CHCI Alumna Alejandra Ceja Appointed Director of White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics

USA - English

• Latin America - español

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan leadership development and educational services organization for emerging Hispanic leaders, applauds U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today for the appointment of CHCI alumna Alejandra Ceja as the new executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Ceja, a former CHCI Public Policy Fellow, will lead the administration's efforts to address disparities in education that impact the Latino community and provide policy solutions to President Obama and Secretary Duncan.

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"Alejandra is a trusted advisor and leader in the Hispanic community," Duncan said. "As director of this important initiative, Alejandra will continue her exceptional work of pursuing academic excellence and opportunities for Hispanics across the country."

"CHCI commends Secretary Duncan for appointing Alejandra Ceja to White House Initiative," said Esther Aguilera, CHCI president and CEO. "Her appointment is a testament to CHCI's success in developing Latinos for leadership positions and illustrates how CHCI's educational programs are making an impact throughout the country."

"I look forward to advancing the mission and goals of the Initiative and to helping Hispanics achieve their potential academically, professionally, civically and globally," Ceja said.  "I want to thank CHCI for supporting my professional development throughout the years and look forward to working together on advancing the Latino college completion agenda for our country. 

Ceja came to Washington, D.C. in 1996 to accept CHCI's prestigious Public Policy Fellowship where she worked on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and at the National Council of La Raza.  Her Washington career includes positions at the White House Office of Management and Budget where she helped develop the federal budget for the Department of Labor and the Corporation for National and Community Service and as senior budget and appropriations advisor at the House Education and Labor Committee.  Prior to her current appointment, she served as chief of staff for Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter.

Ceja is a member and former president of the CHCI Alumni Association. She is also a member of the National Urban Fellows, the National Hispana Leadership Institute and a graduate of the Presidential Management Fellowship program.

Ceja is a native of Huntington Park, Calif., though her family's roots trace back to Michoacan, Mexico. She received her MPA in Public Administration at Baruch College, City University of New York, and her B.A. in Political Science at Mount St. Mary's College in California.

About CHCI
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c) (3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic members of Congress, nonprofit, union, and corporate leaders. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771, visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter (@chci), and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute