Malala Yousafzai, local Girl Scouts, Anna Maria Chávez
Malala Yousafzai, local Girl Scouts, and Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), the largest leadership organization for girls in the world, celebrate the power girls have to change the world at the NYC premiere of He Named Me Malala. Courtesy Photo

Anna Maria Chávez is the first Latina CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, and not only is she the brain behind its famous cookies, Anna is also lifelong Girl Scout. Her experiences growing up with the organization lit a career-defining passion for public service and social engagement, which she is now passing on to girls across the country. Anna and GSUSA are committed to helping girls across the country experience the fun of Girl Scouts, unleash their leadership potential, and use their natural talents to make their communities, countries, and our world a better place. Girl Scouts has a rich history of bringing up generations of Hispanic- and Latin American leaders, entrepreneurs, and luminaries. Some GSUSA alumni include the likes of Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and the “TODAY Show’s” Natalie Morales!

Here are 11 things to know about Anna Maria Chávez and her much-deserved accomplishments:

  1. She earned a bachelor's degree in American history before pursuing a jurist doctorate from the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona.
  2. She is admitted to the Bar for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, the Arizona Supreme Court, and U.S. Supreme Court.
  3. Her desire to serve others brought her first to Washington D.C., where she held numerous posts in President Clinton’s administration, including serving a senior policy advisor to former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater.
  4. She later returned to Arizona to serve the first of two female governors as Deputy Chief of Staff for Urban Relations and Community Development under then-Governor Janet Napolitano. In this role, she promoted the governor's policies, programs, and initiatives in partnership with city, county, and tribal governments.
  5. Anna returned to the Girl Scout Movement in 2009, serving as Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas.
  6. Her achievements leading the Southwest Texas council include vastly enhancing the reach and visibility of the Council, growing the Council’s philanthropic efforts, and boosting membership.
  7. She earned the respect and recognition of GSUSA’s National Board, who appointed her CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 2011.
  8. Chávez received the 2013 Law College Association Award from her law school alma mater, the University of Arizona, and has been recognized as one of the 100 Women Leaders in STEM by STEM connector.
  9. She is the recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Community Service award from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, as well as the 2013 Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award from the National Council of La Raza.
  10. The Arizona National Guard presented Anna with the Adjutant General's Medal and the Diversity Champion Leadership Award.
  11. And did we mention she's the driving force behind Digital Cookie?
    Cookie Day
    Local Girl Scouts, and Anna Maria Chávez on Cookie Day! Courtesy Photo

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.