Hilda Solis once shared with Hispanic Engineer magazine that when she speaks to students about their career options, she often recounts her own story. As the first in her family to attend college, Solis took her younger sisters to the library, where they were inspired to pursue careers in engineering.
She also recalls a guidance counselor who suggested she consider becoming a secretary because she was not seen as “college material.”
However, with the support of her parents, who were immigrant farmers from Nicaragua and Mexico, Hilda achieved her dream of attending college.
She earned degrees from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and the University of Southern California, thanks to scholarships for low-income, first-generation students.
Solis worked in the Carter White House Office of Hispanic Affairs and in the Office of Management and Budget, and later served as the director of the California Student Opportunity and Access Program, helping young people prepare for college.
She ran for public office and was elected to the California State Assembly, where she served from 1992 to 1994. She subsequently became the first Hispanic woman to serve in the State Senate (1994-2000) and the first woman to represent the San Gabriel Valley.
In 2000, she received the Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, becoming the first woman to receive this honor. Solis was recognized for her willingness to challenge the old-boy network both within and outside the Latino community.
After winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Solis prioritized promoting green-collar jobs from 2001 to 2009.
At the time of her selection as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, she was the second vice chair of the Hispanic Caucus. She served as U.S. Secretary of Labor from 2009 to 2013.
Solis has dedicated decades to public service.
As Labor Secretary, she confronted a rapidly declining economy and an even worse job market. During her tenure, the unemployment rates for people of color were historically high, and the recession had severely impacted workers in construction and service-related occupations.
Solis was given the daunting long-term mission of reversing the struggles faced by American workers, many of whom were dealing with diminishing job security. One of her key strategies was to promote training in skills essential for future job markets.
As a four-term member of the California State Assembly, she achieved significant legislative success by enacting a bill that provided funding for veterans, displaced workers, at-risk youth, and individuals from low-income families.
Today, as a Los Angeles County Supervisor, Solis continues to advocate for the most marginalized individuals in society, maintaining this commitment throughout her career, which includes her historic service as the first Latina in the Presidential Cabinet, on the Rio Hondo Board of Trustees, in both chambers of the California State Legislature, and in the House of Representatives.
In September 2010, Solis, the first Hispanic woman to serve as the Secretary of Labor, graced the cover of Hispanic Engineer magazine’s 25th anniversary issue.
This issue also marked the debut of Hispanic Engineer magazine in the Google Books digitization project, alongside past issues dating back to 1985.
In the spring of 2025, Hispanic Engineer & IT Magazine introduced Collin AI Lite GPT, a versatile artificial intelligence assistant designed to manage and curate the Hispanic Engineer magazine archive.
This AI assistant specializes in helping users find articles, research topics, locate scholarships, and explore STEM opportunities focused on Hispanic and Latino communities.
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