U. grad directs next First Lady

Hillary Clinton may be the next Great Communicator, with a little help from Maggie Williams. Williams, who earned a master's degree from the Annenberg School last spring, was recently named Hillary Clinton's assistant chief of staff. "She did not seek this position out -- they came to her because they know how good she is," said Annenberg professor Joseph Turow, who worked with Williams on her thesis. Williams was accepted into Annenberg's doctoral program, but decided to delay those plans when she "received a call from Hillary Clinton," said Pam Robinson, Annenberg School registrar. "During the course of the election she was asked to be press secretary to Hillary Clinton, and then after Clinton won, she was made transition director for Hillary Clinton," Robinson said. President-elect Clinton and his chief of staff, Thomas McLarty, introduced Williams yesterday during a live presentation on CNN. Williams met Clinton while working as communications director for the Children's Defense Fund, where Lucy Hackney, President Sheldon Hackney's wife, also works. "She is absolutely terrific and great at whatever she does," Hackney said. "She is also very committed to children's issues." Annenberg Dean Kathleen Hall Jamieson said that William's professional speciality is political advertising. "Maggie is very bright, articulate and able," Jamieson said. "She is very well-known in political circles." "I think she helped to manage Hillary Clinton's image in ways that were fruitful for the campaign," Turow said. "I think that Maggie Williams, more so than anyone else, exemplifies the Clinton cabinet," Annenberg doctoral student Lynne Edwards said. "She is brilliant and at the same time completely approachable." Robinson said she thinks that the appointment will last for the duration of the Clinton term, but that Williams plans to return to the University to continue in the doctoral program. Williams could not be reached for comment.