Cheryl L. Shavers

Appointed Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology in the Clinton Administration, Shavers served in that role from 1999 to 2001, representing one of the most senior positions in U.S. technology policy. Her career before and after government service spanned chemistry, engineering, and business leadership.

Shavers earned a degree in chemistry and began her career as an engineer at Motorola. She later returned to university to complete a PhD in solid state chemistry, then moved into increasingly senior roles in Silicon Valley, working at Hewlett Packard and Intel. She was also a registered patent agent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

After leaving government service in 2001, she founded Global Smarts Inc., a consultancy and strategy business. Shavers was inducted into the Women In Technology International Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame of Arizona State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.