Nilcéia Freire

Nilcéa Freire was a Brazilian academic and politician. After a career as a medical researcher and professor, Freire moved into university administration. She oversaw graduate studies and budgetary concerns before being promoted as dean of the State University of Rio de Janeiro. In 2004 she became a government minister, as the Special Secretariat of Policies for Women. She served from 2005 to 2007 as the President of the Inter-American Commission of Women. At the end of her term, she became the Brazilian representative for the Ford Foundation and oversaw their programs to promote opportunity and justice for underrepresented minorities.