President Obama's latest advisor: Shakira

In a move as groovy as it is shrewd, President Obama has tapped Colombian-born singer Shakira (Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) to serve on the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, along with three others.

"I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country," Obama said. "I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

Shakira, 34,  is well known in education circles for her activism in education reform.

She founded the Barefoot Foundation in 1995, which helps fund schools in her Colombia, South Africa and Haiti. She is also a founding member of Latin America in Solidarity Action and became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) in 2003.

"This is a tremendous honor for me. I am humbled that my philanthropic experience could be helpful or that my voice can be used to amplify the message and work of the President and this Commission," the Grammy-winner tells the Huffington Post.

"Latino youth are the fastest-growing group in America, yet more Latino children are living in poverty – 6.1 million in 2010 –  than children of any other racial or ethnic group. As I have seen in my own Foundation work, the only road out of poverty is education."

Shakira adds that when it comes to education, the Latino community faces special challenges.

" For a host of reasons, Latino young people in this country disproportionately drop out of school and far too few finish college," she says. "Closing this gap will not only determine the economic future and competitiveness of this nation, but can serve as a model for the world. I am grateful to have an opportunity to support such important work."

Here's a report about a school Shakira built back home in Colombia.