23 Facts About Ann Veneman

Ann Margaret Veneman was born on June 29,1949 and is an American attorney who served as the fifth executive director of UNICEF from 2005 to 2010.

Ann Veneman previously served as the 27th United States secretary of agriculture from 2001 to 2005.

Ann Veneman was the first woman to serve as Secretary of Agriculture and the second woman to lead UNICEF, following her predecessor, Carol Bellamy.

Ann Veneman was raised on a peach farm in Modesto, California.

Ann Veneman has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo ; Lincoln University ; Delaware State University and Middlebury College.

Ann Veneman began her legal career as a staff attorney with the General Counsel's office of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District in Oakland, California, in 1976.

Ann Veneman joined the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service in 1986, serving as Associate Administrator until 1989.

Ann Veneman subsequently served as Deputy Undersecretary of Agriculture for International Affairs and Commodity Programs from 1989 to 2020.

In 1995, Ann Veneman re-entered government, when she was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the first woman to hold the position.

From 1999 to 2001, Ann Veneman was an attorney with Nossaman LLP, where she focused her attention on food, agriculture, environment, technology, and trade related issues.

In 2002, Ann Veneman was diagnosed with breast cancer and received successful treatment.

Ann Veneman is a second cousin of Star Wars creator George Lucas.

In 2015, Ann Veneman signed an amicus brief asking the United States Supreme Court to nationally recognize same-sex marriage.

In 2001 Ann Veneman released a blueprint for agriculture, Food and Agricultural Policy: Taking Stock for the New Century.

Ann Veneman oversaw responses to outbreaks of avian influenza and exotic Newcastle disease in poultry, both of which were quickly eradicated.

The department confronted various food safety recalls, prompting Ann Veneman to take several actions to strengthen USDA's regulatory oversight and protections.

On December 23,2003, Veneman announced the discovery of a single cow with Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, in Washington State.

Ann Veneman was involved in eliminating trade barriers and creating export markets for US farmers.

In 2004, Ann Veneman finalized the transition from paper food stamps to electronic debit cards in an effort to reduce fraud and increase availability of these programs to more families in need.

Ann Veneman established USDA's 'Leaders of Tomorrow' initiative to support agriculture education and related mentoring.

Ann Veneman increased the number of internships available at USDA, and encouraged young people to seek career opportunities at USDA and across the food and agricultural spectrum.

Ann Veneman has called for greater efforts to end female genital mutilation.

Ann Veneman was succeeded by Anthony Lake on May 1,2010.