Msn.com

Posted March 2nd, 2010

Desiree Rogers, White House social secretary and longtime Obama family friend, has announced that she is leaving her post. The president has named her replacement.

Rogers was at the center of the White House “party crashers” incident last year, but she says that was not a deciding factor in her resignation. Some had criticized the administration’s decision to not allow Congress to question her on the matter. The mayor of Chicago came to her defense last week.

Rogers was instrumental in turning the White House into what the Obamas called the “People’s House,” and she helped bring the music and political worlds together with the White House music series. She attracted attention when she discussed her role in the administration and showed up in the front row at last year’s NYC Fashion Week.

The New Orleans native and Ivy League graduate met the Obamas through her ex-husband. They have one daughter.

Before coming to the White House, Rogers was president of an Illinois utility company and headed up the Illinois State Lottery (where she also hosted a TV show). After announcing her resignation, Rogers expressed a desire to get back into the corporate field.