Peace Corps leader
Marie Gilliland Wheat ’91
Spring 2003
Marie Wheat of Arlington, Va., has
been appointed by President George W. Bush as deputy chief of staff
for the United States Peace Corps. In her new capacity, she manages
the press operation, congressional relations, private sector initiatives,
and policy and planning for the agency. Previously she was director
of the Peace Corps’ Office
of Congressional Relations.
In December, Wheat accompanied the director of the Peace Corps to Armenia
and Jordan visiting Peace Corps volunteers at their project sites and
meeting government officials who work closely with the country staff
at each post. Most notable of these was His Majesty King Abdullah of
Jordan, who expressed appreciation for the Peace Corps’ work
in Jordan and his desire to reopen the program at the appropriate time.
Before her appointment to the Peace Corps, Wheat served as chief of
staff in the office of Congressman Jim DeMint. She has extensive experience
in government and on Capitol Hill and has worked as a senior staff
member to the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight, the House Budget Committee
and the office of Congressman Steve Largent.
Wheat was also a policy analyst at Citizens for a Sound Economy, a
seminar coordinator for the Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson and
a White House press intern. She graduated magna cum laude from Clemson
with a double major in economics and political science.
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