Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro Appoints Budget Secretary, General Counsel and Executive Deputy Chief of Staff with Decades of Government Experience

Uri Monson has led the School District of Philadelphia into a period of financial stability; Jen Selber is a career prosecutor with decades of enforcing the law; Larry Hailsham Jr. has a deep knowledge of Pennsylvania from his service across the Commonwealth.

HARRISBURG, PA – Today, Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro announced three senior appointments that will play critical roles in advancing the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s top priorities of growing our economy, improving our schools, and making our communities safer. Governor-Elect Shapiro has appointed Uri Monson, currently the Chief Financial Officer for The School District of Philadelphia, as Budget Secretary and Jennifer Selber, currently the Executive Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania in charge of the Criminal Division, as General Counsel in the Office of the Governor. The Governor-Elect also appointed Larry Hailsham Jr. – a Pittsburgh native and top aide with extensive experience across Pennsylvania who served as Political Director on Shapiro’s gubernatorial campaign – as his Executive Deputy Chief of Staff. 

Monson, Selber, and Hailsham bring a breadth of talent, diverse experience, and a steadfast dedication to the Commonwealth and share Governor-Elect Shapiro’s commitment to moving Pennsylvania forward. Their expertise and perspective will be essential as the Governor-Elect builds an administration that will create opportunities for all Pennsylvanians starting in our classrooms, grow our economy, uphold the rule of law across the Commonwealth, and ensure government works for the people.

“These dedicated public servants will help us meet the challenges facing our Commonwealth while upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity,” said Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro. “Jen demonstrated extraordinary judgment in the Office of Attorney General and her management skills are of the highest caliber – I have complete confidence and trust in her ability to serve as General Counsel. Uri is one of the sharpest minds in Pennsylvania – he has led the School District of Philadelphia into an unparalleled period of fiscal stability and he was instrumental in turning around Montgomery County’s finances as my CFO when we kept taxes low and grew our economy. Finally, Larry knows Pennsylvania better than almost anyone, and his expertise day in and day out at the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and throughout this campaign has helped build broad coalitions and get things done. Well qualified and tested, Uri, Jen, and Larry will ensure that our Administration meets this moment and delivers real results for all Pennsylvanians.”

“It is my great honor to have this opportunity to serve the Governor and the people of Pennsylvania, and to join this incredible team at a moment of great opportunity in our Commonwealth,” said Uri Monson. “Together, we will work tirelessly to ensure every Pennsylvanian has an equal chance to get ahead, and create new opportunities for businesses and workers across the Commonwealth.”

“The integrity of the legal advisory process is of the utmost importance to any administration, and I am honored that the Governor-Elect has entrusted me with this great responsibility,” said Jennifer Selber. “I look forward to building a team that will meet this moment and uphold fair, lawful and ethical governance across all corners of the government.”

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the Governor-Elect’s Executive Deputy Chief of Staff,” said Larry Hailsham Jr.. “It was a great privilege to travel across the Commonwealth with the Governor-Elect for the last 14 months as we heard from folks who all wanted the same thing: an economy that works for everyone, a quality education for their children, and safe communities for their families. I look forward to helping build a talented and diverse team to get to work on day one and turn this vision into a reality.”

Read more about these key appointments below:

Uri Monson

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Since October 2022, Uri Monson has served as the Deputy Superintendent for Operations for the School District of Philadelphia, overseeing the Offices of Finance, Talent, Operations and Information Technology. From February 2016 through September 2022, Mr. Monson served as the Chief Financial Officer for the School District of Philadelphia.

During Mr. Monson’s tenure as CFO, the School District has experienced a period of fiscal stability, including seven consecutive years of positive fund balances. During this period the School District has expanded its investments in students and staff, with the most favorable student to staff ratios in over a decade, while also making significant investments in its aging infrastructure.

From 2012 to 2016, Mr. Monson served as the Chief Financial Officer for Montgomery County, PA under then Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro. In 2012, Shapiro inherited a deficit as County Commissioner, and together with Monson, they balanced the budget and brought Montgomery County back on track to financial stability, helping restore its AAA bond rating. Mr. Monson also previously served as Assistant Budget Director for the City of Philadelphia where his primary responsibilities included analyzing proposed policies for the Finance Director and the Mayor’s Cabinet. 

Mr. Monson is a graduate of the Presidential Management Internship (PMI) Program. He has a Masters Degree in Public Policy, with a concentration in education policy, from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Columbia University, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Midrash from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

 

Jennifer Selber

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Jennifer Creed Selber is the Executive Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania and serves as the head of the Criminal Law Division for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, where she has supervised all criminal investigations and prosecutions under Attorney General Josh Shapiro since January of 2017. Ms. Selber oversees 13 criminal sections and over 500 agents, lawyers and administrative staff. 

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Selber served as the Chief of the Homicide Unit in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where she had worked in various roles since 1999. She played a crucial role in numerous successful criminal justice reforms, including geographic prosecution, charging reform, diversion programs, Focused Deterrence and community outreach.

Ms. Selber is a member of the State Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers. She is an instructor with the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute. Prior to her work in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Selber was a law clerk to the Honorable Anita B. Brody, Easter District of Pennsylvania and was an associate at Morgan Lewis Bockius, LLP.  Ms. Selber received her law degree from The University of Virginia School of Law, and her undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Duke University. 

 

Larry Hailsham Jr.

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Larry Hailsham Jr. is an Allegheny County native who grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Allegheny College. Hailsham served as Political Director for the Shapiro for Pennsylvania campaign, leading the campaign’s outreach efforts all across the Commonwealth and bringing people together around Shapiro’s vision to move Pennsylvania forward. 

After college, Larry served as Special Assistant to U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), where he traveled the Commonwealth tirelessly with Senator Casey as he met with constituents and stakeholders to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate. 

He then served as Western Political Coordinator on Senator Casey’s 2018 reelection campaign, where he helped lead the Senator to a third term in the U.S. Senate. In 2020, Larry served as Pennsylvania Political Director for Joe Biden’s successful presidential campaign.

Before joining Governor-Elect Shapiro’s team, Hailsham Jr. served as Government Affairs Manager for the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. In this capacity, Larry focused on securing investment and advancing policies at the local and federal government levels to spur economic growth, improve the region’s competitiveness, and create a vibrant Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

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