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Pamela Willeford
| Pamela Willeford | |
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein | |
| 2003-2006 | |
| High School | Hockaday School |
| Bachelor's | University of Texas at Austin |
Pamela Willeford served as the United States ambassador to Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein from October 2003 until May 2006.[1]
Biography
Willeford was born in March 1950.[2] She grew up in Breckinridge, Texas and earned a B.A. in English and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin. She initially worked as a teacher and then moved into education policy. She was appointed to and later chaired the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which oversees public post-secondary education in the state. In 2003, she was appointed U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein by President George W. Bush, and she served in that position until 2006.[1] She then became chair of the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries, which provides funds to update, extend and diversify the book and print collections of school libraries across the U.S.[3] Willeford has also served as vice chair of the Texas Governor's Mansion Restoration Fund, director of development for the Texas State Preservation Board, a member of the U.S. Secretary of Education's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity and has held leadership roles with the Texas Book Festival, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, Texas Exes, the Junior League of Austin, SafePlace, and the Texas Medal of Arts Awards. In addition to these positions, Willeford acts as president of Pico Drilling Co., LTD., a family business she partners with her sisters.[1]
Wallace Hall impeachment
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- See also: Wallace Hall impeachment trial
After he was appointed in 2011, University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall began looking into what he believed to be clout scandals within the University of Texas system. Hall investigated the university's forgivable-loans program and admissions policies and preferential treatment to politically-connected individuals.[4] Hall, as an individual citizen, filed FOIA requests with the University system after his inquiries via his role as a Regent were rebuffed.[5] According to his accusers, Hall filed requests of more than 800,000 pages, which some Texas administrators called an unnecessary burden.[6][7] However, a letter from University chancellor Francisco Cigarroa in February 2014 said that Hall likely requested fewer than 100,000 pages.[8][9] In addition, Cigarroa wrote: "During testimony before the Select Committee, some early witnesses implied that the U.T. System has not protected the privacy rights of students, staff, and patients. This is simply not true."[10]
An effort was begun in June 2013 to try and impeach Hall from his position as regent. Some legislators justified the impeachment on the grounds that Hall did not disclose several lawsuits that he was involved in when he originally completed his Regent background check. Hall updated Governor Rick Perry's office in April 2013 with the full list.[11][12] The lack of lawsuit disclosure by Hall is not unique -- more than 9,000 lawsuits were not disclosed by other appointed Texas officials.[13] No unelected official in Texas has ever been successfully impeached or removed from office.[14] Governor of Texas Rick Perry's spokesperson said the investigations send a "chilling message" to gubernatorial appointees.[15] He added that the investigation was "extraordinary political theater."[16] Texas state legislators have never previously tried to remove an appointed official. Only two elected officials in the history of Texas have ever been successfully impeached.[17]
Willeford's reaction
Willeford accused Hall of being determined to "tear down" the University of Texas at Austin and said she supports the actions of the Select Committee on Transparency, which has been in charge of exploring Hall's possible impeachment.[18] In October 2013, Willeford sent a mass email to friends alleging that in 2011 a former chief of staff to Governor Rick Perry said the governor and his appointed regents were targeting the University of Texas at Austin and its president Bill Powers "because we can."[19] In the email, Willeford also accused Jeff Sandefer, a higher education advisor and campaign contributor to Gov. Perry and co-founder of a private business school in Austin, of waging a campaign of disinformation with members of the Board of Regents against Powers and the university. In response, Sandefer said he believed that Texans deserved a serious investigation into whether or not politicians and donors have influenced the admissions of students into the university.[20][21]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Willeford is married to George Willeford III. They have two daughters.[2]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Pamela + Willeford"
Pamela Willeford News Feed
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Texas Women's University, "Texas Women's Hall of Fame: Willeford, Pamela Pitzer," accessed February 24, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 NNDB, "Pamela Willeford Profile," accessed February 24, 2014
- ↑ The Laura Bush Foundation for American's Libraries, "LBF Brochure," accessed February 24, 2014
- ↑ American Spectator, "Transparency for Thee," October 25, 2013
- ↑ Daily Texas Online, "Facing impeachment, Regent Wallace Hall defends actions in debate with Sen. Kirk Watson," September 28, 2013
- ↑ Daily Texas Online, "Former UT System vice chancellor alleges Regent Wallace Hall’s ‘clear intent to get rid of Bill Powers’," October 24, 2013
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "UT regent sought 800,000 documents, official says in impeachment hearing," October 22, 2013
- ↑ Watchdog, "‘Witch hunt’ fallout: Speaker calls for narrower public records law," February 5, 2014
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "UT System Responds to Transparency Committee Directives," February 3, 2014
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Cigarroa letter to the Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations," February 1, 2014
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "UT Regent Wallace Hall Updates Lawsuit Disclosures," April 30, 2013
- ↑ Real Clear Policy, "The Campaign Against Wallace Hall," August 15, 2013
- ↑ Watchdog.org, "Case against UT regent Wallace Hall is a sham — here’s proof," September 6, 2013
- ↑ News-Journal, "University of Texas regent not worried by impeachment inquiry," September 9, 2013
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Transparency Committee to Mull Impeachment of UT Regent," June 25, 2013
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Perry Blasts Impeachment Probe of Wallace Hall," October 30, 2013
- ↑ Texas Public Radio, "UT Regent Wallace Hall Will Testify In Impeachment Hearing," November 13, 2013
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Willeford: Regents should help build up Texas' flagship university," November 9, 2013
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Willeford: Perry "Going After" UT-Austin, Powers," October 16, 2013
- ↑ Statesman.com, "Willeford attacks UT critics, and Sandefer replies," October 16, 2013
- ↑ My San Antonio, "Former ambassador sends passionate defense of UT-Austin," October 16, 2013
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