Alejandra Y. Castillo

Throughout her career and life, Castillo has sought to build bridges and help others. She was the first in her family to learn English, which she did with the help of PBS shows like Sesame Street and The Electric Company. Like many immigrant children, she was tapped to help her family and community navigate life in America. She accompanied non-English speakers to appointments and helped neighbors translate letters from their landlords or the Social Security Administration.

As an adolescent, she was always trying to help others. Her father died when she was 13, which thrust her further into a “problem solver” role. Castillo is a relentless visionary and change-maker dedicated to building community-based solutions that advance individual empowerment.

The eldest child of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Castillo is the first woman of color to be appointed Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. In this role, she leads the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and is responsible for fulfilling the bureau’s mission of leading the federal economic development agenda.