Shirley Chater

Shirley Chater SSA Commissioner

Shirley Chater is an American public health official and academic administrator who served as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration from 1993 to 1997. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton and was the first woman to hold the position in a permanent capacity.

Early Life and Education

Shirley Sears Chater was born on January 30, 1932, in Bedford, Massachusetts. She earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and later received a master's degree in public health from the same institution. She also holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of California, Berkeley.

Career

Academic Career

Before her tenure at the Social Security Administration, Chater had a distinguished career in academia. She served as a professor and later as the dean of the School of Nursing at UCSF. She was also the president of Texas Woman's University from 1986 to 1993.

Social Security Administration

In 1993, Chater was appointed as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) by President Bill Clinton. During her tenure, she focused on modernizing the agency's operations and improving customer service. She also worked on initiatives to strengthen the Social Security program and ensure its long-term sustainability.

Contributions and Legacy

Chater's leadership at the SSA was marked by significant improvements in the agency's efficiency and service delivery. She was instrumental in implementing new technologies and processes that enhanced the SSA's ability to serve the public. Her efforts have had a lasting impact on the agency and its operations.

Personal Life

Shirley Chater is married and has two children. She is known for her dedication to public service and her contributions to the fields of public health and social security.

See Also

• Social Security Administration
• Bill Clinton
• Public health
• University of California, San Francisco
• Texas Woman's University