Marilynn Roberge Malerba (Mohegan-Pequot: Mutáwi Mutáhash, lit.'Many Hearts'; born August 17, 1953) is an American tribal leader and former nurse who is the lifetime chief of the Mohegan Tribe and the Treasurer of the United States.

Marilynn Malerba
Mutáwi Mutáhash
45th Treasurer of the United States
Assumed office
September 12, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byJovita Carranza
18th Chief of the Mohegan Tribe
Assumed office
August 15, 2010
Preceded byRalph W. Sturges
Personal details
Born (1953-08-17) August 17, 1953 (age 71)
EducationSt. Joseph's College (BS)
University of Connecticut (MPA)
Yale University (DNP)
WebsiteMohegan Tribe website
A close-up of a United States five-dollar bill featuring Malerba's signature.

Early life and education

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Malerba's mother holds the position of Tribal Nonner, an elder female of respect, and her great-grandfather was Chief Matagha (Burrill Fielding),[1] a position he held from 1937 until he died in 1952.[2]

After growing up in Uncasville, Connecticut,[3] Malerba studied nursing at Hartford Hospital College of Nursing, and then earned a Bachelor of Science from St. Joseph's College (now known as the University of Saint Joseph) in West Hartford, in 1983. She later earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Connecticut and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Yale University.[4][5]

Personal life

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Malerba is married to Paul Malerba; they are the parents of two adult daughters, Elizabeth and Angela. They have three grandchildren.[6]

Career

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Malerba worked as a nurse at Hartford Hospital and then moved to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in Connecticut where she would become the head of cardiology and pulmonary services.[7]

Within the Mohegan Tribe she has been the chair of the tribal council, and worked as executive director of the health and human services department.[8] Malerba was named the 18th chief of the Mohegan Tribe on August 15, 2010, and is the first female chief in modern history to hold this position.[5] She serves on the United States Department of Justice Tribal Nations Leadership Council,[2] and joined the Indian Health Service's Tribal Advisory Committee in 2015,[9] a committee she leads as of 2022.[1]

On June 21, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint Malerba to serve as Treasurer of the United States; she was sworn in on September 12, 2022, and is the first Native American to hold this position.[10] Before her swearing-in, the office of treasurer had been vacant for more than two and a half years, the longest vacancy in the history of the United States Treasury.[11][12] Malerba and Janet Yellen signing currency during Malerba's time as Treasurer of the United States also marked the first time two women signed U.S. currency.[13]

Selected publications

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  • Malerba, Marilynn (2013). "The Effects of Sequestration on Indian Health". Hastings Center Report. 43 (6): 17–21. doi:10.1002/hast.229. ISSN 0093-0334. PMID 24249470.
  • Malerba, Marilynn; Moss, Margaret P. (2016). "Indian Health Funding: Time for Change". In Moss, Margaret P. (ed.). American Indian health and nursing. Springer. ISBN 978-1-78684-813-0. OCLC 1249948373.
  • Malerba, Marilynn (2016). "Northeastern Woodlands". In Moss, Margaret P. (ed.). American Indian health and nursing. Springer. ISBN 978-1-78684-813-0. OCLC 1249948373.

Awards and honors

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Malerba has honorary doctoral degrees from Eastern Connecticut State University and the University of Saint Joseph.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Marilynn "Lynn" Malerba, D.N.P., M.P.A." All of Us Research Program | NIH. September 3, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Griffin, Alaine (June 29, 2014). "Breaking new ground: women at the helm". Hartford Courant. pp. [1], [2]. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Reitz, Stephanie (March 5, 2010). "Mohegans name first female chief in 300-plus years". The Register Citizen. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Mohegan Tribe Chief | Marilynn Malerba". The Mohegan Tribe. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "St. Joseph College to honor three women". Hartford Courant. May 2, 2010. pp. H21. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  6. ^ "Mohegan Chiefs of the 20th Century". mohegan.nsn.us. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Wilson, Colleen (September 28, 2015). "'Women at the Wheel' tell stories of hardship and success". Westchester County Business Journal. Vol. 51, no. 39. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Contagious Conversations | Episode 16 Tradition and Collaboration in Tribal Communities". www.cdcfoundation.org. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  9. ^ "Allen, Horn, Malerba to serve on U.S. Treasury committee". Window Rock Navajo Times, Window Rock, Arizona. December 30, 2015. p. 26. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  10. ^ "Malerba sworn in as 1st Native American in US Treasurer post". AP NEWS. September 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Hussein, Fatima (June 21, 2022). "President Biden nominates first Native American US treasurer". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  12. ^ Nicholson, Jonathan (June 21, 2022). "Biden Names Mohegan Tribe Member To Be First Native American U.S. Treasurer". HuffPost. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  13. ^ "Yellen, Malerba become 1st female pair to sign US currency". AP News. December 8, 2022.
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