Donna Shalala, who served eight years as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton and is currently the President of the University of Miami, is the third Independent Director named to the U.S. Soccer Federation's Board of Directors. The three Independent Director positions were created at U.S. Soccer's 2006 Annual General Meeting when the organization's Board of Directors was reduced from 40 to 15.

Longtime Goldman Sachs Group partner, Carlos Cordeiro, and California Speaker Fabian Núñez are the other Independent Directors on the Board.

Shalala, who in June 2008, was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, by President Bush, has been the President of the University of Miami for more than seven years.

"I am delighted to be joining the Board during such an exciting time for U.S. Soccer," Shalala said. "I have watched soccer grow in this country into a magnificent opportunity for our young people to participate at every level."

The Washington Post described her as "one of the most successful government managers of modern times."

From 1977-80, Shalala served in the Carter administration as Assistant Secretary for Public Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio to Lebanese immigrant parents, Shalala received her A.B. degree in history from Western College for Women and her Ph.D. degree from The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. After graduating from Western College for Women, Shalala became of one the country's first Peace Corp Volunteers, serving in Iran from 1962 to 1964.

U.S. Soccer Board of Directors
President Sunil K. Gulati
Executive Vice President Mike Edwards
Immediate Past President (non-voting) Robert Contiguglia
Athlete Representatives Amanda Cromwell, Jon McCullough, Peter Vermes
Pro Council Representatives Don Garber, Kevin Payne
Adult Council Representatives Brooks McCormick, Jim Hamilton
Youth Council Representatives Larry Monaco, Mike McDaniel
At Large Representative Francisco Marcos
Independent Director Carlos Cordeiro
Independent Director Fabian Núñez
Independent Director Donna E. Shalala
CEO/Secretary General (non-voting) Dan Flynn