GW alum Susan Sher has been chosen to run the East Wing of the Obama White House, first lady Michelle Obama announced last week.

Sher, who completed her undergraduate education at GW in 1970, will serve as Mrs. Obama’s chief of staff, replacing Mrs. Obama’s current chief of staff, Jackie Norris.

Sher and Mrs. Obama worked together at the University of Chicago Medical Center and are longtime friends, The Washington Post reported.

“Mrs. Obama and I have worked together for many years on issues that we both care deeply about and I appreciate the opportunity to be of greater service to her and this Administration,” Sher said in a White House news release.

Before accepting the position as Mrs. Obama’s chief of staff, Sher worked in the West Wing as a legal adviser on issues like health care reform.