| Carmen Yulín Cruz | |
|---|---|
| At-Large Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2009 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 25, 1963 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | Popular Democratic Party (PPD) |
| Spouse(s) | Alfredo Carrasquillo |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Boston University (B.A.) Carnegie Mellon University (M.A.) |
Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto (born February 25, 1963) is a Puerto Rican politician. She is currently a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives since 2009, and is affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD).
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Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto was born on February 25, 1963. She studied her elementary school at the Julio Sellés Solá Elementary School graduating with honors. In 1974, she enrolled at the University High School where she became class president since the eight grade until her graduation in 1980. She was also president of the Student Council, and captain of the track and field team, among other things.
Cruz completed her Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Boston University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She also completed her Master's degree from the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she became the first student to receive the Spirit Award, now called the Barbara Jenkins Award.
After receiving her Master's degree, Cruz was recruited by Westinghouse to work on their Human Resources department. She has also worked as Human Resources Director for various companies like Colgate-Palmolive, Banco Popular, Cellular One (now AT&T), Scotiabank, and the United States Treasury Department.
In 1992, Cruz returned to Puerto Rico and became an adviser to then-Mayor of San Juan, Sila María Calderón. She ran for office as a Representative for the District 1 at the 2000 general elections, but lost.[1] After that, she became an adviser to then-President of the House of Representatives Carlos Vizcarrondo Irizarry. Cruz has also served as President of the Popular Women Organization (OMP) from 2005.
Cruz ran again for the House of Representatives at the 2008 elections, after winning a slot in the PPD primaries.[2][3] Cruz is the PPD Speaker in the Commision of Women Affairs, among others.
Cruz married psychologist Alfredo Carrasquillo on September 25, 2010, after only three months of relationship. Cruz has a daughter from a previous relationship.[4]