First lady appoints communications chief

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Kristina Schake, a California PR executive, has been named first lady Michelle Obama's communications chief, the White House announced Monday.

Schake is co-founder and principal of Griffin-Schake, a California public affairs and strategic communications firm.

She previously worked for Maria Shriver, wife of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the state's Women's Conference and the California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities Initiative.

Other issues Schake has worked on include stem cell research, early childhood education, renewable energy and civil rights. Before establishing her company, she was director of the Governor's Summit on Obesity and the communications director for First 5 California, which provides services for preschoolers.

"Kristina has done extensive work throughout her career on child nutrition and community health issues, and that paired with her experience as part of a military family will bring invaluable insight to our work on childhood obesity and our efforts to support military families," the first lady said.