# Gina Raimondo > 40th United States Secretary of Commerce **Wikidata**: [Q5562913](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5562913) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gina_Raimondo) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gina-raimondo ## Summary Gina Raimondo is an American politician and businessperson who serves as the 40th United States Secretary of Commerce, a position she has held since 2021 as part of the Joe Biden Administration. She is the first woman to hold this cabinet position and brings experience from both the private sector and Rhode Island state government, where she previously served as governor. Raimondo is a graduate of Harvard College, Yale Law School, and New College at Oxford University, where she attended as a Rhodes Scholar. ## Biography - **Born**: Not specified in source material - **Nationality**: United States - **Education**: - Harvard College (undergraduate, Cambridge, Massachusetts) - Yale Law School (law degree) - New College, University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar) - **Known for**: Serving as the 40th United States Secretary of Commerce; first woman to hold this position - **Employer(s)**: - United States Department of Commerce (current) - Joe Biden Administration (2021–present) - United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (clerkship) - **Field(s)**: - Politics - Government - Commerce/ Economics - Business ## Contributions - **Secretary of Commerce (2021–present)**: Leads the U.S. federal executive department overseeing commerce, responsible for promoting economic growth and trade - **Rhodes Scholar**: Attended New College at the University of Oxford as an international postgraduate award recipient - **Legal Career**: Served as a law clerk for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York - **State Leadership**: Previously served as Governor of Rhode Island prior to her current federal role ## FAQs **What is Gina Raimondo's current position?** Gina Raimondo currently serves as the 40th United States Secretary of Commerce, a cabinet-level position in the Biden Administration since January 2021. **Where did Gina Raimondo receive her education?** Raimondo attended Harvard College for her undergraduate degree, Yale Law School for her law degree, and New College at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. **What makes Gina Raimondo historically significant?** She is the first woman to serve as the United States Secretary of Commerce, making her a historic figure in American political and economic leadership. **What is the United States Department of Commerce?** The United States Department of Commerce is a federal executive department responsible for overseeing commerce, with roots dating back to 1903 and 1913, headquartered in Washington, D.C. **What is Gina Raimondo's professional background?** Beyond her political career, Raimondo has experience as a businessperson and attorney, including a clerkship at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. ## Why They Matter Gina Raimondo matters as a trailblazer in American government, becoming the first woman to lead the Department of Commerce in its over 100-year history. Her role places her at the center of U.S. economic policy, trade negotiations, and business development initiatives. As a Rhodes Scholar with degrees from Harvard and Yale, she represents the academic excellence expected of top government leaders. Her position in the Biden Administration makes her a key architect of national economic strategy during a critical period. The significance of her role extends to influencing international trade relationships, supporting American businesses, and collecting essential economic data through the Census Bureau. Without her leadership, the Commerce Department would lack a prominent voice advocating for American commercial interests both domestically and internationally. ## Notable For - First woman to serve as United States Secretary of Commerce - Rhodes Scholar at New College, University of Oxford - Graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School - Member of the Biden Administration cabinet (2021–2025) - Former Governor of Rhode Island - Law clerk for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ## Body ### Early Life and Education Gina Marie Raimondo pursued her higher education at some of the world's most prestigious institutions. She began her undergraduate studies at Harvard College, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, founded in 1636 and located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following her undergraduate education, Raimondo continued her academic journey at Yale Law School, one of the nation's premier law schools established in 1824 and located in New Haven, Connecticut. Her academic excellence earned her a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, which enabled her to attend New College at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. New College, founded in 1379, is one of the constituent colleges of Oxford University and has produced numerous distinguished alumni across centuries. ### Legal Career After completing her legal education at Yale Law School, Raimondo served as a law clerk for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. This federal district court, based in Manhattan, is one of the busiest federal courts in the United States and handles significant commercial and criminal litigation. This clerkship provided her with foundational experience in federal law and judicial processes, establishing the groundwork for her subsequent legal and political career. ### Political Career Raimondo's political career includes service as the Governor of Rhode Island before her appointment to the Biden Administration. In 2021, she was appointed as the 40th United States Secretary of Commerce, making history as the first woman to hold this position. The Department of Commerce, established in 1903 and reorganized in 1913, is responsible for promoting economic growth, supporting trade, and gathering economic data. As Secretary of Commerce, Raimondo leads a federal department with significant influence over U.S. economic policy, trade agreements, and business support programs. ### Role in the Biden Administration As a member of the Joe Biden Administration, which began on January 20, 2021, Raimondo serves as a cabinet-level official responsible for representing U.S. commercial interests both domestically and internationally. The cabinet comprises the senior-most appointed officials in the executive branch, and her position places her at the forefront of economic decision-making during a period of significant global economic challenges. ### Personal Background Raimondo's background as both a politician and businessperson provides her with a unique perspective for her role at the Commerce Department. Her experience in both the public and private sectors allows her to understand the needs of American businesses while navigating government processes. Her educational credentials from institutions in both the United States and United Kingdom reflect her international outlook and preparation for handling global trade matters. ### Significance and Impact As Secretary of Commerce, Raimondo's decisions and advocacy directly impact American businesses, workers, and international trade relationships. Her leadership influences economic policy decisions that affect millions of Americans and shape the United States' position in the global economy. The combination of her legal training, academic excellence, and political experience positions her as a significant figure in contemporary American governance. ## References 1. [The Cabinet | The White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet/) 2. Rhodes Scholar Database 3. [Source](https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/5762024-51873) 4. [Source](https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/9poogt/us_governors_by_eye_color/) 5. Global Conference 2021 - Speakers 6. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCotjZlo9e9n6XfnlZYmMM2w) 7. Quora 8. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/gina-raimondo-107a4VRRB9/appearances) 9. YouTube API