Maria Otero served as U.S. undersecretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights under Secretary Hillary Clinton from 2009 to 2013. Otero also served as President Barack Obama’s special representative for Tibetan issues. Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Otero was formerly president and chief executive officer of ACCION International, a leader in microfinance and economic development. Previously, Otero was the economist for Latin America at the Women in Development office of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and served for five years at the Centre for Development and Population Activities. She was an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins’ School for Advanced International Studies before joining the State Department. Otero currently serves as a trustee for Herbalife, the Public Welfare Foundation, Development Alternatives, Inc., the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and Oxfam America. In 2006 she was appointed by Secretary General Kofi Annan to the United Nations Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors. In 2000, President William Clinton appointed Otero to the board of the United States Institute of Peace, where she served for eight years. Otero earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University, and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Dartmouth College.