 1995.

Founded in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson, the White House Fellows program is one of America’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service offering exceptional young men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government.

Marisa has been placed with the National Economic Council, which will demand a capacity for quick learning and a willingness to work hard. She credits Baldwin with giving her both the critical skills and, most importantly, the confidence to succeed in her new role, saying “My Baldwin education provided me all the tools I need to take on this new challenge -- to solve problems, think creatively, and find my voice, whether I’m on a carrier, in a lecture hall, or at the White House. I can’t wait!”

Selection as a White House Fellow is highly competitive and based on a record of professional achievement, evidence of leadership potential, and a proven commitment to public service. Prior to her appointment at the White House, Marisa was a post-doctoral research fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Her work focused on terrorism and counterterrorism, particularly strategies to combat radicalization, and included extensive fieldwork in Yemen, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, interviewing former extremists and senior security officials.

“This program continues to speak to what is possible when we set aside personal ambition in pursuit of the common good, and it offers a reminder that those who love their country can change it,” said President Barack Obama.

Marisa previously served as a policy adviser in the U.S. Departments of the Treasury and Defense, beginning her career on active duty in the U.S. Navy, as a Naval Flight Officer. She received an A.B. with honors in geophysics from Harvard, and M.Sc. with distinction from the London School of Economics, and recently defended her Ph.D. at King’s College London. Her analysis has been published widely, including in Foreign Affairs, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.

“Marisa’s appointment is a great tribute to her and to Baldwin. President Obama is lucky to have such an accomplished public servant in the White House,” said Kinney. “Plus I know first-hand that Marisa will have a blast -- it’s a phenomenal program. The White House Fellowship should aim for a Baldwin grad every couple of classes.”