John Podesta, a Knox College graduate and member of the Board of Trustees, will join the White House staff as a senior counselor to President Barack Obama, according to media reports.

Podesta previously served as chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and a transition advisor to President Obama. He is also founder and former president of the Center for American Progress. A commencement speaker, honorary degree recipient and Alumni Achievement Award winner, Podesta graduated from Knox in 1971. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2001.

The New York Times, Politico and the Associated Press were the first to report the pending appointment on Monday, December 9; scores of other media reports and commentaries followed on Tuesday, December 10.  Media coverage includes:

• New York Times - Ex-Clinton Aide Expected to Join Obama
• Politico - Podesta to advise Obama
• Associated Press - Former top Clinton aide to join Obama White House as senior adviser
• TIME: Swampland Blog - Things Obama’s New Advisor Doesn’t Like About Washington
• Fox News - White House bringing in former Clinton confidant Podesta amid ObamaCare woes
• Washington Post: Right Turn Blog - More cooks in the White House kitchen
• Washington Post - John Podesta to formally join Obama inner circle
• Washington Post - Why President Obama brought John Podesta into the White House
• Political Ticker - Former Bill Clinton aide to join Obama White House
  
• Business Week - Obama to Name Ex-Clinton Official Podesta as Special Adviser
• Fox News - White House shakeup: Panic play?
• NBC News - Obama taps veteran Dem hand to revive presidency
• CBS News - Former Clinton aide John Podesta to advise Obama
• Los Angeles Times - Former Clinton aide John Podesta to join Obama White House
• Huffington Post - John Podesta, Former Clinton Chief Of Staff, To Join Obama
• The Daily Beast - To the Rescue: Podesta to Join Obama
• ABC News - Former Clinton Chief of Staff Returning to White House
• United Press International - Obama said to hire ex-Clinton aide as counselor
• TownHall.com - Podesta Hire Shows Obama Is Done Dealing With Congress
• Daily Political - Former Clinton Adviser Tapped by Obama Administration
• Kaiser Health News - John Podesta Reportedly Ready To Join White House Team
• TalkRadio News - Podesta To Serve As Obama Counselor
• American Thinker - Center for American Progress is moving headquarters into White House
• Business Insider - Obama Adds Former Clinton Aide To Shake Up Staff Amid Second-Term Crisis
• Washington Times - John Podesta jumps aboard Obama ship to sell second-term agenda
• NewsMax - John Podesta Returns to White House to Help Obama Sort Out Obamacare
• The Hill - White House taps former Bill Clinton adviser
• Washington Post - What Podesta’s WH return means for Obama’s environmental policy
• Bloomberg News - Obama to Name Ex-Clinton Official Podesta as Special Adviser
• AuthInt Mail (Kashmir, India) - Obama hires Democratic heavyweight Podesta
• Times-Colonist (Victoria, BC) - Former top Clinton aide to join Obama White House as senior adviser
• NBC News - Obama Adds Former Clinton Aide To Shake Up Staff Amid Second-Term Crisis
• MarketWatch - Ex-Clinton aide John Podesta to help Obama salvage his second term
• Reuters - Former Clinton aide Podesta joining White House to advise Obama -source