Donna Shalala facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Donna Shalala
Official portrait, 2019

President of The New School
Interim
In office August 16, 2023 – July 31, 2024
Preceded by	Dwight A. McBride
Succeeded by	Joel Towers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 27th district
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Succeeded by	María Elvira Salazar
18th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
In office January 22, 1993 – January 20, 2001
President	Bill Clinton
Deputy	Walter Broadnax Kevin L. Thurm
Preceded by	Louis Wade Sullivan
Succeeded by	Tommy Thompson
1st Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Policy Development and Research
In office January 20, 1977 – October 8, 1980
President	Jimmy Carter
Secretary	Patricia Roberts Harris Moon Landrieu
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Emanuel S. Savas
President of the Clinton Foundation
In office March 6, 2015 – April 25, 2017
Preceded by	Eric Braverman
Succeeded by	Kevin Thurm
5th President of the University of Miami
In office June 1, 2001 – August 16, 2015
Preceded by	Edward T. Foote II
Succeeded by	Julio Frenk
5th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
In office January 1, 1988 – January 22, 1993
Preceded by	Bernard Cecil Cohen
Succeeded by	David Ward
10th President of Hunter College
In office October 8, 1980 – January 1, 1988
Preceded by	Jacqueline Grennan Wexler
Succeeded by	Paul LeClerc

Personal details
Born	Donna Edna Shalala (1941-02-14) February 14, 1941 (age 84) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Western College (BA) Syracuse University (MA, PhD)

Donna Edna Shalala (born February 14, 1941) is an American politician and educator. She worked in the governments of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. She also served in the United States House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021. In 2008, Shalala received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a very high honor.

Shalala earned her first college degree from Western College for Women in 1962. After that, she joined the Peace Corps, helping people in other countries. In 1970, she earned her PhD from Syracuse University. Later, Shalala taught at colleges and worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This department helps with housing and city planning.

In 1980, Shalala became the president of Hunter College. She then became the head of the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1988. From 1993 to 2001, Shalala was the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton. She was the longest-serving person in this role. She was also the first Lebanese-American to be part of the President's Cabinet.

After her time in government, Shalala became the president of the University of Miami from 2001 to 2015. She also led the Clinton Foundation from 2015 to 2017. As a member of the Democratic Party, Shalala was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. She served one term before losing her re-election in 2020. From 2023 to 2024, Shalala was the temporary president of The New School in New York City.

Early Life and Education
Career Highlights
See also

Early Life and Education

Donna Shalala was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Her family had a Lebanese background. Her father worked in real estate, and her mother was a teacher who also studied law at night. Donna has a twin sister named Diane Fritel.

Shalala went to West Technical High School, where she was the editor of the school newspaper. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1962. From 1962 to 1964, she was one of the first volunteers in the Peace Corps. She worked in a farming village in southern Iran, helping to build an agricultural college. In 1970, she earned her PhD from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.

Career Highlights

Teaching and Government Work (1970–1988)

Shalala started her career teaching about politics at Baruch College in New York City. She was also part of a teachers' union.

In 1972, Shalala became a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. She stayed there until 1979. She was the only woman on a special group that helped New York City with its money problems in 1975. At the same time, from 1977 to 1980, she worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Carter administration. She helped with planning and research for housing.

Shalala became the president of Hunter College on October 8, 1980. This was her first big job leading a school. She worked there until 1988.

Leading the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1988–1993)

From 1988 to 1993, Shalala was the head, or chancellor, of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This university had 42,000 students and many employees. She was the first woman to lead a "Big Ten Conference" school. She was also only the second woman to lead a major research university in the country.

While she was chancellor, the university made rules about what students could say. These rules were meant to stop hurtful speech. However, a judge later said these rules were against the law.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (1993–2001)

Shalala with President Bill Clinton in April 1993

Shalala with Kosovo War refugees in 1999

After working for the Children's Defense Fund for a year, Donna Shalala was chosen by President-elect Bill Clinton in 1992. He wanted her to be the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. This department helps with the health and well-being of people in the U.S. The Senate approved her for the job on January 22, 1993. When she started, the department had many employees and a very large budget.

Shalala served as the Secretary of Health and Human Services for eight years. This made her the longest-serving person in that role. In 1996, she was chosen as the "designated survivor" during President Clinton's important "State of the Union" speech. This means she would have taken over if something had happened to the President and other leaders. She was also the first Lebanese-American to be part of the President's Cabinet.

University of Miami Presidency (2001–2015)

Shalala with President George W. Bush and former Senator Bob Dole before leading a commission on wounded soldiers, 2007

In 2001, Shalala became the president of the University of Miami. She started a big fundraising effort called "Momentum." The goal was to raise a lot of money for the university.

Shalala faced some challenges during her time at the University of Miami. There was a strike by the university's cleaning staff in 2006. The workers said they were paid too little and didn't have health insurance. Shalala worked to raise their wages. She also faced criticism for selling some undeveloped land owned by the university. This land was important for the environment.

On September 8, 2014, Shalala announced that she would leave her job as president at the end of the 2014–2015 school year.

Leading the Clinton Foundation (2015–2017)

In 2015, Shalala took a break from teaching to volunteer for the Clinton Foundation. She then became the chief executive officer of the Foundation, working there from 2015 to 2017.

The Clinton Foundation is a charity organization. Shalala led the foundation during the 2016 presidential election, when Hillary Clinton was running for president. Shalala worked to make sure the foundation avoided any conflicts of interest during this time. She left the Clinton Foundation in April 2017 and returned to teaching at the University of Miami.

In 2015, Shalala had a stroke but later recovered.

U.S. House of Representatives (2019–2021)

Shalala meeting Juan Guaidó supporters in Miami, 2019

Elections for Congress

In March 2018, Shalala decided to run for Congress in Florida's 27th congressional district. This district includes parts of Miami. The previous representative was retiring.

Shalala said she supported healthcare for everyone. She won the Democratic primary election on August 28, 2018. She then ran against Republican candidate María Elvira Salazar. Shalala's campaign focused on her experience. The district has many Spanish speakers, and the race was very close. Shalala won the election when she was 77 years old.

In the 2020 election, Shalala ran against María Elvira Salazar again. On November 3, 2020, Shalala lost to Salazar.

Time in Congress

Shalala became a member of the 116th United States Congress on January 3, 2019.

On December 18, 2019, Shalala voted to impeach President Donald Trump.

In April 2020, Shalala was chosen to be on a special commission. This group was created to watch how the government spent money from the CARES Act, which helped people during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was some discussion because Shalala had not reported some stock trades, but she stayed on the commission and paid a fine.

Shalala was also a vice-chair for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Committees and Groups

While in Congress, Shalala was part of these important groups:

Committee on Education and Labor
- Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
- Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
Committee on Rules

She was also a member of these special groups:

Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus
Congressional Solar Caucus

Interim Presidency at The New School (2023–2024)

After the previous president left, Shalala was chosen to be the temporary president of The New School. She was the first woman to lead this university. Her time there ended in July 2024.

In October 2023, Shalala made a statement about the conflict in the Middle East. Some students and teachers were upset because her first statement did not mention the lives lost in Gaza. She quickly issued another statement that included Palestinian recognition and an apology.

Other Activities

Shalala has been on the boards of several companies, including Lennar and Gannett Company. She also served on the board of directors for the United States Soccer Federation.

She has been involved in many civic activities. In 1985, Shalala helped start EMILY's List, a group that helps elect women who support certain policies. She is also part of groups that work on health, economic studies, and improving relations between countries.

Awards and Honors

Shalala receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008

At the University of Miami, Shalala was given the Iron Arrow Honor Society award, which is the highest honor there.

On June 19, 2008, President George W. Bush gave Shalala the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can receive in the United States. In 2010, she received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights. She was also added to the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2019, Shalala was named one of the first members of the Government Hall of Fame.

Shalala has received more than 50 honorary degrees from different universities.