Wendy Sherman, a Clintonite with limited development experience, is considered to be the Obama administration's top pick to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development, according to Washington development insiders outside of the administration with knowledge of the process.
Sherman is a former adviser to President Bill Clinton and Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher.
Rumors about Sherman's nomination began to take off late last week. When asked Monday if they were true, a development insider with knowledge of the selection process responded simply: "She's the one."
Citing private conversations with State Department officials, the source said Sherman was being vetted right now, and that she was "awaiting final [White House] approval."
A second source - like the first, not part of the Obama administration - confirmed that Sherman was the top pick for the job. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record about the vetting process.
The administration has yet to make a formal announcement on its choice to head USAID.
Sherman now serves as a principal with the Albright Group, former Secretary Madeleine Albright's consulting firm. Her name had not been mentioned as a top pick for USAID until very recently.
While she does have experience working in government, she has less direct experience on international development issues, except for her service as a board member for Oxfam America.
During her time working in the Clinton administration, she served as the State Department's counselor, assistant secretary for legislative affairs, special adviser and foreign policy consultant, and North Korea policy coordinator.
Sherman has served as president and CEO of the Fannie Mae Foundation, as a partner in political consulting firm Doak, Shrum, Harris and Sherman, and as director of Emily's List, an organization dedicated to providing resources for pro-choice Democratic women candidates. She has also worked for the Democratic National Committee and as a Capitol Hill aide and director of Maryland's Office of Child Welfare.
She holds an undergraduate degree from Boston University and a master's in social work from the University of Maryland.
Sherman, described by a source as a confidant of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, would be a surprise choice to head USAID. She has less development experience than other oft-mentioned contenders such as Helene Gayle or Nils Daulaire. Her nomination could disappoint some in the development community who were hoping for a seasoned aid worker to lead U.S. aid operations abroad.
