Sylvia Acevedo, BSIE '79

Sylvia Acevedo is the founder, president and CEO of Communicard LLC, a non-profit organization that focuses on mobilizing the educational support network across regions to fuel workforce development among youth. She is also the creator and organizer of the Feria Para Aprender, the largest Spanish language educational event in the U.S., with attendance at the 2009 Los Angeles event exceeding 20,000.

Ms. Acevedo literally started her career as a rocket scientist, and from there she has had a broad business career serving as an executive for several Fortune 100 companies such as IBM, Dell, and Apple Computer.

Ms. Acevedo has been the recipient of many awards including, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Businesswoman of the Year, Region 3, (2004), YWCA Austin’s Businesswoman of the Year (2006), GEM National Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2006), Austin Business Journal Profiles in Power Award (2007), Greater Austin Chamber Advocate Award (2007), Hispanic Community Leader for AISD (2007), Texas Association Gold Award (2008), and Austin Partners in Education Chairman’s Award (2008).

Wanting the best and the brightest to carry out her own unique vision, Ann Richards also tapped Ms. Acevedo to join the Executive Board of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. Ms. Acevedo serves on the National Girl Scouts of America Board of Directors. In the greater Austin area, she contributes to numerous community and non-profit boards including the E3 Alliance, the Austin Community Foundation and the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium, Con Mi Madre, and the Trinity School. Her work also includes advisory commissions with United Way, AISD, and the University of Texas.

Ms. Acevedo earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from NMSU in 1979 and a master’s degree from Stanford University.