Aulana L. Peters facts for kids

Aulana Louise Peters was born on November 30, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is a very successful American lawyer. She is known for her important work in law and for being a leader in business.

Aulana Peters made history as the first African American person to serve as a commissioner for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). She was also only the third woman to hold this important position. The SEC is a government group that helps make sure financial markets are fair and honest.

Early Life and Education

Aulana Peters was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. She grew up with a strong interest in learning.

College and Law School

In 1963, Aulana Peters earned a degree in philosophy from the College of New Rochelle in New York. Later, she decided to study law. She went on to earn her law degree, called a Juris Doctor, from the University of Southern California in 1973.

A Career in Law

After finishing law school, Aulana Peters began her career at a big law firm. She worked on many interesting cases.

Working at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

In 1973, Peters joined the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Los Angeles. She started as an associate, which is a junior lawyer. She focused on commercial law, which deals with business agreements and trade. She also worked on class action suits, where many people join together to sue someone. She became a partner at the firm in 1980. This means she became one of the owners and leaders of the firm.

Serving the Government

In 1984, Aulana Peters left her law firm for a special job. President Ronald Reagan appointed her as a commissioner of the SEC. The SEC is a government agency that protects investors and makes sure financial markets work well. She was the first African American and only the third woman to hold this role. She served as a commissioner until 1988.

Return to Private Practice

After her time with the SEC ended, Peters returned to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in 1988. She continued her work as a partner until she retired in 2000.

Leadership in Business

Even after retiring from her law firm, Aulana Peters continued to be a leader. She joined the boards of many large companies.

Board Memberships

Aulana Peters has served on the board of directors for several major companies. Being on a board means she helped guide the company's decisions.

• In 1999, she joined the board of Northrop Grumman, a big aerospace and defense technology company.
• From 2002 to 2010, she was on the board of Deere & Company, which makes farming equipment.
• She also became a director at 3M, a company known for many different products, like Post-it Notes.
• She was also a board member for Merrill Lynch, a financial services company, and KCET, a public television station.

Oversight and Advisory Roles

Peters has also advised important groups that oversee financial and accounting practices.

• She was a member of the Public Oversight Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants from 2001 to 2002. This group helps make sure accountants do their jobs correctly.
• From 2005 to 2012, she was part of the International Public Interest Oversight Board. This board helps set standards for auditing and professional ethics around the world.
• She currently advises the U.S. Comptroller General on accountability and the New York Stock Exchange on market rules.

Awards and Recognition

Aulana Peters has received several awards for her outstanding contributions.

• In 2003, she received the William O. Douglas Award from the Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni.
• In 2010, she was given the Medal of Honor by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. This award recognized her important service to the accounting profession, even though she is not an accountant herself.