Patricia Diaz Dennis

Summary

Patricia Diaz Dennis (born October 2, 1946) is an American lawyer who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs from 1992 to 1993.

Patricia Diaz Dennis
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
In office
August 24, 1992 – January 20, 1993
PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush
Preceded byRichard Schifter
Succeeded byJohn Shattuck
Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission
In office
June 25, 1986 - September 29, 1989
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byHenry M. Rivera[1]
Succeeded byErvin Duggan[2]
Member of the National Labor Relations Board
In office
May 5, 1983 – June 24, 1986
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byJohn Van de Water[3]
Succeeded byMary Cracraft[4][5][6]
Personal details
Born
Patricia Diaz[7]

(1946-10-02) October 2, 1946 (age 77)
Santa Rita, New Mexico, U.S.
SpouseMichael Dennis
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Loyola Marymount University (JD)

Biography edit

Patricia Diaz Dennis was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico on October 2, 1946,[7] the daughter of Porfirio Madrid Diaz and Mary Romero.[7] She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating with an A.B. in 1970.[7] She then attended Loyola Law School and received a J.D. in 1973.[7]

After law school, she joined Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker as an associate attorney.[7] She practiced labor and employment law there until 1976, when she took an in-house job in the law department of the Pacific Lighting Company.[7] In 1978, she joined the labor law department of the American Broadcasting Company.[7]

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed Dennis to the National Labor Relations Board.[7] After Senate confirmation, she served there until 1986, when Reagan appointed her as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, also requiring Senate confirmation.[8]

She returned to the private practice of law in 1991, joining Jones Day as a partner and Chair of the Communications Section.[7]

From 1991-1992, she served as vice president, Government Affairs at Sprint.[7] In August of 1992, President George H. W. Bush nominated Dennis to be Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs[8] and, after Senate confirmation, Dennis held this position from August 24, 1992 until January 20, 1993.

Upon leaving the United States Department of State, Dennis joined Sullivan & Cromwell as special counsel for telecommunications matters.[9] She joined SBC Communications (which later became AT&T) as a senior vice president in 1995, and worked there until retiring 2008.

In addition to her career, Dennis served on the World Bank Sanctions Board from 2007-2013 as the first Latina and second female to serve on the Board.

Dennis has served on five public boards, two private boards, and one mutual board as well.

Long active in the Girl Scouts of the USA among many non-profits, in 2005, Dennis was elected as that organization's chairperson, substantially increasing the number of Latina children to join the Girl Scouts.[10]

As of 2023, she chairs the Sanctions Panel for The Global Fund which fights AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis around the world.

References edit

  1. ^ PN951 — Patricia Diaz Dennis — Federal Communications Commission, 99th Congress (1985-1986)
  2. ^ PN937 — Ervin S. Duggan — Federal Communications Commission, 101st Congress (1989-1990)
  3. ^ PN101 — Patricia Diaz Dennis — National Labor Relations Board, 98th Congress (1983-1984)
  4. ^ PN1242-1 — Mary Cracraft — National Labor Relations Board, 99th Congress (1985-1986)
  5. ^ PN1242-2 — Mary Cracraft — National Labor Relations Board, 99th Congress (1985-1986)
  6. ^ Mary Miller Cracraft
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k FCC Bio
  8. ^ a b Zarkin, Kimberly; Michael J. Zarkin (2006). The Federal Communications Commission: front line in the culture and regulation wars. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-313-33416-0.
  9. ^ Patricia Diaz Dennis Executive in Residence - Center for Professional Excellence
  10. ^ Patricia Diaz Dennis. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09.
Government offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
1992–1993
Succeeded by