Congressional Forum: Secretary of Labor, Honorable Delia Garcia

Congressional Forum is the Chamber's public policy series featuring local, state and federal representatives to speak about issues relevant to the area's business community. 

Honorable Delia Garcia
Secretary
Hon. Delia Garcia serves as the Secretary for the Kansas Department of Labor, confirmed by the Senate on May 3, 2019. Garcia returned to Kansas after serving eight years in senior leadership in the national organizations ReflectUS, National Migrant Seasonal Head Start Association, and the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. In 2004, she was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, where she served six years. Delia made Kansas history both times by becoming the first Latina woman and the youngest female to serve in the Kansas Legislature in 2004, and again the first Latina woman to serve as a Kansas Cabinet Secretary in 2019. Garcia is utilizing her business, policy, and non-profit community advocacy expertise to serve hard working Kansans and their families.

Delia received her Masters Degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in Public Administration from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wichita State University. She is also a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Leadership Program and the Aspen Executive Leadership Institute. Delia is a charter member of Kappa Delta Chi Service Sorority at Wichita State University.  Garcia received numerous recognitions for her leadership and community service, including a permanent exhibition in the State of Kansas Historical Society Museum as the first Latina elected in Kansas.