n4a Statement on SSA Nomination

June 24, 2014

Statement by n4a CEO Sandy Markwood on the Nomination of Carolyn Colvin to Lead the Social Security Administration

Last week, the Obama Administration announced the nomination of Carolyn Watts Colvin to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Since 2011, Ms. Colvin has served as the Deputy Commissioner of SSA, and in early 2013, she assumed the role of Acting Commissioner.

Previously, Ms. Colvin was Special Assistant to the Maryland Secretary of Transportation; Chief Executive Officer of Amerigroup Community Care of D.C.; Director of the Montgomery County (MD) Department of Health and Human Services; and the Director of the District of Columbia Department of Health and Human Services. Earlier in her career, Ms. Colvin spent seven years at SSA in various roles, including leadership positions in policy, program, operations and external affairs. Ms. Colvin received a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Morgan State University.

“We are pleased by the nomination of Carolyn Watts Colvin to head the Social Security Administration,” said n4a CEO Sandy Markwood.

“Her knowledge and experience within SSA, as well as key local and state leadership roles, make her uniquely qualified to lead an agency integral to the economic wellbeing of millions of older Americans. In her tenure as Acting Commissioner, Ms. Colvin has reached out to the Aging Network to build stronger ties with on-the-ground community groups, such as Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American aging programs. We look forward to working with Ms. Colvin and her staff to find innovative ways to advance our shared missions of supporting and promoting the economic security of older adults and people with disabilities.”