Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the 135th Wellesley College Commencement. During my speech, I encouraged young women to be resilient, be flexible and pace themselves throughout the journey of their life. And as we think about redefining what it means to live a successful life, I...

This post is adapted from remarks given to the Wellesley College class of 2013 on May 31.

Good morning, everyone!

Thank you for that generous introduction, President Bottomly, or should I say KBot, as I understand you are affectionately called by your students?

I'd like to recognize the Board of...

Yesterday, I was honored to attend the 7th Annual Pearls of Purpose Gala hosted by FAIRgirls. FAIR stands for Free, Aware, Inspired, and Restored, and it works to prevent the exploitation of girls worldwide with empowerment and education. At the gala, I spoke about the horror of child sex trafficking...

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at the inaugural 10,000 Small Businesses -- Tory Burch Foundation early-stage businesses graduation in New York.

Eighteen women from around New York graduated from a comprehensive program focused on building their small businesses, which included a curriculum developed by Babson College and implemented...

Today, General Lloyd Austin became the first African-American to lead the U.S. Central Command, which has a wide-ranging area of responsibility for 20 countries in the Middle East and southwest Asia. His appointment is effective immediately.

During the change of command ceremony today, Secretary of Defense Chuck...

Today, President Obama signed a bill that both strengthened and reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Thanks to this bipartisan agreement, thousands of women and men across the country who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking will be able to access resources they need...

Earlier today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate former Senator Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense.

Chuck Hagel is uniquely qualified to be Secretary of Defense. He is a decorated war hero who earned two purple hearts for his heroism in Vietnam. He knows the sacrifices...

As chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, I am incredibly proud to highlight an important part of the health care law that gives women more control over their health care. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 47 million women will have access...

This week, the United States is hosting the 19th International AIDS Conference. As we welcome 22,000 leaders, advocates and experts from around the world with the goal of ending HIV/AIDS, I thought it was important not to forget those living with HIV/AIDS here in our home town. Among...

Throughout his distinguished career, Bob Herbert has helped shine a spotlight on the lives of Americans living in poverty -- a group that is too often ignored. That was certainly true of his May 21st column, in which he told the story of 20 poor children from the Bronx who...

The passage of the Violence Against Women Act nearly two decades ago was an historic moment for America's women and girls. The law gave women new legal protections that help ensure their safety.

Last month, Democratic and Republican Senators came together to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The bill...

Yesterday evening, I had the honor of addressing the 2nd Annual World Conference of Women's Shelters, hosted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and sponsored by Global Network of Women Shelters. The conference was composed of more than 1,300 advocates representing more than 90 countries, including the United...

On this, the 12th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I remember my sister-in-law's fight with the disease. Tragically, she did not win that fight -- she left behind a devastated husband and five-year old daughter. But it is in her memory, and the memory of all the friends and...

"An economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women should earn equal pay for equal work. "

-- President Barack Obama, 2012 State of the Union Address

Last week, the Obama Administration launched the

"I never thought I'd see the day," Air Force Intelligence Officer Ginger Wallace told the Washington Blade earlier this month. Colonel Wallace entered the military in 1990, and for the vast majority of her career, she knew that because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," she could be fired...

On Wednesday evening, President Obama addressed a dinner hosted by the National Women's Law Center, and delivered a powerful speech on the importance of continuing the fight for equality for women and girls. The dinner honored women Freedom Riders, who put their own lives in jeopardy in order to fight...

Twenty years ago last month, I met a remarkable young man named Barack Obama. Since then, I've been honored to join him along his journey, from the Illinois State Senate all the way to the Oval Office.

Today, President Obama is managing our nation's challenges with the courage, wisdom, and...

While Americans from Wall Street to Main Street focus on much-needed financial reforms that will set and enforce clear rules across the financial marketplace, we also need to recognize that most Americans don't have the knowledge and skills they need to make the right financial decisions for themselves and their...