Carmen R. Nazario, MSW

Carmen Nazario is a recognized leader in PR, US and internationally. As the Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health and Emergency Management, Mrs. Nazario holds a critical position overseeing two crucial areas within Caduceus.  In the realm of behavioral health, she is  in charge of developing and implementing strategies to improve mental health services, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards, collaborating with healthcare providers, and advocating for mental health awareness and resources. In the emergency management field, Carmen is tasked with preparing for and responding to crises such as natural disasters, public health emergencies, or other critical incidents. This involves developing emergency response plans, coordinating with government agencies and community organizations, conducting training and drills, and leading teams during emergencies to ensure a swift and effective response. Her role is instrumental in safeguarding both the mental health of individuals and the overall well-being of communities during times of crisis.

Currently she is also an Honorary Professor at Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus. Previously, Mrs. Nazario served as US Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, where she led as Administrator of the Administration for Children and Families, ACF, which includes the Children’s Bureau and the Office of Refugees and Resettlement Services, ORR, among over 60 Federal programs. As ACF Administrator, she successfully led  the largest Repatriation efforts in history involving four states and over 27,000 Americans returning from Haiti after the massive earthquake of January 2010,collaboratimg with the Department of State in the placement of Haitian children who were in the process of adoption by American families before the earthquake and successfully led efforts in the caring and placement of Unaccompanied Children entering the U.S. toward reunification and legalized immigration status. As Permanent Delegate to the OAS for Children and Family Affairs, Nazario headed the U.S. delegation to Montevideo, Uruguay for the Meeting on the Inter American Institute of the Child in May 2010 and headed the U.S. delegation to Cali, Colombia for the Meeting on Economic Development for Ministers and High Authorities of Social Development in June 2010. As a result of this renewed engagement,  ACF became a member  of the State Department Task Force on International Youth Development.

Upon leaving ACF, President Obama appointed Mrs. Nazario US Representative to the Global UNICEF Board of Directors.  Prior to that, during the Clinton Administration, Mrs. Nazario served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for ACF where she exercised broad policy, strategic guidance and management duties as the second-ranking official for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), including: TANF, Child Welfare, Child Support Enforcement, Childcare  and Head Start. Nazario provided direct oversight to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (including Repatriation, Human Trafficking, Violence Against Women, in addition to Refugee Medical Assistance and Grants).  

Among Nazario’s other multiple contributions are the following:

Assistant Professor, Coordinator, Baccalaureate Social Work program at Inter American University Metropolitan Campus. Director, Building Human Services Partnerships in Puerto Rico, a successful network for women and children poverty programs, also at Inter Metro, funded during the second Obama Administration ; Undersecretary, PR Department of the Family; Administrator, PR Administration for Children and Families; PR Department of the Family; US Associate Commissioner for Child Care; Chief of Party for Poverty Alleviation, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Secretary of Health and Social Services for the state of Delaware; Director, first U.S. National Housing Task Force, for the American Public Human Services Association; Editor of various books on poverty programs for women and children. Nazario was named among top five Women of the year in the US in 2010 by Hispanic Business. Her other honors and awards include:

• Distinguished Faculty, IAUPR Metro Campus, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2023

• Doctor of Behavioral Sciences Honoris Causa, Carlos Albizu University, October 2011. 

• Outstanding Performance Award, Nathan Associates, Inc.  One of four employees selected for the first award given by the Company among its employees in 150 countries, May 2001.

• 2000 Alumna Star, Distinguished Alumna in Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work, June 2000.

• Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For contribution to the HHS response team to ensure humane assistance to the Kosovo-Albanian refugees, May 2000.

• Champion of Diversity, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For exemplary efforts to make diversity a source of performance excellence for HHS, March 2000.

• Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For exemplary teamwork and management of Presidential priorities- the Childcare Initiative- throughout the development and justification of the Department's FY 1999 budget presentations, May 1998.

• Order of the First State, Governor of Delaware. The highest honor the governor of Delaware can bestow; for meritorious service and outstanding efforts on behalf of the citizens of Delaware, November 1997.

• Collaborator of the Year, Delaware Interagency Council for Children and Families, October 1996.

• First Women of the First State, Delaware Association of University Women, 1994.

• Commissioner's Meritorious Service Award, Virginia Department of Social Services, for exemplary leadership, planning and effectiveness during repatriation of Americans from the Middle East, 1991.

• Recognition, Federal Emergency Management Agency, for exemplary leadership and management effectiveness in directing assistance to victims of Hurricane Hugo, which until that time, was the largest disaster in the history of FEMA, 1990.