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[EPA press release - May 20, 1981]

Anne McGill Gorsuch was sworn in today at the White House by Vice-President George Bush as the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Mrs. Gorsuch, the first woman to head the EPA, said, "I am grateful that President Reagan has asked me to assume a front-line position on his new team with responsibility for one of the largest and most important government agencies in this country."

Gorsuch added, "I share the President's deep concern that our quality of life be protected, and I pledge the full commitment of my energies and that of my staff to this critical task."

Gorsuch, 39, of Denver, Colorado, was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on May 5 to head EPA--the executive branch watchdog for the protection of air, water and land resources.

Also sworn in today was Dr. John Hernandez, 52, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Hernandez is a former Dean of Engineering at New Mexico State University, and has worked on environmental issues for the past 20 years.

Name: Anne McGill Gorsuch

Date of Birth: 4/21/42

Education:

1959-1961 University of Colorado, Boulder, B.A.

• Major: Political Science
• Minor: Economics and Spanish

1961-1964 University of Colorado Law School, LL.B.

Academic Achievements:

Undergraduate Honors Program

Mortar Board Scholastic Sorority

University of Colorado Law Review--Board of Editors, Assistant Business Manager

Phi Alpha Delta (Legal Fraternity)

Fulbright Scholarship--Jaipur, India, 1964-1965

Employment:

1966-1967 Assistant Trust Administrator, First National Bank of Denver

1968-1971 Assistant District Attorney, Jefferson County, Colorado

1971-1973 Deputy District Attorney, Denver, Colorado

1974-1975 Hearing Officer for Real Estate Commission and State Boards of Cosmetology, Optometric Examiners, Professional Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine.

Performed duties of an administrative judge in cases involving the allegation of statutory or regulatory violations by licensees/practitioners.

1975-1981* Lawyer, Mountain Bell Corporate Law Department.

*Following election to the State House of Representatives in 1976, took a leave of absence from the legal department for each of the annual legislative sessions.

Legislative Experience:

Member, Colorado State House of Representatives, 1976-1980

1976-1978 Vice-Chairman of Judiciary Committee

Member of Finance Committee (considers all tax proposals) and Appropriations Committee

Voted Outstanding Freshman Legislator

Successfully sponsored 21 Bills

Responsible for repeal of over 70 sections of statutes which were obsolete, duplicative, or unnecessary

Author and Prime Sponsor of Colorado Presumptive Sentencing Law

1978-1980 Chairman, House State Affairs Committee

Chairman, House-Senate Legal Services Committee 1980 (Legal arm of General Assembly) Member, Transportation and Energy Committee

House sponsor of Air-Pollution-Control Inspection and Maintenance Legislation

Chairman, Interim Committee on Hazardous Waste

1980 Member of President-Elect Reagan's Transition Team serving on the Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations

Civic Activities:

Director, Board of Directors, YMCA

Member, Mercy Hospital Civic Advisory Board

Commissioner, National Commission on Uniform State Laws

Colorado and American and Denver Bar Associations

Current member of Legislative Section

Formerly Member, Family Law Committee, Criminal Justice Section, Environmental Law Committee