Minnesota’s First Lady Mary Pawlenty became chair of the National Governors Association Spouses’ Leadership Committee as the NGA Annual Meeting in Traverse City, Michigan, came to a close today.

“Chairing this group is a great opportunity,” said Mary Pawlenty, “because the governors’ spouses are a highly accomplished group of men and women who exercise leadership in their own right.”

The Spouses’ Leadership Committee is a bipartisan group composed of six spouses of NGA members, including the spouses of the NGA chair and vice-chair.

“I have really enjoyed working with my friend and colleague, Mary Pawlenty, this past year when she served as our committee’s vice chair, and I look forward to the year ahead under her exceptional leadership,” said outgoing Spouses’ Leadership Committee Daniel Mulhern, First Gentleman of Michigan.

As Minnesota’s First Lady, Mrs. Pawlenty focuses her attention on supporting military families and raising awareness about heart disease. Having served as a district court judge for the past 12 years, Mrs. Pawlenty also is committed to educating Minnesota elementary school children about America's democracy and the three branches of government, placing a special emphasis on the judiciary.

Mrs. Pawlenty assumes the governors’ spouses’ leadership role at the same time that her husband, Governor Tim Pawlenty, becomes NGA Chair. NGA is also preparing to celebrate its centennial year. The first meeting of the nation’s governors took place at the White House in 1908.