Obama appoints Indian-American Smita Singh to key post

Washington, Dec 22, 2012 (PTI) The Obama administration has appointed yet another Indian-American to a key administrative post, naming Smita Singh as member of the president's Global Development Council. "The Council will inform and provide advice to the President and other senior US officials on American global development policies and practices, support new and existing public-private partnerships, and increase awareness and action in support of development by soliciting public input on current and emerging issues in the field of global development," the White House said. The Global Development Council was established in February through an executive order of the President. Along with Singh, Obama also announced names of eight other members of the Council including its Chair Mohamed El-Erian. "These dedicated and accomplished individuals will be valued additions to my Administration as we tackle the important challenges facing America. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead," Obama said. According to a brief bio released by the White House, Singh was the Special Advisor for Global Affairs and the founding Director of the Global Development Program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, where she worked from 2001 to 2010. From 1998 to 2001, she was a scholar at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. Previously, Singh consulted for the World Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission on Africa. She was the first Program Officer for Higher Education Innovative Projects at the Commission on National and Community Service, now known as the Corporation for National and Community Service. Before joining the Commission, Singh worked at ABC News' Nightline.