Patricia Diaz Dennis
Encyclopedia
Patricia Diaz Dennis is a United States
lawyer
who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs 1992-93.
on October 2, 1946, the daughter of Porfirio Madrid Diaz and Mary Romero. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles
, graduating with an A.B.
in 1970. She then attended Loyola Law School
and received a J.D.
in 1973.
After law school, she joined Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
as an associate attorney
. She practiced there until 1976, when she took an in-house job in the law department of the Pacific Lighting Company. In 1978, she joined the labor law department of the American Broadcasting Company
.
In 1983, President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
appointed Dennis to the National Labor Relations Board
. She served there until 1986, when Reagan named her as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission
.
She returned to the private practice of law in 1991, joining Jones Day
as a partner. In 1993, she joined Sprint
as a vice president.
In 1992, President George H. W. Bush
nominated Dennis to be Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs and, after Senate confirmation, Dennis held this position from August 24, 1992 until January 20, 1993.
Upon leaving the United States Department of State
, Dennis joined Sullivan & Cromwell
as special counsel for telecommunications matters. She joined SBC Communications as a vice president in 1995, and worked there until 2005.
Long active in the Girl Scouts of the USA
, in 2005, Dennis was elected as that organization's chairperson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs 1992-93.
Biography
Patricia Diaz Dennis was born in Santa Rita, New MexicoSanta Rita, New Mexico
Santa Rita is a ghost town in Grant County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The site of El Chino copper mine, Santa Rita was located fifteen miles east of Silver City.-History:...
on October 2, 1946, the daughter of Porfirio Madrid Diaz and Mary Romero. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, graduating with an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1970. She then attended Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions, in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920. Like Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law , it...
and received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1973.
After law school, she joined Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
Paul Hastings LLP, formerly known as Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, is a leading international law firm with 18 offices worldwide. Paul Hastings serves a diverse client base that includes many of the top financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies....
as an associate attorney
Associate attorney
An associate attorney is a lower-level employee of a traditional law firm who does not hold an ownership interest as a partner.-Attorneys:An associate may be a junior or senior associate, but normally does not yet hold an ownership interest in the firm even if they have been associated with the...
. She practiced there until 1976, when she took an in-house job in the law department of the Pacific Lighting Company. In 1978, she joined the labor law department of the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
In 1983, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
appointed Dennis to the National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
. She served there until 1986, when Reagan named her as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.
She returned to the private practice of law in 1991, joining Jones Day
Jones Day
Jones Day is an international law firm founded in Cleveland, Ohio on March 1, 1893, by Judge Edwin J. Blandin and William Lowe Rice. Jones Day is the eighth largest law firm in the world by revenue, and the fourth highest grossing firm in the US with annual revenues of US$1.4 billion...
as a partner. In 1993, she joined Sprint
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
as a vice president.
In 1992, President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
nominated Dennis to be Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs and, after Senate confirmation, Dennis held this position from August 24, 1992 until January 20, 1993.
Upon leaving the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, Dennis joined Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is an international law firm headquartered in New York. The firm has approximately 800 lawyers in 12 offices, located in financial centers in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. Sullivan & Cromwell was founded by Algernon Sydney Sullivan and William Nelson...
as special counsel for telecommunications matters. She joined SBC Communications as a vice president in 1995, and worked there until 2005.
Long active in the Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
, in 2005, Dennis was elected as that organization's chairperson.