Social Workers in the News: February / March 2021

Social Worker to Lead VA

Meg Kabat

President Joe Biden tapped social worker Meg Kabat to lead his administration’s transition at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to an article on meritalk.com.

Kabat, LCSW-C, CCM, is currently a senior director at the Atlas Group consultant firm, where her clients include the Defense Health Agency and the VA. Kabat was previously the national director of the Caregiver Support Program at the VA.

Social workers play a key role at the VA. The agency has more than 15,000 social workers on staff, making it the largest employer of social workers in the nation.


Bernstein Will Advise President’s Economic Team

Jared Bernstein

President Joe Biden appointed social worker Jared Bernstein to his Council of Economic Advisers. The CEA is a small group of experts who offer the president advice on economic matters.

Bernstein, PhD, MSW, is a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Bernstein is a longtime economic adviser to Biden. He previously served as the executive director of the White House task force on the middle class and as an economic adviser to President Barack Obama.


Biden Nominates Sherman as Deputy Secretary of State

Wendy Sherman

President Joe Biden nominated social worker Wendy Sherman as deputy secretary of state, the second-highest ranking in the U.S. Department of State.

In announcing his appointees to the State Department, Biden said he was confident “they will use their diplomatic experience and skill to restore America’s global and moral leadership. America is back.”

Sherman, an NASW Social Work Pioneer®, was the first female Undersecretary for Political Affairs (2011-2015), where she was the lead negotiator for the Iran Nuclear Deal.