Staff Bios

Cindy S. Moelis

Cindy S. Moelis, Director

Cindy S. Moelis was appointed by President Obama to serve as the Director of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships on April 21, 2009.  Founded in 1964 by President Johnson, the White House Fellowship is one of America’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. The mission of the Fellowship is to give promising young leaders “first hand, high-level experience in the workings of the Federal government and to increase their sense of participation in national affairs.”  As Director, Ms. Moelis is responsible for administering all aspects of the unique and prestigious non-partisan program.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Moelis served as the Executive Director of the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation, where she supported efforts to improve Chicago’s public education system and started a youth running program to promote health.  Earlier in her career, Ms. Moelis promoted social justice and youth development as an assistant to Chicago’s Mayor, Richard M. Daley for social policy, program officer at the Steans Family Foundation, and as the Executive Director of a citywide youth development project for the President of the MacArthur Foundation.

Ms. Moelis holds an undergraduate degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. She resides in Washington, D.C. with her spouse, Robert Rivkin, General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation, and their three wonderful children: Stephanie, Claire, and Alexander. Claire and Alexander attend school in Washington, D.C. and Stephanie attends Yale University.

Sophie Kim, Associate Director for Education

Sophie Kim serves as the Associate Director for Education.  Sophie previously worked as a policy consultant in the California State Legislature.  Sophie holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Wellesley College, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in political science.  She is a native of Alameda, California. 

Pandoria Nobles-Jones, Administrative Officer

Pandoria Nobles-Jones has served as the Administrative Officer since March 2000.  Prior to the White House Fellows Program, she worked at the Library of Congress and the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia.  She is married and resides in the District of Columbia.

Marisa Pryor, Associate Director of Operations

Marisa Pryor serves as the Associate Director of Operations. Marisa previously worked for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership for Girls in South Africa. Prior to working in South Africa, she worked for United States Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas in Washington, D.C. Marisa holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas William H. Bowen School of Law, a Masters of Public Service degree from the Clinton School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Hendrix College. She resides in the District of Columbia.

Fatimeh I. Shamseddine, Special Assistant to the Director

Fatimeh I. Shamseddine serves as the Special Assistant to the Director.  Prior, Fatimeh worked as an organizational development consultant for the Center for Global Understanding.  She holds an undergraduate degree from the Honors College at University of South Florida and received her M.A. in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University. Fatimeh is originally from Tampa, Florida.

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