A life-long Girl Scout, Sylvia Acevedo was appointed CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA in May 2017, having served as a member of the GSUSA Board of Directors from 2009 to 2016 and as an officer and member of its Executive Committee.

Since assuming leadership at Girl Scouts, Sylvia’s bold initiatives have underscored the organization’s commitment to serving all girls with cutting-edge, research-backed, and girl-centered programming that ensures the country’s workforce pipeline is filled with true go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders—what Girl Scouts call G.I.R.L.s.

Sylvia’s Girl Scout journey began as a young girl growing up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was at Girl Scouts that she first discovered her passion for space and astronomy, when her troop leader pointed out the stars and constellations to her and encouraged her to earn her Science badge. Her interest in STEM subjects would lead her to a career as a rocket scientist, engineer, technology executive, and award- winning STEM entrepreneur.

Sylvia has held positions with some of the world’s most respected companies, serving in executive and engineering roles at leading technology companies such as Apple, Dell Computer Corporation, Autodesk Inc., and IBM. She began her career working as a rocket scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Sylvia was one of the first Hispanic students, male or female, to earn a graduate engineering degree from Stanford University—an MS in industrial engineering—and she holds a bachelor of science degree with honors in industrial engineering from New Mexico State University.

Sylvia has been recognized widely for her accomplishments in STEM and business, for her education advocacy, and for her work to bring more girls into the STEM pipeline. She is the author of Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, a memoir for middle school students meant to inspire them to live the life of their dreams.

Click here to hear Ms. Acedvedo’s Interview with CSM