President Barack Obama announced that he will nominate Nike vice-president Maria Eitel as chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Eitel is president of the Nike Foundation and previously served as vice-president of corporate responsibility for Nike.
She previously served under President George H.W. Bush as deputy director of media relations and later as special assistant to the president for media affairs. Her appointment needs to be confirmed by the Senate.
The selection of Eitel comes as the president plans to sign a bill to triple the size of AmeriCorps and expand other programs that the corporation administers. The number of national volunteers in programs such as AmeriCorps will more than triple, from 75,000 to 250,000, under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
In a statement, Obama said he selected Eitel for her “unique blend of skills and management experience.”
“Maria is genuinely passionate about the role of national and community service as a vehicle for engaging and mobilizing citizens in social change, and will bring new, creative thinking to the growth and mission of the Corporation,” Obama said.
