Melody Barnes was appointed as director of the domestic policy council by President-Elect Barack Obama. Barnes served as executive vice president for policy at the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank in Washington.

She also served as chief counsel to Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) on the Senate Judiciary Committee for eight years. She focused on Immigration, crime, civil rights and other issues. Also added to her belt of extensive experience, is the role of director of legislative affairs for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and assistant counsel to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.

Barnes holds an undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina and a law degree from University of Michigan.

Photograph by Matthew Worden