Symone Sanders-Townsend
Born 1989 · Age 36
American political strategist, commentator and MSNBC host; former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders (2016), senior adviser on Biden 2020 campaign, and chief spokesperson & senior advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Omaha, Nebraska
Symone D. Sanders (later Sanders-Townsend) born in North Omaha, Nebraska.
First job — Time Out Foods (Omaha)
Her first job was working at Time Out Foods, a Black-owned restaurant in Omaha.
Graduated Mercy High School (Omaha)
Completed secondary education at Mercy High School.
Attended Creighton University (undergraduate start)
Matriculated at Creighton University to study business; later received a BBA.
Interned at a law firm while in college
College internship at a law firm where she realized she did not want to pursue a legal career.
Graduated Creighton University (BBA)
Earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Creighton University.
Communications role in Omaha mayor's office
Worked in the communications office of Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle.
National chair, Coalition of Juvenile Justice Emerging Leaders Committee
Served as national chair of the Coalition of Juvenile Justice Emerging Leaders Committee, advocating juvenile justice reform.
Deputy Communications Director for Chuck Hassebrook
Served as deputy communications director for Democratic Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Chuck Hassebrook.
Joined Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign as National Press Secretary
Hired as national press secretary for Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign; noted as the youngest presidential press secretary on record.
Named by Fusion as one of 30 Women Under 30 to shape 2016
Fusion listed Sanders among 30 women under 30 predicted to shape the 2016 election.
Multiple national profiles and media placements
Featured in national media outlets (Rolling Stone, Fusion, CNN and others) and recognized as a rising political communicator following 2016 campaign work.
Recognized as 'youngest presidential press secretary on record'
Milestone recognition often cited in profiles: became the youngest presidential press secretary on record during Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign (age 25 at hiring).
Left the Bernie Sanders campaign
Resigned from the role of national press secretary following the end of the 2016 primaries.
Named by Rolling Stone as one of 16 Young Americans shaping 2016
Recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as a young American shaping the 2016 election.
Joined CNN as Democratic strategist & commentator
Hired by CNN as a Democratic strategist and political commentator following the 2016 campaign.
Founded/served as principal of 360 Group LLC (consulting firm)
Operated a consulting firm providing strategic communications and political consulting (firm referenced as 'the 360 Group LLC').
Strategist, Communications & Political Outreach at Priorities USA
Worked as a strategist focusing on communications and political outreach for the progressive organization Priorities USA (timeline reported in bios).
Harvard Institute of Politics — Resident Fellow (reported)
Listed as a resident fellow at Harvard's Institute of Politics in bios and profiles (date not precisely specified in sources).
Joined Joe Biden 2020 campaign as Senior Advisor
Hired in April 2019 as a senior adviser to Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.
USC Center for the Political Future — Spring 2019 Fellow
Served as a Spring 2019 fellow at the University of Southern California's Center for the Political Future.
Published memoir 'No, You Shut Up'
Published No, You Shut Up: Speaking Truth to Power and Reclaiming America (Harper 2020).
Featured profile in The New York Times
Profiled in a New York Times feature ('Symone Sanders Bet on Biden, and Herself').
Named Chief Spokesperson and Senior Advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris
After the 2020 election, Sanders was named Deputy Assistant to President Biden and Chief Spokesperson & Senior Advisor to Vice President Harris — first Black woman to serve in that spokesperson role.
Announced resignation from White House role
Announced her resignation as chief spokesperson for Vice President Harris to return to broadcasting.
Landing at MSNBC announced
Reports announced that she had joined MSNBC and would host a show (coverage in POLITICO).
MSNBC program 'SYMONE' premiered
Premiered her self-titled weekend show 'SYMONE' on MSNBC (also available on Peacock's The Choice).
Married Shawn Townsend
Married Shawn Townsend in a surprise Washington, D.C. ceremony.
Keynote speaker — Tennessee State University commencement
Headlined TSU's fall 2022 commencement and gave the keynote address to graduates.
'SYMONE' ratings milestone (viewership stat)
As of Nov 19, 2023, SYMONE was the 24th most popular show on MSNBC and 292nd overall on TV, watched by 438,000 people (total viewers).
MSNBC announces move to new weekend program 'The Weekend'
MSNBC announced that Symone would move to weekend mornings to anchor a new program, 'The Weekend', alongside Alicia Menendez and Michael Steele.
Georgetown University — Fall 2024 Fellow (speaker)
Served as a Fall 2024 fellow at Georgetown's Institute and participated in speaking events (profiled as Fall '24 fellow).
Received Black Enterprise's Luminary Award (Women of Power Summit)
Awarded Black Enterprise's Luminary Award at the Women of Power Summit (year cited in bios).
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from American University
Holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from American University (date cited in bios).
End of 'SYMONE' and premiere of 'The Weekend'
'SYMONE' ended on Jan 7, 2024; 'The Weekend' premiered the same day with co-hosts Alicia Menendez and Michael Steele.
MSNBC weekday 7pm newscast — co-hosting announced (start date)
Announcement: beginning Feb 24, 2025 Symone and her Weekend co-hosts will co-host a new 7pm ET weekday newscast on MSNBC (replacing prior program).
Left Democratic Party to become an Independent
Announced leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an Independent, citing party response to a Republican government funding bill.
Key Achievement Ages
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