Sara Martinez Tucker

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Sara Martinez Tucker served as Undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education for President George W. Bush. As the nation’s top higher education official, she oversaw all policies, programs, and activities related to postsecondary education, vocational and adult education, and federal student aid, including the successful oversight of more than $32 billion in disbursed appropriations and more than 5,500 discretionary awards. In addition, Sara led the development and implementation of two signature programs to increase access to college. First, a joint initiative with the U.S. Treasury Department to make nearly $70 billion in 2008-09 federal student loans available during the nation’s financial crisis, an effort described by the Wall Street Journal as “one bright spot in a season of crises and bailouts,” and an innovative new website, college.gov, which helps students and families prepare for college. College.gov received Computerworld’s Laureate Medal for exceptional use of technology to better society.

Prior to joining the Department of Education, Tucker worked for nine years as the CEO and president of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), where she pursued an aggressive goal to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees. In her time at the helm of HSF, Tucker raised $280 million for scholarships, growing annual scholarships from $3 million to over $25 million, and launching community outreach programs to raise college expectations in Latino families and communities.

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Speaker:
Dan Groody