Shuwanza Goff facts for kids

Shuwanza Rebecca Goff is an American political advisor. She worked for the White House from 2023 to 2025. She was the director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs under President Joe Biden. In 2019, she became the floor director for Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. This was a big deal because she was the first African-American woman to have that job.

Growing Up and Learning

Early Life in New York and Virginia

Shuwanza Goff grew up in New York City with her sister, April. Her parents are Robert and Hershular Smith-Goff. In the 1990s, her family moved to Mechanicsville, Virginia. Shuwanza went to a private school in Richmond, Virginia.

How Shuwanza Got Interested in Politics

Shuwanza became interested in politics when she was young. Her parents often took her and her sister to vote on Election Day. They even let Shuwanza pull the lever on the voting machine. The family talked about politics often at dinner.

When David Dinkins lost the New York City mayoral race in 1993, Shuwanza wrote him a letter. She wanted to share her feelings about the election. Later, when Hillary Clinton visited Shuwanza's school, Shuwanza was in fourth grade. Her class did not get to see Clinton. Shuwanza even held a small protest about it!

Shuwanza's College Education

Shuwanza decided to go to the University of Tennessee. A student from the university had visited her high school class. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science in 2006. Political science is the study of how governments work. In 2008, she earned her master's degree from American University. This degree was in justice, law, and society. She also worked as an intern on Capitol Hill.

Shuwanza Goff's Career

Starting Her Work in Congress

In 2008, Shuwanza Goff started working for Steny Hoyer. He was a leader in the U.S. House of Representatives. She planned to stay only for a short time. But by 2012, she was a deputy director in his office.

Becoming a Floor Director

In January 2019, Shuwanza became the floor director for legislative operations for Steny Hoyer. She was the first African-American woman to hold this important job. In this role, she talked with people from different political parties. She also helped make plans for new laws. This job helped connect Congress, the Senate, and the White House.

Working for the White House

In November 2020, Shuwanza Goff joined the Biden administration. She became a deputy director in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA). She helped connect the White House with the House of Representatives.

In early 2023, she briefly left the OLA. She worked for a company called Cornerstone Government Affairs. But in July 2023, she returned to the White House. She was named the Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. She took over from the previous director, Louisa Terrell.

Personal Life

Shuwanza Goff lives in northern Virginia.