19 Facts About Maria Otero

Maria Otero served as the President's Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.

Maria Otero's uncle was Jaime Otero Calderon, a Bolivian statesman.

Maria Otero's cousin is Jaime Aparicio Otero, a Bolivian Ambassador to the US and former President of the Inter-American Juridical Committee of the OAS.

Maria Otero attended the London Business School Executive Leadership Program in 1999.

Maria Otero is married to Joseph T Eldridge, a human rights advocate who is Senior Fellow at the Washington Office of Latin America and was, for 19 years the head chaplain at American University.

Maria Otero was the Economist for Latin America for the Women in Development office of USAID.

Maria Otero served for five years at the Centre for Development and Population Activities.

Maria Otero joined ACCION International in 1986 and was appointed president and CEO in 2000 replacing Michael Chu.

Maria Otero chaired the board of ACCION Investments, an equity fund that invested in micro finance banks globally.

Maria Otero served on the boards of various microfinance banks in Latin America.

Maria Otero published on the subject and spoke throughout the world on microfinance, women's issues and poverty alleviation.

Maria Otero then returned to government service as Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs from August 10,2009, through 2011, the precursor to the expanded responsibilities as Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, which she held until 2013.

Maria Otero is currently a trustee of the Kresge Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, Herbalife, Development Alternatives Inc, and Bancosol, a US$1.5 Billion microfinance bank in Bolivia.

Maria Otero's awards include selection by Newsweek in October 2005 as one of the United States' 20 most influential women; Hispanic Business Magazines 'Elite Women of 2007'; Notre Dame University's Distinguished Service in Latin America Award; and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Maria Otero has received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Dartmouth College.

Maria Otero served on the board of the US Institute of Peace, a position to which she was originally appointed by President Bill Clinton.

Maria Otero has chaired the board of Bread for the World, and served on the boards of the Calvert Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation and BRAC in Bangladesh.

Maria Otero is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Maria Otero is currently the highest ranking Hispanic official at the State Department, and the first Latina Under Secretary in its history.