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Donna ShalalaEighteenth United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
Date of Birth: 14.02.1941
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Academic Career
- Leadership Roles
- U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Later Career
Donna Shalala: A Trailblazing Leader in Healthcare, Education, and Philanthropy
Donna Shalala is an American educator, academic administrator, and government official who has made significant contributions to the fields of healthcare, education, and public service. She is best known for her tenure as the 18th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton.
Early Life and Education
Donna Edna Shalala was born on February 14, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Lebanese-American parents. Her father was a grocer and her mother was an attorney. She attended Glenville High School with her twin sister and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Western College for Women in 1962. After earning a master's degree from Syracuse University in 1968, Shalala obtained her Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University in 1970.
Academic Career
Shalala began her academic career at Baruch College and joined the American Association of University Professors. From 1972 to 1979, she taught political science at Columbia University. Simultaneously, she served as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during President Jimmy Carter's administration from 1977 to 1980.
Leadership Roles
Shalala's leadership experience began with her election as the 10th President of Hunter College in 1980, a position she held until 1988. She subsequently led the University of Wisconsin-Madison as its Chancellor from 1988 to 1993.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
In 1993, President Clinton appointed Shalala as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. She served for eight years, making her the longest-serving Secretary in the department's history. Shalala pursued a tough anti-drug stance and is widely regarded as one of the most successful Health and Human Services Secretaries in modern times, according to The Washington Post.
Later Career
After leaving the government, Shalala became President of the University of Miami from 2001 to 2015. She later led the Clinton Foundation from 2015 to 2017. Shalala continues to be an active voice in healthcare and education policy.
