Alexis Herman

Alexis Herman
Official portrait of Herman in 1998
Official portrait, 1998
23rd United States Secretary of Labor
In office
May 1, 1997 – January 20, 2001
PresidentBill Clinton
DeputyKathryn O. Higgins
Preceded byRobert Reich
Succeeded byElaine Chao
12th Director of the Office of Public Liaison
In office
January 20, 1993 – February 7, 1997
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byCecile B. Kremer
Succeeded byMaria Echaveste
8th Director of the Women's Bureau
In office
April 4, 1977 – January 20, 1981
PresidentJimmy Carter
Preceded byCarmen R. Maymi
Succeeded byLenora C. Alexander
Personal details
Born
Alexis Margaret Herman

(1947-07-16) July 16, 1947 (age 77)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Charles Franklin
(m. 2000; died 2014)
EducationEdgewood College
Spring Hill College (transferred)
Xavier University of Louisiana (AB)

Alexis Margaret Herman (born July 16, 1947) formerly served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton; she was the first African-American to hold the position. Prior to serving as Secretary, she was Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Herman grew up in Mobile, Alabama. After college, she worked to improve employment opportunities for black laborers and women. She then joined the administration of Jimmy Carter, working as director of the Labor Department's Women's Bureau. She became active in the Democratic party, working in the campaigns of Jesse Jackson and then serving as chief of staff for the Democratic National Committee under Ronald H. Brown. She joined the cabinet of President Bill Clinton in 1997.

Following the defeat of Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election, Herman remained active in Democratic politics, in addition to her participation in the private sector, serving on the boards of corporations such as Coca-Cola and Toyota.