Elaine Chao
US Secretary of Labor
Elaine Chao (b.1953) became the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a president’s cabinet when she served as the country’s 24th US Secretary of Labor from 2001-09. She immigrated at age 8 from Taiwan and spoke no English. When she attended Mount Holyoke College, she played field hockey and was a member of the horseback riding club. Her many accomplishments include being the Director of the Peace Corps and the President and CEO of United Way of America.
(Portrait by Nancy Wong, SFSU 2015)
CHAO Elaine (Wong N) BW.pdf539.33 KB