The Light - An Alumni Publication Fall 2014 | Page 5

NEW & NOTEWORTHY
YFU Alumna Sylvia Mathews Burwell to Lead US
Department of Health and Human Services
Youth For Understanding USA (YFU) Alumna
Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who was a YFU
scholarship recipient to Japan in 1982, has been
confirmed as the new Secretary of Health and
Human Services.
The Senate unanimously appointed Burwell as
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
last April. Prior to that appointment, she was
President of the WalMart Foundation and, before
that, spent 10 years with the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, during which time she served as their
Chief Operating Officer and President of the Global
Development Program.

“We’re very proud of Secretary Burwell and the
many alumni who go on to significant leadership
positions after their exchange year,” said Michael
E. Hill, President & CEO of YFU. “YFU believes
that by studying abroad, young people undergo a
transformative journey that helps them to develop
the leadership competencies necessary to meet the
challenges and benefit from the opportunities of a
fast-changing global community. We are grateful for
the example set by Secretary Burwell of the limitless
potential of YFU participants to serve as key leaders
of tomorrow.”

YFU Program: Japan, 1982
Education:
Summers County High School, Hinton, WV
Harvard University, A.B.
Oxford University, B.A. and Rhodes Scholar
Occupation: US Secretary of Health and Human Services
City: Washington, DC

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