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WASHINGTON (April 27, 1998) -- Ana M. Villamil, an assistant director at the U.S. Bishops' Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth, has been named associate director of the secretariat.
She succeeds H. Richard McCord, Ed.D., who became director of the secretariat in January.
Ms. Villamil will assist Dr. McCord in working with the committees served by the secretariat and give particular attention to the issues of the Laity Committee. She also will continue to staff the Youth Subcommittee and assist in staffing the Lay Ministry Subcommittee and the Committee on Women in Society and in the Church.
Dr. McCord praised Ms. Villamil's planning and organizational skills as well as her ability to relate theology and pastoral practice.
"She brings many gifts to the service of the Gospel," he said.
Ms. Villamil began working at the secretariat in October 1995 as an intern, a position in which she coordinated the lay ministry project until August 1996, and then served as acting assistant director of the secretariat working with the Bishops' Subcommittee on Youth and continuing to work with the lay ministry project. In 1997 she coordinated U.S. participation in World Youth Day in Paris, an event which drew 13,000 young people from the United States.
Ms. Villamil is in the final stages of completing a master of divinity degree at the Washington Theological Union. She also holds a certificate in Theological Studies from Georgetown University, an MBA from The Wharton Business School, a master of science degree in space technology from the Florida Institute of Technology and a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame.
Before coming to the Bishops' Conference, Ms. Villamil had an extensive career with the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) in various engineering and management capacities.