White House Author

Stephanie Valencia is the former Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Director of Public Engagement overseeing critical engagement programs like Champions of Change and the Community Leaders Briefing Series. She served in the White House Office of Public Engagement since February 2009 where she originally handled outreach to the Latino community, immigration, and housing. She also worked on Puerto Rico issues. Prior to joining the Administration, Stephanie served on the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team and was Deputy Latino Vote Director on the Obama Campaign. Stephanie also served as Press Secretary to United States Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), serving as his spokeswoman and media advisor. Stephanie also worked in the House of Representatives as Special Assistant and Press Secretary to the Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, Congressman John B. Larson from Connecticut. She also served as Press Secretary Congresswoman Linda Sanchez. Stephanie started her career as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Fellow and is a graduate of Boston College. She was born and in raised in New Mexico and she and her husband and their two dogs reside in North Bethesda, Maryland.