Shalala, Donna (1941–)
Shalala, Donna (1941–)
American government official. Born Dona Edna Shalala, Feb 14, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, of Lebanese ancestry; twin sister of Diane Fritel (high school principal); Western College for Women, AB, 1962; Syracuse University, PhD, 1970.
As a Peace Corps volunteer, served in Iran (1962–64); was professor of politics, Bernard Baruch College (1970–72); professor of politics and education at Columbia University Teachers College (1972–79); as treasurer of the Municipal Assistance Corporation (1970s), helped bail New York City out of a financial jam; was president of Hunter College (1980–87), then chancellor of University of Wisconsin—Madison (1987–93); appointed secretary of Health and Human Services by President Bill Clinton (1993), served in that capacity for 8 years, the longest serving HHS secretary in US history; became professor of political science and president of University of Miami (2001).