Honoree-
Irene Natividad

Irene Natividad, a recognized leader in the women’s movement in the United States, graduated valedictorian from the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University in 1971. Ms. Natividad’s commitment to supporting and promoting women and their causes nationally and internationally, stems from her decade-long involvement with the National Women’s Political Caucus, a 30-year-old bipartisan organization dedicated to electing and appointing more women to public office. Recognized for her outstanding leadership of the Caucus, she was elected president in 1985, becoming the first Asian American ever to head a national political organization. In 1987, she was re-elected to this prestigious post.

Ms. Natividad currently serves as the director of the Global Summit of Women, a 12-year-old international gathering of business women and political leaders, and chairs Corporate Women Directors International, an organization that promotes the increased participation of women on corporate boards globally. She serves on the boards of numerous organizations, from Enterprising Woman magazine to the National Museum of Women in Arts. In 1994, President Clinton appointed her to the board of Sallie Mae, a $46 billion student loan financing corporation.

A native of the Philippines, she is also a leader in the Asian American community and served as deputy vice chair of the Democratic Party’s Asian Caucus from 1982-1984.

Ms. Natividad has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards including being named one of America’s 100 Most Important Women by the Ladies Home Journal in 1989, one of the 25 Most Influential Working Mothers by Working Mother Magazine in 1997, and one of the 74 Women Changing American Politics by Campaigns & Elections Magazine in 1993. She was awarded honorary doctorates by both the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University (1989) and by Marymount College (1984). Ms. Natividad resides outside of Washington, D.C. with her husband, Andrea Cortese, and their son, Carlo.

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