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Elaine L. Chao
Birthplace: Taiwan
Education: Bachelor of Economic from form Mount Holyoke, MBA from Harvard.
Current Status: Distinguished Fellow and Senior Editor, The Heritage Foundation
In August 1996, Elaine Chao was appointed a Distinguished Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a premier research institute in Washington, D.C. where she serves as an senior editor of Policy Review, The Journal of American Citizenship. To
Elaine Chao, this position came after a long career of public service.
Elaine Chao was born in Taiwan, China, and came to the United States when she was eight years old. She received her master degree in business administration from Harvard University, and a
Bachelor of economics from Mount Holyoke College. She also studied at M.I.T., Dartmouth, and Columbia University. After earning her M.B. A, she worked for Gulf Oil and Citicorp since 1979 before entering government service full time in 1986.
Elaine Chao served as a White House Fellow in 1983-84, making her mark in federal government. She has held positions as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. department of Transportation, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission. While in the federal government,
Elaine Chao was the Asian American who ever held the highest position in the
Administration. She then became the Director of Peace
Corp, the World's largest volunteer agency where she started
the first peace corp. program in the Independent States
of the former Soviet Union.
Elaine Chao was appointed the President of the United Way of America (UWA) in August 1992, after an exhaustive nationwide search. Under her leadership, new financial and management controls were instituted; the governance structure was reformed; a code of ethics was adopted with measures aimed at restoring the
organization's integrity and public confidence. These steps also helped to
reinvigorate United Way of America's membership levels, rebuild financial stability and helped overall fundraising of local United Way for the 21st century. She guided UWA toward regaining public trust and achieving new levels of fund-raising.
Active in many volunteer activities throughout her life, Elaine Chao is the recipient of many honors and awards for her professional accomplishments and community service. She has received an honorary doctorate of Law and Human Letters degree from Villanova University, Sacred Heart University, St.
John's University, Drexel University, Niagara University, Thomas More College,
Bella Maine College, and the University of Toledo. Ms Chao was also top ten young American Women(1987) and Young Achievement Award from National Women Association (1986).
When she was applying for the White House Fellowship, Elaine Chao said: "There are many Chinese immigrants who have a narrow concept. They
don't realize all kinds of opportunities that this country offers... If we are always complaint being
discriminated, it will not help, and you will not accomplish anything. We should stand up, speak up on our behalf, we will be able to take more responsibilities."
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