Carmen Lomellin

Carmen Lomellin "was appointed in May, 1998 to her current position as the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) for the Organization of American States (OAS) by Secretary General Cesar Gaviria. In that position, she provides guidance and direction to the OAS member states and Permanent Secretariat on hempsheric policy advancing issues affecting women, particularly in the areas of human rights and gender equality. As head of the Permanent Secretariat, Ms. Lomellin oversees the activities of the Commission’s delegates representing the 34 democracies of the Western Hemisphere and manages the daily operations of the Permanent Secretariat of the CIM.

"She is a former Appointee in the Clinton Administration, where she held the positions of White House Liaison for the US Office of Personnel Management and Director of that agency’s Office of International Affairs. She was an Advisor on Hispanic Affairs to the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach, as well as Search Manager in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel during the 1996 presidential transition, where she worked on sub-cabinet appointments in the area of international trade.

"Ms. Lomellin has experience in local government (Chicago, Illinois). She worked for Mayor Richard M. Daley as Director of the Private Industry Council of Chicago and also implemented and managed one of the nation’s most successful graffiti abatement programs. Ms. Lomellin has worked for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund where she was the Director of Leadership Development, and for Chicago United, a civic think tank, as Director of Economic Development. In addition, she has extensive experience in the private sector, working for the Chicago-based Ispat/Inland Steel Company in various sales and marketing capacities.

"Carmen Lomellin holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from St. Joseph’s Calumet College and a Masters in Business Administration in International Business from De Paul University, Chicago, Illinois.

"Ms. Lomellin is currently a member of the Hispanic Advisory Council of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and a Charter Board Member of the Latin American Baseball Museum and Center. Carmen has spent a major part of her professional career and personal life working on women’s issues, particularly those in the United States Hispanic community. She is also a veteran of numerous political campaigns at the local, state and national levels."

• Director, Center for Women Policy Studies