President Barack Obama announced plans to nominate an adjunct professor for the post of special counsel in his administration.

Carolyn Lerner, who teaches mediation at GW Law School, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before her five-year term could begin.

The Office of Special Counsel helps protect government whistle-blowers, and is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency.

The position has been vacant for two years, since special counsel Scott Bloch resigned near the end of George W. Bush’s presidency.

Bloch began serving as special counsel in 2004, but his term was cut short after a federal investigation. Bloch pled guilty to withholding information from congressional investigators in April, according to The Washington Post.

Along with teaching, Lerner is a mediator for D.C.’s U.S. District Court. She is a founding partner of Heller, Huron, Chertkof, Lerner, Simon & Salzman, a law firm that focuses on civil rights and employment matters.

Lerner also represents non-profit organizations on a variety of issues, and serves on various boards like the nonprofit Center for WorkLife Law, the WAGE Project, the Washington Council of Lawyers and the Council for Court Excellence.