melania trump
First lady Melania Trump appointed Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd (not shown) as White House social secretary. Above, at the 60th annual Red Cross Gala at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Feb. 4, 2017. Carlos Barria/Reuters

First lady Melania Trump appointed Anna Cristina “Rickie” Niceta Lloyd as the White House social secretary Wednesday, responsible for helping the first lady plan and execute everything from official state dinners to social calendar events.

“Rickie brings with her over 22 years of solid diplomatic, political and social entertaining experience,” Trump said in a White House statement. "I am looking forward to sharing my ideas and traditions of entertaining and social hospitality to America's house, my new home as well. That, along with Rickie's vast experience, I am even more excited."

The White House social secretary’s duties include overall “planning, arrangement, coordination and direction of all official and personal social events given by the president and his family” in conjunction with the first lady. That includes the form and wording of invitations, guest lists, menus, seating, decorations and entertainment.

The social secretary traditionally is welcomed to the White House by several predecessors at a luncheon where ideas are exchanged and questions answered. The chief usher and his staff also provide support.

Niceta Lloyd, 46, worked with both Democrats and Republicans on the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and during her time as an account executive at Design Cuisine aided the State Department’s Office of Protocol execute state luncheons, summits and conferences under former Secretaries Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, the White House said.

She also has worked on events for the Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as well as for the House speaker’s office and the secretary of the Senate.

Nicieta Lloyd, who has two children, is married to Thomas Lloyd, grandson of the late “Bunny” Mellon, who was instrumental in helping Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis design the White House Rose Garden. The Lloyds live in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Niceta Lloyd is the daughter of Dr. Piero and Hope Crosson Niceta of Harrison, N.Y. She is a graduate of Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia.