© Latinas in History 2008

Among the most visible Latinas in media and politics, Aida Alvarez is a native of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. When she graduated from Harvard University in 1971, she moved permanently to New York City. She embarked upon a successful career as a newspaper journalist and television anchorwoman. With a series of written articles for The New York Post, “Latins in New York,” she won a Front Page Award for Journalistic Excellence, and her television reporting from El Salvador, during their civil, war garnered Alvarez an Emmy nomination in 1982. She served on several governmental panels, among them New York City’s Charter Revision Commission. Alvarez actively engaged in national Democratic party politics, participating in Al Gore’s presidential campaign. She was co-chair of the Women’s Committee for Bill Clinton’s campaign in 1992, and served on his economic transition team. In 1993, Clinton nominated her as director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight and in December 1996 President Clinton nominated Aida Alvarez to head the Small Business Administration (SBA). Her vigorous advocacy for women and minority-owned small businesses was one of her greatest known accomplishment as an administrator.