Lorraine Cortes Vazquez

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
Secretary of State, New York State Department of State

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez was confirmed as the 65th Secretary of State on March 6, 2007.  Secretary Cortés-Vázquez is the first Hispanic to hold the position, since its establishment in 1778.

Secretary Cortés-Vázquez comes to the New York Department of State with an extensive background in the corporate, non-profit, and government sectors that spans over 27 years.  

Prior to her appointment, she was Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at Cablevision Systems Corporation.   In the 90’s, Secretary Cortés-Vázquez gained national recognition for her distinguished work in the non-profit sector as the Executive Director of ASPIRA of New York, the oldest and largest non-profit youth leadership development and education advocacy agency in the nation.  Later, as President of the Hispanic Federation, a non-profit network of 90 Latino health and human service agencies, aiding more than two million Latinos annually, she coordinated the "Latino Fund Collaborate,” a national coalition of eight regional organizations that create endowments and individual donor campaigns.

Secretary Cortés-Vázquez also has extensive experience in government. In 2001, she was appointed to the New York State Board of Regents, a position she held until 2007.  As chief of staff to former New York State Assemblyman Roberto Ramirez, she oversaw the Puerto Rican Hispanic Task Force and the annual Somos El Futuro Conference.   Secretary Cortés-Vázquez also worked at the New York City Department of Aging for 14 years, becoming Chief of the Bureau of Program and Resource Development.

A graduate of Hunter College, Secretary Cortés-Vázquez has a master’s degree from New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She has certificates from Harvard University's Women and Power Program and from Columbia University's School of Non-Profit Management.