Theology at the Annex: Faith, Life, & Work

We Kick off our Faith, Life, and Work series with an interview with parishioner Tina Tchen.

Tina Tchen is an Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Impact Officer for the Obama Foundation. At the Foundation, she is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Foundation’s strategy. Tchen also oversees the Girls Opportunity Alliance, the Obama Foundation program that works to empower adolescent girls around the world through completing their education.

Tchen is an attorney, activist, and lifelong advocate for women and girls. She served in the Obama White House through both terms, and was an Assistant to President Barack Obama, Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, and Executive Director of the White House Council on Women Girls. At the White House, Tchen spearheaded the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families, helped form the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, and led the Administration’s effort to promote education for adolescent girls worldwide, including Mrs. Obama’s Let Girls Learn Initiative. 

Prior to the White House, Tchen practiced law for 23 years at Skadden. At the firm, she was a corporate litigation partner, chaired the pro bono committee, and was a long time leader of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation.

Backroom of the Annex, i.e., O’Shaughnessy’s (4557 N Ravenswood Ave).