Katherine B. Johnson (born March 26, 1981)[1][2] served as the personal secretary to United States President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011.

[3][4] Johnson grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, and moved with her parents to Brookline, Massachusetts, in 1999 before entering Wellesley College.

[citation needed] Johnson graduated from Wellesley College in 2003[5] with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

[citation needed] Prior to her post as personal secretary to the president, Johnson was Rahm Emanuel's special assistant for two years when he led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and also served as Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe's assistant.

[5] Johnson was one of several junior staffers who left the White House in 2011 to attend Harvard Law School.