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==Early life and background== | ==Early life and background== | ||
Originally from [[Hyderabad]], India, | Originally from [[Hyderabad]], India, Nandita Venkateswaran graduated from [[Mount Carmel College, Bangalore]], India. She subsequently received both bachelor's and law degrees from the [[University of Houston]] and the [[University of Houston Law Center]]. She and her husband, [[Michael Berry (radio host)|Michael Berry]], a [[conservative talk radio]] host, attorney, and a former member of the [[Houston City Council]], have two adopted sons.<ref name=berry/> | ||
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
Prior to her appointment, Berry was affiliated with the Houston office of the [[Dallas]]-based [[Locke Lord]] law firm. She is a former vice chair on the Board of Regents of the [[University of Houston System]]. She has served on the boards of the [[Houston Zoo]], the Houston Area Women's Center, the Community Family Center of Houston, and the South Asian [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=berry/> | Prior to her appointment, Berry was affiliated with the Houston office of the [[Dallas]]-based [[Locke Lord]] law firm. She is a former vice chair on the Board of Regents of the [[University of Houston System]]. She has served on the boards of the [[Houston Zoo]], the Houston Area Women's Center, the Community Family Center of Houston, and the South Asian [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=berry/> | ||
On Sept 6, 2017, | On Sept 6, 2017, she was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Whitestone [[REIT]], A Houston-based commercial [[Real Estate Investment Trust]]. | ||
Governor Perry said that Berry came to the United States at the age of twenty-one "with nothing but $200 to her name" and has become "one of the most accomplished attorneys in the state."<ref name="statement">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Perry-names-Houston-lawyer-secretary-of-state-5079176.php|title=Peggy Fikac, "Perry names Houston lawyer secretary of state", December 19, 2013|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> Berry said that she is "truly humbled to follow in the footsteps of [[Stephen F. Austin]], Texas' first secretary of state. Like him, I came to Texas in search of a better life and the limitless opportunities to be found across our great state. Every day, I see Austin's pioneering spirit alive in Texas, and this great honor proves once again Texas is the land of opportunity, both in the private sector and public service."<ref name="statement" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2013/12/texas-government-appointee-hails-from.html?page=all|title=Katy Stewart, "Texas government appointee hails from top Houston law firm", December 20, 2013|publisher=bizjournals.com|access-date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> | Governor Perry said that Berry came to the United States at the age of twenty-one "with nothing but $200 to her name" and has become "one of the most accomplished attorneys in the state."<ref name="statement">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Perry-names-Houston-lawyer-secretary-of-state-5079176.php|title=Peggy Fikac, "Perry names Houston lawyer secretary of state", December 19, 2013|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> Berry said that she is "truly humbled to follow in the footsteps of [[Stephen F. Austin]], Texas' first secretary of state. Like him, I came to Texas in search of a better life and the limitless opportunities to be found across our great state. Every day, I see Austin's pioneering spirit alive in Texas, and this great honor proves once again Texas is the land of opportunity, both in the private sector and public service."<ref name="statement" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2013/12/texas-government-appointee-hails-from.html?page=all|title=Katy Stewart, "Texas government appointee hails from top Houston law firm", December 20, 2013|publisher=bizjournals.com|access-date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> | ||
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Berry was the eighth and final person to hold the secretary of state's position in the Perry administration. Governor [[Greg Abbott]] announced on November 11, 2014, that he was replacing Berry with [[Carlos Cascos]], the Republican [[county judge]] of [[Cameron County, Texas|Cameron County]] in [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] in far [[South Texas]]. Cascos was confirmed by the [[Texas State Senate]] on February 18, 2015.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 18, 2015 |title=Carlos Cascos confirmed as Texas Secretary of State |url=http://www.sos.state.tx.us/about/newsreleases/2015/021815.shtml |newspaper=Texas Secretary of State |location=[[Austin, Texas]] }}</ref> | Berry was the eighth and final person to hold the secretary of state's position in the Perry administration. Governor [[Greg Abbott]] announced on November 11, 2014, that he was replacing Berry with [[Carlos Cascos]], the Republican [[county judge]] of [[Cameron County, Texas|Cameron County]] in [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] in far [[South Texas]]. Cascos was confirmed by the [[Texas State Senate]] on February 18, 2015.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 18, 2015 |title=Carlos Cascos confirmed as Texas Secretary of State |url=http://www.sos.state.tx.us/about/newsreleases/2015/021815.shtml |newspaper=Texas Secretary of State |location=[[Austin, Texas]] }}</ref> | ||
