Duke grad with NC ties becomes Biden’s ‘nerve-center’ with her new White House role

White House officials announced Friday morning that Stefanie Feldman, who has ties to the Triangle, is now assistant to President Joe Biden and staff secretary.

Feldman, who has worked with Biden for more than a decade, is a Duke University graduate and her parents live in the Triangle.

The White House considers the staff secretary position “the nerve center of the White House.” Feldman will oversee Biden’s decision-making process and manage information flow.

If someone wants memos, briefs, intelligence reports, a list of potential nominees, speeches or correspondence in front of Biden, they will have to go through Feldman, who will decide if, when and how the president receives those items.

She will also travel with the president.

Feldman replaces Neera Tanden, who is taking over for Susan Rice as Biden’s senior domestic policy advisor, The White House confirmed to McClatchy Friday morning. Rice announced last week that she would leave her position on May 26.

Feldman currently serves as deputy assistant to the president and senior advisor to the White House domestic policy advisor.

She has spent her career working for Biden, beginning with an internship in his domestic and economic policy office when Biden served as vice president.

Feldman previously served as national policy director for Biden’s presidential campaign, the inaugural policy director for the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden School of Public Policy & Administration and in various policy roles in his office during his vice presidency.

She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Duke University and a juris doctor degree from Yale Law School.