WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16, 2009 — The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has named Margaret Spellings as a senior advisor. Spellings, an expert on education and work force issues, served as U.S. Secretary of Education and Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy under President George W. Bush. She is currently President and CEO of Margaret Spellings and Company, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic and public policy consulting firm.
"Margaret Spellings' domestic policy expertise will be a huge asset to BCG in our education work and other social-impact efforts in our communities," said J. Puckett, a senior partner in the firm's Dallas office. "Throughout her distinguished career, she has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public service. We're thrilled to have her working with us."
As Education Secretary from 2005 to 2009, Spellings led the implementation of the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), a national initiative to provide enhanced accountability for the education of 50 million U.S. public school students. On the postsecondary side, she launched a national policy debate on higher education; launched an action plan to improve accessibility, affordability, and accountability in the nation's colleges and universities; and led the federal government's efforts to ensure access to student loans amid turmoil in the credit markets.
As White House Domestic Policy Advisor from 2001 until 2005, she managed the development of the president's domestic policy agenda, with oversight of education, health, transportation, justice, housing, and labor policy. Her work includes developing and managing the NCLB Act of 2001, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and various other initiatives on health and human services, transportation, labor, and housing.
Prior to her service in the White House, she served as Senior Advisor to then-Governor George W. Bush of Texas (1995-2000), led government relations efforts for the Texas Association of School Boards (1988-1994), and served in various leadership capacities for the Texas legislature.