Washington, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced that Sara Martinez Tucker will leave her position as under secretary at the U.S. Department of Education effective November 21. After working tirelessly on behalf of low-income students and their families to make college a reality, Tucker is returning home to California. Kent Talbert, the Department's general counsel, will be delegated the responsibilities of the under secretary.

"Sara has been an invaluable asset to higher education, working on behalf of students and their families to help enable them to pursue their college dreams," said Secretary Spellings. "I appreciate Sara's steadfast commitment in helping to ensure uninterrupted and timely access to Federal student aid and maintaining stability in student lending. She has been a key member of my team and I am extremely grateful for her service - I wish her well as she returns to California."

Tucker was nominated as under secretary by President Bush on September 5, 2006, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 9, 2006. As under secretary, her responsibilities include overseeing policies, programs and activities related to postsecondary education, vocational and adult education and Federal student aid. Tucker has spearheaded efforts to implement the recommendations of the Secretary's Commission on the Future of Higher Education, a commission she previously served on, including improving the accessibility, affordability and accountability of higher education for all Americans.

Prior to joining the Department, Tucker spent nine years as CEO and president of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), where she raised $280 million in support of the organization's mission to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees. Previously, Tucker served for 16 years at AT&T, most recently as a regional vice president for AT&T's Global Business Communications Systems. She was the first Latina to reach the company's executive level.

With experience in education law and policy, Talbert was confirmed as general counsel of the Department on May 22, 2006. From 2001-2006, he served as deputy general counsel, overseeing legal matters involving legislation, business, employment and contract law. Prior to joining the Department, Talbert was education policy counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, as well as a staff member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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