Elena Kagan joined the US Supreme Court on August 7, 2010, becoming the fourth female to ever serve on the court. Prior to that, President Obama nominated her to serve as the 45th solicitor general of the United States, and she was confirmed on March 19, 2009. She joined Harvard Law School as a visiting professor in 1999, became professor of law in 2001, and was appointed the 11th dean of Harvard Law School in 2003. She was associate counsel to President Clinton and then served as deputy assistant to the President for domestic policy and deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council from 1995 to 1999.