Background
Chao, Elaine L. Daughter of James South Carolina and Ruth Master of Laws (Chu) Chao.
United States Secretary of Labor
Chao, Elaine L. Daughter of James South Carolina and Ruth Master of Laws (Chu) Chao.
AB, Mount Holyoke College, 1975. Master of Business Administration, Harvard University, 1979. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Villanova University, 1989.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), St. John's University, 1991. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Sacred Heart University, 1991. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Notre Dame, 1998.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), St. Marys College, 2002. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Fu-Jen Catholic University, 2003. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Catholic University America, 2004.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Niagara University, 1992. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Bellarmine College, 1995. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), University Toledo, 1995.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Goucher College, 1996. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), University Louisville, 1996. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), University South Carolina, 2001.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Northern Alabama University, 2003. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Centre College, 2003. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Wingate University, 2004.
DHum (honorary), Drexel University, 1992. DHum (honorary), Thomas More College, 1994. DHum (honorary), Kentucky Wesleyan College, 1998.
D Arts & Letters (honorary), Miami-Dade Community College, 2001. Doctor of Public Administration (honorary), Campbellsville University, 2002. Doctor of Public Administration (honorary), Northern Kentucky University, 2004.
D Public Services (honorary), DePauw University, 2002. Doctor in Organizational Leadership (honorary), Regent University, 2003.
Associate Gulf Oil Corporation, Pittsburgh, 1978. Senior lending officer Citicorp, NA, New York City, 1979-1983. Vice president, capital markets group Bank of America Corporation, San Francisco, 1984-1986.
Deputy maritime administrator United States Department Transportation, Washington, 1986-1988, chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, 1988, deputy secretary, 1989-1991. Board directors Peace Corps., 1991—1992. President United Way of America, Alexandria, Virginia, 1992-1996.
Distinguished fellow The Heritage Foundation, Washington, 1996—2001, since 2009. Member 24th United States Secretary of Labor, 2001—2009. President cabinet, 1996—2001.
Board directors Dole Food Company, Inc. White House fellow, 1983—1984. Adjunct assistant professor St. John's University Graduate School Business Administration, New York, 1984.
Board directors American Council Young Political Leaders, 1989.
Member of Council Foreign Relations, Harvard Club.
Married Mitch McConnell, February 6, 1993.