Trinity Graduate Ellen Gloninger Murray ’70 Nominated to Post at Health and Human Services Department

President Barack Obama announced his nomination on May 28 of Trinity graduate Ellen Gloninger Murray ’70 as Assistant Secretary for Resources and Technology at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She joins several Trinity graduates who have been nominated to serve in President Obama’s administration: Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius ’70 is Secretary of Health and Human Services; Susan Flood Burk ’76 is Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation, with the rank of Ambassador at the U.S. Department of State; and M. Patricia Smith ’74 has been nominated to serve as Solicitor at the U.S. Department of Labor, where she will be the third highest ranking official in the federal agency.

In announcing Murray’s nomination along with several other key nominations, President Obama said, “Each of these individuals brings extensive expertise in their chosen fields, and they are joining my administration at a time when we face great challenges. Their experience and knowledge of the issues will be important as we move forward to put America on a path to prosperity and security. I am grateful for their decision to serve.”

Murray has served as staff director for the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies since 1999.  In that capacity, she oversees the annual $150 billion LHHS appropriations bill. Murray has extensive knowledge of the Department of Health and Human Services budget. Prior to her tenure with the Senate, she served in both the budget office and the Office of the General Counsel at HHS.  Previously, Murray served as an economist at the Social Security Administration. In addition to her degree from Trinity, where she majored in economics, she is a graduate of the George Mason University School of Law.

White House Press Release

Kathleen Sebelius ’70 Confirmed by Senate

Secretary Sebelius ’70 and Speaker Pelosi ’62 Meet

Susan Burk ’76 Confirmed by Senate

M. Patricia Smith ’74 Nominated to Labor Post