 Harsha's appointment comes more than a year after she retired to seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Missouri, but lost the Republican primary to the state's then Attorney General Eric Schmidt. In a recent interview with the Christian Post, she said, "...I'm looking forward to speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves around the world, those who are persecuted for their faith. And it will be good to reconnect with my former members of Congress, as well as members of the administration, to try and advance this cause."