UW-Madison alumna administers oath for Clinton swearing-in ceremony

Alumna Kathryn Anne Oberly (’71, JD’73), a judge on the D.C. Court of Appeals, administered the oath during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 21.

Oberly, who had taken her own oath for the D.C. Court of Appeals position on Jan. 19 in time to serve at Clinton’s private ceremony, is a longtime friend of Secretary Clinton’s, having grown up with her in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge.

Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, and her Senate staff were also present for the private ceremony held in then-Senator Clinton’s Senate office.

Others members of the UW–Madison community playing roles in the Obama transition and presidency

Lewis Friedland, professor of journalism and mass communication, spent the latter half of 2008 working on the Obama for President Urban Policy Committee, drafting potential policies to encourage civic engagement on public issues. Read more »

Siavash Sarlati, a second-year medical student at UW–Madison, attended the White House Forum on Health Reform. Sarlati, who also received his B.S. in biochemistry from UW–Madison, was one of several “everyday Americans” who were invited to participate in the forum after holding community discussions on health care issues. Read more »

If you know of additional alumni who have participated in the political transition in Washington, please e-mail us.