President Elect's New Press Secretary's Local School Ties

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. — President-elect Donald J. Trump’s newly appointed Press Secretary may look familiar to alumni from a private school in Portsmouth.

Sean Spicer, who was named Press Secretary and Assistant to the President on Thursday, is a graduate of the Portsmouth Abbey School, a co-educational Catholic Benedictine boarding and day school in Portsmouth. The school is run by the Benedictine Portsmouth Abbey, formerly the Portsmouth Priory.

The Portsmouth Abbey School’s mascot is a Raven. While not a Ravenclaw, Spicer is considered “a Raven” by his fellow alumni.

Spicer graduated from the Portsmouth Abbey School in 1989, after attending from 1985 to 1989. He also attended the Naval War College in Newport from 2009 to 2012, earning a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

“The president elect also named Hope Hicks Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Communications, Jason Miller Assistant to the President and Director of Communications, and Dan Scavino Assistant to the President and Director of Social Media,” according to a press release sent out via Mailchimp by the president elect Thursday.

“Sean, Hope, Jason and Dan have been key members of my team during the campaign and transition. I am excited they will be leading the team that will communicate my agenda that will Make America Great Again,” said President-elect Donald Trump in the press release.

Spicer has also served as Chief Strategist and Communications Director for the Republican National Committee since 2011. He also served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Media for the executive branch from July 2006 to January 2009.