Laura Tyson, a professor at the Haas School of Business, and Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy, are members of Obama’s 17-person transition economic advisory board, which is working to ensure Obama’s highest priorities will take effect smoothly and immediately after his inauguration on Jan. 21.

Obama was quiet about permanent positions within his administration, saying that he wants to work with “deliberate haste” to appoint officials. National news outlets have said Tyson is on a short list for Treasury Secretary.

The address came on a day of sobering news from Ford and GM, which both announced new economic losses, and the Department of Labor, which revealed that unemployment had risen to 6.5 percent, its highest in 14 years. Obama reminded listeners that America is in its tenth consecutive month of job loss, 1.2 million jobs have been lost this year and 10 million Americans are currently unemployed.

Although Obama acknowledged the task ahead “is not going to be quick and not going to be easy,” he plans to “confront this economic crisis head-on.”

One of his key priorities include creating a rescue plan for the middle class which will increase unemployment benefits and implement a fiscal stimulus plan to increase economic growth. Obama also mentioned remembering those sectors of the economy that are hurting the most, like small businesses, the auto industry, state and municipal governments and struggling homeowners.

“I’m confident a president can have an enormous impact. That’s why I ran,” he said.