Kristen Welker, a Philadelphia native and Germantown Friends School graduate, will take over as the host of NBC’s Meet the Press on September 17, writes Victor Fiorillo for Philadelphia Magazine.

Welker, who grew up in Fairmount, will become the thirteenth moderator of Meet the Press. She is only the second woman to host the show in its 76-year-long run. She is also the first Black person to take on the role.

Welker became NBC’s White House correspondent in 2011 and worked at NBC 10 prior to that.

She will replace current Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, who announced in June that he was retiring from the show after nine years. At the time, he said that Welker was “the right person in the right moment” for the job.

Welker’s parents, Julie and Harvey still live in Fairmount. Her mother is a prominent real estate broker who ran for City Council at one point.

Welker met her husband, John Hughes, when he was a Merck executive in Philadelphia. Their wedding was covered by The New York Times.

Read more about Fairmount native Kristen Welker taking over as the host of NBC’s Meet the Press on September in Philadelphia Magazine.

TODAY celebrates Kristen Welker with a sweet send-off.