The Population Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Carmencita Whonder to its Board of Trustees.
Carmencita brings a wealth of expertise, particularly in finance and public policy, as well as experience working globally across multiple disciplines. She is currently policy director at Brownstein Hyatt Faber Schreck, the leading lobbying and law firm in the U.S. An expert in financial services and housing finance policy, she also regularly represents clients from these industries before the U.S. Congress, White House, and international financial institutions. She advises Fortune 500 companies, startup CEOs, executive teams, and boards of directors on public policy, regulatory affairs, product development, strategic communications, crisis and risk management, corporate philanthropy, and diversity and inclusion.
Previously, Carmencita served as the staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development and as the principal advisor on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee to U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY). During the 109th Congress she held the position of minority staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Economic Policy.
Prior to joining the U.S. Senate, Carmencita was part of the six-member team to launch the Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS), a $1 billion education initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She also worked in Geneva, Switzerland at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a United Nations specialized agency where she completed a rotational assignment in the Arbitration and Mediation Center and the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Unit. Carmencita is also founder and chief executive officer at OF WHONDER, the size inclusive luxury womenswear brand.
“We are thrilled to welcome Carmencita to our Board of Trustees,” said Julia Bunting, President of the Population Council. “Her breadth and depth of experience will enhance our Board at this critical time as we begin work on a new strategic plan to enable us to achieve greater impact and accelerate the delivery of our mission.”
Carmencita joins 15 other Trustees on the Population Council’s international Board, who bring diverse areas of knowledge and expertise, including in: sexual and reproductive health, HIV, demography, adolescent health and wellbeing, international law, finance, investment, and management.