Elena Maslia Marks

Elena Maslia Marks "is chair of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Throughout her career, she has shown an unwavering commitment to improving women’s health and championing reproductive rights.

"In her current role as director of health and environmental policy for Mayor Bill White of Houston, TX, she has transformed the public health care system, expanding community-based primary care clinics, and establishing a nonprofit corporation to coordinate health care services for low-income and uninsured people.

"In 2005, she coordinated the establishment of the Hurricane Katrina health clinic in Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, where more than 10,000 evacuees were treated. Ms. Marks also leads Mayor White’s air quality initiatives, which have received national attention for their creativity in addressing multi-pollutant problems.

"Earlier, Ms. Marks practiced business litigation in large law firms in Austin and Houston. She founded Of Counsel, Inc., the first legal search firm in Houston that focused on placing temporary and contract attorneys with law firms and corporate law departments. Ms. Marks earned a B.A. in psychology from Emory University and a J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, Austin. In 2001, she earned an M.P.H. with a concentration in public policy from The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston."