Maria Otero

Maria Otero is the first holder of the office of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, in which she served from 2012-2013, while also serving as the first Latina Under Secretary in history. She also served as the President’s Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. Otero received a master’s degree in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where she has been an adjunct professor since 1997, co-teaching a course on microfinance. She was also a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2008. Updated July 2015