Sylvia Mathews Burwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
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Official portrait, 2014
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| 15th President of American University | |
| In office June 1, 2017 – June 30, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Cornelius M. Kerwin |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan R. Alger |
| 22nd United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
| In office June 9, 2014 – January 20, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Bill Corr Mary Wakefield (acting) |
| Preceded by | Kathleen Sebelius |
| Succeeded by | Tom Price |
| 39th Director of the Office of Management and Budget | |
| In office April 24, 2013 – June 9, 2014 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Brian Deese |
| Preceded by | Jack Lew |
| Succeeded by | Shaun Donovan |
| Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget | |
| In office October 21, 1998 – January 20, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Jack Lew |
| Succeeded by | Sean O'Keefe |
| White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy | |
| In office January 20, 1997 – October 21, 1998 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Harold M. Ickes |
| Succeeded by | Maria Echaveste |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sylvia Mary Mathews
June 23, 1965 Hinton, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Stephen Burwell |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Worcester College, Oxford (BA) |
Sylvia Mary Burwell (born Sylvia Mary Mathews on June 24, 1965) is an American leader who has worked in government, for universities, and for non-profit groups. She is the president of the Harvard Board of Overseers. From 2017 to 2024, she was the 15th president of American University and the first woman to hold that job.
As a member of the Democratic Party, Burwell held important roles in the U.S. government. She was the Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2014 to 2017 under President Barack Obama. Before that, she was the director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2013 to 2014.
Burwell also worked for large charitable organizations. She was the president of the Walmart Foundation, which works to end hunger. She also worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she led programs to fight poverty around the world.
Early Life and Schooling
Sylvia Mathews was born and grew up in Hinton, West Virginia. Her mother, Cleo Mathews, was a teacher and later became the mayor of Hinton. Her father, Dr. William Peter Mathews, was an optometrist. Her grandparents on both sides were immigrants from Greece.
In grade school, Sylvia became interested in politics. She helped with a local campaign and a campaign for governor. In high school, she was the student body president and played basketball. She graduated as the top student in her class.
She earned a degree in government from Harvard University in 1987. After Harvard, she studied at the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar. There, she earned another degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.
Career Journey
Working in the Clinton White House
In 1992, Burwell joined Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. After he won, she helped create the National Economic Council, a group that advises the president on the economy.
Later, she became the chief of staff for Robert Rubin, the Secretary of the Treasury. In 1997, she became the Deputy White House Chief of Staff. Her job was to help keep the White House focused on its goals during a challenging time.
In 1998, she moved to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OMB helps the president create the national budget. She served as the deputy director until the end of Clinton's presidency.
Leading Charitable Foundations
In 2001, Burwell began working for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This is one of the world's largest charities. She became the chief operating officer and later the president of its Global Development Program. Her work focused on helping people in poor countries. This included improving health, farming, and access to libraries.
In 2012, she became the president of the Walmart Foundation. This charity works to make sure people in the United States have enough food to eat.
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
In 2013, President Barack Obama chose Burwell to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The U.S. Senate approved her with a 96–0 vote. She was only the second woman to ever lead the OMB.
One of her biggest challenges was the government shutdown in October 2013. When Congress could not agree on a budget, Burwell had to manage the process of temporarily closing many government services. The shutdown lasted 16 days. After it ended, she helped create a two-year budget deal to prevent future shutdowns.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
In 2014, President Obama appointed Burwell as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. As secretary, she was in charge of a large department that includes Medicare, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Fighting Ebola and Zika
Soon after she started, an Ebola epidemic began in West Africa. Burwell led the U.S. government's efforts to stop the disease from spreading. Her department worked to prepare American hospitals and support health workers in Africa.
In 2016, the Zika virus became a major health concern. Burwell directed government funds to fight the virus. The money was used for research and to help communities protect themselves from the mosquitos that spread Zika.
The Affordable Care Act
A big part of Burwell's job was managing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. This law helped millions of Americans get health insurance. She worked to improve the HealthCare.gov website to make it easier for people to sign up.
As secretary, she was involved in two major Supreme Court cases about the ACA. In King v. Burwell, the court's decision helped keep the law working as planned. Burwell continued to support the ACA, explaining how it helped millions of people get the healthcare they needed.
University Leadership
President of American University
In 2017, Burwell became the 15th president of American University in Washington, D.C. She was the first woman to lead the university. During her seven years as president, she led a major fundraising campaign called "Change Can’t Wait," which raised $500 million.
This money helped create new research centers and scholarships for students. Under her leadership, the university's research funding doubled. She also made the largest investment in student well-being in the university's history. Her experience in government was very helpful when she led the university through the COVID-19 crisis. She stepped down as president on June 30, 2024.
Harvard University Board of Overseers
In 2025, Burwell was elected president of the Harvard University Board of Overseers for the 2025-2026 school year. This group helps govern the university and is made up of Harvard alumni. Burwell graduated from Harvard in 1987. Her role is to help guide the university and make sure its programs are high quality.
Personal Life
Sylvia Mathews married Stephen Burwell in 2007. They met while she was working at the Gates Foundation. The couple has two children. While she served as Secretary of Health and Human Services, her husband was a stay-at-home parent.
See also
In Spanish: Sylvia Mathews Burwell para niños
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Food and Drug Administration
- List of female United States Cabinet members
- List of people who have held multiple United States Cabinet-level positions
- Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
