ROSIE RIOS
August 20, 2009 — July 8, 2016; Rosie Rios, Treasurer of the United States
Rosie Rios is the longest serving, Senate-confirmed Treasury official in United States history. She began at Treasury in November, 2008, on the Treasury/Federal Reserve Transition Team. She became United States Treasurer on August 20, 2009, and served until July 8, 2016. She received the Hamilton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the United States Department of the Treasury.
Rosie Rios has led the effort to have women’s images on United States currency. In 2020, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, images of women will be placed on $5, $10, and $20 dollar bills. They will reflect the theme of equality.
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One of nine children, Rosie Rios was raised in Hayward, California; she graduated from Harvard University and has been selected by Harvard as the first Latina in its 380-year history to have a portrait commissioned in her honor. She won the Dean’s award in recognition of her achievement in founding Cultural Rhythms, an annual cultural festival that show-cases diversity and celebrates student performance.
Rosie Rios has continued to advocate for women’s equality, and lectures about her life and her experiences. She has launched Empowerment 2020 at Harvard; one of its first projects is Teachers Righting History.
Thanks to the National Women’s History Museum for including Rosie Rios in its series, Did You Know? Legends and Trailblazers.