==See also== | |||
{{Portal|India|Texas|Law|Politics}} | {{Portal|India|Texas|Law|Politics}} | ||
*[[List of first women lawyers and judges in Texas]] | *[[List of first women lawyers and judges in Texas]] | ||
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{{Texas Women's Hall of Fame}} | {{Texas Women's Hall of Fame}} | ||
{{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berry, Nandita}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Berry, Nandita}} | ||
[[Category:1968 births]] | [[Category:1968 births]] | ||
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[[Category:American politicians of Indian descent]] | [[Category:American politicians of Indian descent]] | ||
[[Category:Mount Carmel College, Bangalore alumni]] | [[Category:Mount Carmel College, Bangalore alumni]] | ||
[[Category:21st-century American women]] | |||
Revision as of 23:35, 25 November 2021
Nandita Venkateswaran Berry | |
|---|---|
| 109th Secretary of State of Texas | |
| In office January 7, 2014 – January 20, 2015 | |
| Governor | Rick Perry |
| Preceded by | John Steen |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Cascos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1968 Hyderabad, India |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Michael Berry |
| Children | Two sons |
| Residence | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Alma mater | Mount Carmel College, Bangalore University of Houston (BA, JD) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Nandita Venkateswaran Berry (born April 14, 1968) is an Indian American attorney from Houston, who served as the 109th Secretary of State of Texas. An Indian native and naturalized American citizen, she assumed the role on January 7, 2014, upon appointment from then-Governor Rick Perry. She succeeded John Thomas Steen, Jr., a lawyer from San Antonio, who had served as secretary of state for thirteen months.
Berry was one of six officials who make up the executive department of the state of Texas. Of those officials, five are elected, and only the secretary of state is appointed. The secretary of state is the chief elections officer, the protocol officer for state and international matters, and the liaison for the governor on Mexican and border matters.[1]
Early life and background
Originally from Hyderabad, India, Nandita Venkateswaran graduated from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, India. She subsequently received both bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Houston and the University of Houston Law Center. She and her husband, Michael Berry, a conservative talk radio host, attorney, and a former member of the Houston City Council, have two adopted sons.[1]
Career
Prior to her appointment, Berry was affiliated with the Houston office of the Dallas-based Locke Lord law firm. She is a former vice chair on the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System. She has served on the boards of the Houston Zoo, the Houston Area Women's Center, the Community Family Center of Houston, and the South Asian Chamber of Commerce.[1]
On Sept 6, 2017, she was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Whitestone REIT, A Houston-based commercial Real Estate Investment Trust.
Governor Perry said that Berry came to the United States at the age of twenty-one "with nothing but $200 to her name" and has become "one of the most accomplished attorneys in the state."[2] Berry said that she is "truly humbled to follow in the footsteps of Stephen F. Austin, Texas' first secretary of state. Like him, I came to Texas in search of a better life and the limitless opportunities to be found across our great state. Every day, I see Austin's pioneering spirit alive in Texas, and this great honor proves once again Texas is the land of opportunity, both in the private sector and public service."[2][3]
Berry was the eighth and final person to hold the secretary of state's position in the Perry administration. Governor Greg Abbott announced on November 11, 2014, that he was replacing Berry with Carlos Cascos, the Republican county judge of Cameron County in Brownsville in far South Texas. Cascos was confirmed by the Texas State Senate on February 18, 2015.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Nandita Berry sworn in as Texas Secretary of State, January 7, 2014". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Peggy Fikac, "Perry names Houston lawyer secretary of state", December 19, 2013". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ↑ "Katy Stewart, "Texas government appointee hails from top Houston law firm", December 20, 2013". bizjournals.com. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ↑ "Carlos Cascos confirmed as Texas Secretary of State". Texas Secretary of State. Austin, Texas. February 18, 2015.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Thomas Steen, Jr. |
Secretary of State of Texas
Nandita Venkateswaran Berry |
Succeeded by Carlos Cascos |