Letitia Chambers
Encyclopedia
Letitia Pearl Caroline Chambers (born 1943 in Oklahoma) was the first woman to head the staff of a major standing committee of the U.S. Senate
. Chambers was also a U.S. representative to the United Nations, the founder and chief executive officer of a Washington, D.C., public policy and consulting firm
and is the current director of the Heard Museum
in Phoenix, Arizona
.
Chambers is part Cherokee
and the founding director of the board of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.
As the CEO and founder of Chambers Associates Inc., she made numerous contributions to public policy in a period of three decades. She has often testified as an expert witness
, both before the U.S. Congress
and in the U.S. court system.
, the daughter of E. Wade and Anita M. Chambers. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma
, she holds a doctorate in educational research
and curriculum development from Oklahoma State University
.
, which had jurisdiction over education, labor law
, and social service
programs. Prior to that she had served as a senior staff member on the Senate Budget Committee and as Minority Staff Director of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. In 1981, she founded the Public Policy firm Chambers Associates. In 1992, she served on the Clinton/Gore transition team as Chief Budget Adviser, leading the Budget Policy Group and developing drafts of the President's Economic Plan. Chambers was nominated in 1996 by the President and confirmed by the Senate to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations General Assembly
, a position of ambassadorial rank. In that capacity she served as a member of the Management and Budget Committee of the General Assembly.
In 2004 and 2005, Chambers headed up the system of higher education
for the State of New Mexico
where she worked to revamp and reform key aspects of the system. She led the agency responsible for oversight of all public colleges, universities, and community college
s in the state. Dr. Chambers also chaired the New Mexico Educational Trust Board, served as a Board Member of the New Mexico Student Loan and Guarantee Corp, and became a Commissioner of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education. In 2005, Chambers returned to consulting as a Managing Director of Navigant Consulting Inc.
Chambers has served on corporate boards, particularly in the financial sector. She has also served on numerous educational and philanthropic boards, many of which have focused on the arts and American Indian arts and cultures. She spent a decade on the board of the Institute of American Indian Arts
and Culture (IAIA), which oversees both the College and the Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico
. She Chaired the Trustees Development and Facilities Committee that raised funds for and oversaw the building of the new campus. Chambers currently serves as a founding director on the board of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. She is currently director of the Heard Museum.
. She has a daughter, Melissa, and is married to Peter Plympton Smith
, former member of the United States House of Representatives
from the State of Vermont
.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Chambers was also a U.S. representative to the United Nations, the founder and chief executive officer of a Washington, D.C., public policy and consulting firm
Management consulting
Management consulting indicates both the industry and practice of helping organizations improve their performance primarily through the analysis of existing organizational problems and development of plans for improvement....
and is the current director of the Heard Museum
Heard Museum
The Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art is a museum located in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. There is also the Heard Museum North Scottsdale branch in Scottsdale and the Heard Museum West branch in Surprise....
in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
Chambers is part Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
and the founding director of the board of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.
As the CEO and founder of Chambers Associates Inc., she made numerous contributions to public policy in a period of three decades. She has often testified as an expert witness
Expert witness
An expert witness, professional witness or judicial expert is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have expertise and specialised knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially and legally...
, both before the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and in the U.S. court system.
Early life
Chambers grew up in Enid, OklahomaEnid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
, the daughter of E. Wade and Anita M. Chambers. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, she holds a doctorate in educational research
Educational research
Educational research refers to a variety of methods, in which individuals evaluate different aspects of education including but not limited to: “student learning, teaching methods, teacher training, and classroom dynamics”....
and curriculum development from Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University System
The Oklahoma State University System is a university system comprising six educational institutes across Oklahoma: four general academic universities and two health institutions. Its flagship institute is the Oklahoma State University - Stillwater. The Oklahoma State University System has a total...
.
Career
Early in her career, Chambers served as the staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human ResourcesUnited States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions generally considers matters relating to health, education, labor, and pensions...
, which had jurisdiction over education, labor law
Labour and employment law
Labour law is the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which address the legal rights of, and restrictions on, working people and their organizations. As such, it mediates many aspects of the relationship between trade unions, employers and employees...
, and social service
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
programs. Prior to that she had served as a senior staff member on the Senate Budget Committee and as Minority Staff Director of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. In 1981, she founded the Public Policy firm Chambers Associates. In 1992, she served on the Clinton/Gore transition team as Chief Budget Adviser, leading the Budget Policy Group and developing drafts of the President's Economic Plan. Chambers was nominated in 1996 by the President and confirmed by the Senate to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, a position of ambassadorial rank. In that capacity she served as a member of the Management and Budget Committee of the General Assembly.
In 2004 and 2005, Chambers headed up the system of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
for the State of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
where she worked to revamp and reform key aspects of the system. She led the agency responsible for oversight of all public colleges, universities, and community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
s in the state. Dr. Chambers also chaired the New Mexico Educational Trust Board, served as a Board Member of the New Mexico Student Loan and Guarantee Corp, and became a Commissioner of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education. In 2005, Chambers returned to consulting as a Managing Director of Navigant Consulting Inc.
Chambers has served on corporate boards, particularly in the financial sector. She has also served on numerous educational and philanthropic boards, many of which have focused on the arts and American Indian arts and cultures. She spent a decade on the board of the Institute of American Indian Arts
Institute of American Indian Arts
The Institute of American Indian Arts is a college focused on Native American art. It is situated in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is congressionally chartered, and was created by an executive order of former American President John F. Kennedy in 1962...
and Culture (IAIA), which oversees both the College and the Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
. She Chaired the Trustees Development and Facilities Committee that raised funds for and oversaw the building of the new campus. Chambers currently serves as a founding director on the board of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. She is currently director of the Heard Museum.
Personal life
Chambers resides in Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. She has a daughter, Melissa, and is married to Peter Plympton Smith
Peter Plympton Smith
Peter Plympton Smith is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from the U.S. state of Vermont, the 74th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, and an education administrator...
, former member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the State of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.