Cecilia Munoz

Cecilia Muñoz served for eight years on President Obama’s senior staff, first as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, then as Director of the Domestic Policy Council, making her the first Hispanic person to serve in the role. She is now a Senior Advisor at New America focused on public interest technology, and a Senior Fellow at Results for America, a nonprofit that advances the use of data and evidence in policy making.

Before working in government, Muñoz was Senior Vice President at the National Council of La Raza (now UNIDOS US), the nation’s largest Hispanic policy and advocacy organization, where she served for 20 years.

Muñoz is the author of "More than Ready: Be Strong and Be you....and Other Lessons for Women of Color on the Rise," an offering of advice and inspiration to women of color who are no longer willing to be invisible or left behind. Full of invaluable lessons about working through fear, facing down detractors, and leading with kindness, she provides the thoughtful insight and tactical tools to be successful-without compromising who you are.

Muñoz was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship in 2000 for her work on immigration and civil rights. She serves on the Boards of the Open Society, MacArthur, Joyce and Kresge Foundations, as well as several nonprofits.