Alexis M. Herman served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Prior to her appointment, she was Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison.
After graduating from Xavier University in 1969, Herman worked for Catholic Charities and other agencies advocating minority women employment. Jimmy Carter noticed the young Herman while campaigning in Atlanta and, after winning the White House in 1977, tapped her to be Director of the Labor Department's Women's Bureau. At age 29, she was the youngest person to ever serve in that position.
In 1981, Herman founded her own consulting firm - A.M. Herman & Associates. She served as president of the company while remaining active in Democratic politics. During her tenure as chief of staff and later vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, she was responsible for organizing the 1992 Democratic National Convention.
After Bill Clinton's presidential victory, Herman was deputy director of the Presidential Transition Office. She was later appointed to head the White House Office of Public Liaison, where she was responsible for the administration's relations with interest groups.