Meet Dr. Laura Murillo
Part of our Women’s History Month series.
Dr. Laura Murillo was named president and chief executive officer of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC) in 2007. Under her leadership, with the support of HHCC’s Board of Directors, membership and revenues have increased and HHCC has become one of the largest chambers in the country.
In 2009, the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce received the prestigious National Large Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award, and the Regional Large Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to her role as president and CEO, Murillo was senior executive director at Memorial Hermann, Texas Medical Center.
She began her career at the University of Houston in student services and was promoted to the position of Director for the Urban Experience Program sponsored by the Office of the President and the Center for Mexican American Studies, at age 23, which earned her the honor of being the youngest person to hold the Director’s position in the history of university.
Murillo is the youngest person elected to serve as President of Hispanic Women in Leadership, the largest organization of professional Hispanic women in the Houston area (she was the person who recruited me as a member to that organizations). She also became the youngest person to be inducted into the Hispanic Hall of Fame for her community and educational service.
Texas Executive Women and the Houston Chronicle honored Laura as a “1997 Woman on the Move.” Texas Hispanic Magazine named Laura among “Houston’s Most Influential Hispanic Women.” She was also honored as the “Latina of the Month” by the Houston Calendar. Murillo is a graduate of the United Way’s Project Blueprint. She was selected as a member in the Greater Houston Partnership’s 2005 Center for Houston’s Future class.
Murillo was named as the UH College of Education’s Outstanding Alumni of the Year and she received Telemundo’s Excellence in Education Award. She participated in the Asian American Studies Doctoral Fellowship held at the University of Beijing in China.
Murillo served on the Women’s Leadership Forum hosted by the United States Department of Labor Women’s Bureau, a federal Agency established by Congress to promote policy and develop programs, which benefit women in the workforce. She was chosen as one of the panelist of prominent executive women for the Texas Diversity Council’s 2006 “Women in Leadership Symposium.”
Other honors include the Community Service Award from UH’s Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Outstanding Young Professional Award from the Houston Jaycees, the Good Citizen Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution, UH’s George Magner Award, and the Volunteer Award from the Houston Police Department among many others.
She earned a doctorate degree in education (administration and supervision), a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in journalism, all from the University of Houston.
* * *
SOURCES:
Sandra Fernandez is a professional communicator, tech enthusiast, book lover, and blogger. You can find her main blog at SandraSays.com and more of her writing at HispanicHouston.com.
One thought on “Meet Dr. Laura Murillo”