U.S President Barack Obama appointed pint-sized Colombian superstar Shakira Wednesday to his “President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.”
The commission’s goal is to improve the academic achievement levels of hispanic students in the United States.
Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing minority group in the U.S, but they are also the group with the lowest education attainment levels in the country.
President Obama said of his decision to appoint Shakira, “in addition to her career in music, Ms. Mebarak Ripoll, has been involved in a number of educational efforts.”
The president went on to list some of her philanthropic achievements, noting her work with the World Bank to establish education and development programs throughout South America and her time as a Goodwill Ambasssador to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
Obama assigned Shakira along with four other people to his Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
The president said of his new recruits, “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
Colombian singer and philanthropist Shakira, who was voted “Person of the Year” at the 2011 Latin Grammys, is also the founder of the Barefoot Foundation (Pies Descalzos) which operates schools and educational programs in Colombia, South Africa, and Haiti.