Holly Luong Ham is an American business executive and former Washington, D.C., government official. She served as a senior official in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and in the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Ham also served as the executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Department of Education. Prior to that, Ham served as the Assistant Secretary for Management in the U.S. Department of Education, where she was appointed by President Trump on April 20, 2017.[1][2][3]
Holly Ham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Holly Luong Ham 1972 (age 51–52) |
| Alma mater | University of Houston (BBA, MBA) |
| Occupation | business executive |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders | |
| In office November 13, 2017 – October 26, 2019 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Duoa Thor |
| Succeeded by | Tina Wei Smith |
| Acting Director of the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives, U.S. Department of Education | |
| In office April 2019 – October 26, 2019 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Succeeded by | Andrea Ramirez |
| Assistant Secretary for Management at U.S. Department of Education | |
| In office April 20, 2017 – November 12, 2017 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Denise L Carter (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Denise L Carter (acting) |
Early life and education
editHam was born in Saigon, Vietnam, to Chinese parents. After the end of the Vietnam War, her parents took their five children and fled in the summer of 1979. In January 1980, at the age of 7, Ham and her family settled in Texas as refugees.[4][5] Ham graduated from the University of Houston, where she received both her Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees and was a member of business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma.[2]
Career
editEarly and mid-career
editIn 1994, Ham worked in Finland as a software engineer and systems analyst. She spent over 18 years with Hewlett Packard Enterprise.[6]
Ham joined Precise Software Solutions, Inc. as its Chief Growth Officer in March 2021.[1]
In May 2023, Ham lost a 3-way race for Position 6 for Humble ISD Board of Trustees.[7] Ham's campaign platform centered around issues of teacher retention, curriculum rigor and addressing the needs of students post-graduation.[8][9]
Government career
editOn April 20, 2017, President Trump announced Ham's appointment as Assistant Secretary for Management in the U.S. Department of Education. The post did not require Senate confirmation.[3][10]
On November 13, 2017, Ham was appointed executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in the U.S. Department of Education.[2]
On August 20, 2018, Ham spoke alongside First Lady Melania Trump and federal colleagues at the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit on Cyberbullying, hosted at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.[11]
Ham served as Director of Special Projects in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.[1]
In her role as Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA, Ham connected the agency with a virtual business center to provide resources in support of minority business enterprises.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Holly Ham named new Chief Growth Officer at Precise Software Solutions, Inc". 24-7pressrelease.
- ^ a b c "Holly Ham, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — Biography". U.S. Department of Education.
- ^ a b "President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration". whitehouse.gov – via National Archives.
- ^ Bonnin, Julie. "Leading Change: Bauer College Alumna Appointed to White House Role". www.bauer.uh.edu.
- ^ "Holly Ham - Keynote Speech @ the 6th Anniversary Gala of CCCC" – via YouTube.
- ^ "Holly Ham". LinkedIn.
- ^ "2023 Board of Trustees Election". Humble Independent School District.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Taylor, David (May 3, 2023). "Humble ISD board Position 6 candidates focus on teacher support, school safety".
- ^ Gardner, Wesley (April 5, 2023). "Q&A: Get to know the 3 candidates running for Humble ISD Position 6".
- ^ Ujifusa, Andrew (April 20, 2017). "Trump Picks Ex-HP Executive for Top Management Job at Education Department". Education Week.
- ^ "Cyberbulling Prevention Summit, Social Media Officials | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved July 4, 2020.