- Aída Álvarez
Aída Álvarez (born 1950) is the first
Hispanic woman and Puerto Rican to hold a Cabinet position.Early years
Alvarez was born in
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico into a family which faced a difficult economic situation. However, her parents worked hard and always encouraged her to pursue her dreams. After she received her primary education in Puerto Rico, her family moved toNew York City in hopes of improving their economic situation. In New York, she attended high school and participated in a program called "ASPIRA". "ASPIRA" was founded by Dr. Antonia Pantoja and has helped disadvantaged children, especially girls, gain the leadership skills and knowledge required to go to college. [ [http://www.nndb.com/people/351/000127967/ NNDB] ]Álvarez applied and was accepted at
Harvard University where in 1971 she earned her Bachelors of Arts degree grauduatingCum Laude . During her student years many people provided her with support.Journalist for the New York Post
Álvarez began her career as a
journalist for theNew York Post and won a "Front Page Award". She later became a news reporter andanchor for Metromedia Television (Channel Five) also in New York. In 1982, she won anAssociated Press Award for Excellence and she was nominated for anEmmy Award for her reporting of guerilla activities inEl Salvador . [http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/chh/bio/alvarez_a.htm Gale Cengage learning] ]Álvarez ventured into the banking business by becoming an investment banker at the
First Boston Corporation and atBear Stearns . As a public servant, she spent two years at the NYC Health and Hospitals Corp. She was also a commissioner on the New York City Charter Revision Commission and a member of the Mayor's (NYC) Committee on Appointments. On June 1993, Álvarez was named Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. She created a financial safety and soundness oversight program forFannie Mae andFreddie Mac . [http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/chh/bio/alvarez_a.htm Gale Cengage learning] ]mall Business Administration
In 1997, Álvarez was appointed by President Bill Clinton, Administrator of the
Small Business Administration , thus becoming the first Hispanic woman and Puerto Rican to serve as an executive officer in the U.S. Cabinet. She directed the delivary of a comprehensive set of financial and business development programs for American small businesses. The agency provided financing worth eleven billion dollars a year to small businesses across the nation. [ [http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=2941 University of Michigan News] ]In 2000, Álvarez was elected to the Board of Overseers of Harvard University. Her role is to visit the graduate schools, departments and museums of the University to ensure that the University remains true to its Charter as a place of learning. She also serves on the National Trust for Historic Preservation; the Coalition for Supportive Housing and is on the Board of Trustees of the Latino Community Foundation. [http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/chh/bio/alvarez_a.htm Gale Cengage learning] ]
During the
2004 Presidential Election , Álvarez was named official spokeswoman forSenator John Kerry . Álvarez had met Kerry during her days as the Small Business Administration administrator. She became familiar with his work in theU.S. Senate for small business development. [http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/chh/bio/alvarez_a.htm Gale Cengage learning] ]Álvarez has been featured in many magazines, among them "Latina Style Magazine" and is featured in the book "Hard Won Wisdom" by
Fawn Gerner , where she is quoted as saying"I first learned about leadership when I fought back after a female gang leader tried to bully me"
. ["Hard Won Wisdom", by Fawn Gerner, Publisher: Perigee Trade; 1st ed edition (October 9, 2001), ISBN-10: 0399527117, ISBN-13: 978-0399527111]As of January 2008, Alvarez sits on the board of directors for
Wal-Mart .ee also
*
List of famous Puerto Ricans References
External links
* [http://anaheim-landslide.com/alvarez.htm Aida Alvarez]
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