Hon. Donna E. Shalala, PhD

The Honorable Donna Shalala served as Secretary of Health and Human Services (1993–2001) in the Clinton Administration. She also served in the U.S. House of Representatives (2019–21) and as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Carter Administration (1979-1970). One of the most honored academics of her generation, Dr. Shalala served as President of the University of Miami, President of Hunter College of the City University of New York and Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2007, President George W. Bush handpicked Shalala to co-chair with Senator Bob Dole the Commission on Care for Returning Wounded Warriors, to evaluate how wounded service members transition from active duty to civilian society. In 2009 she was appointed chair of the Committee on the Future of Nursing at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. President Bush presented her in 2008 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. Secretary Shalala has been elected to seven national academies: National Academy of Education; the National Academy of Public Administration; the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; the American Philosophical Society; the National Academy of Social Insurance; the American Academy of Political and Social Science; and the National Academy of Medicine. She earned her PhD degree from The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

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