Mercedes B. Paz
Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Mercedes Paz is a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001. In this capacity, among other high level assignments, Ms. Paz was Chief of the US Delegation at the First Inter-American Summit of Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities, held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia in 2002 under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS). She again was the administration’s representative at a UNESCO sponsored conference on the International Creative Sector, held in Austin, Texas in 2003.

As partner in the executive search firm of Shirley Associates in Los Angeles, Ms. Paz consults and advises high-level decision-makers on issues related to the arts and humanities, government and politics, international relations, leadership development and career management.

Previously, Ms. Paz was Deputy Director for Partnerships and Acting Director of the California Arts Council. She has served as Director of Legislative Affairs of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and Director of Business Activities and Special Projects of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

She is a member of the Advisory Boards of California Lawyers for the Arts and the Young Musicians Foundation; and is an arts advisor to the Mission Language and Vocational School in San Francisco. Ms. Paz is a former trustee of the California Health Professions Education Foundation, Los Rios Community College Foundation and Freedom from Hunger among many others.

Ms.Paz is a native of Bolivia. California has been her home since 1982.