Vice Mayor Teresa Cox is the first African-American ever elected in 64 years on November 3, 2020 to Fremont City Council and representing District 6 – Irvington District. Teresa is a CEMA member in the Santa Clara County Procurement Department, overseeing a multi-billion dollar budget in procurement and contract activities for over 110 County Buildings and 3 County Hospitals. She has worked in senior management for several Silicon Valley firms including Facebook, Lam Research, Western Digital, and 24-Hour Fitness USA.
Teresa is a national trailblazer three times. The daughter of schoolteachers, lost parents at a young age, Teresa overcame life’s obstacles and broke down numerous barriers to dedicate her life to improving the community around her.
Teresa, who made national headlines as the first African-American woman with a degree in nuclear engineering, has ties to President Barack Obama's administration. She was appointed by the former U.S. Commerce Secretary and China Ambassador Gary Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to serve as a Trade Adviser working on international trade & business, and small and minority business initiatives.
Teresa serves as a Councilmember of the California District Export Council. She has been re-appointed by the current Administration’s US Commerce Secretary and originally appointed by the Obama Administration’s U.S. Commerce Secretary & former China Ambassador Gary Locke to support small business initiatives to create local jobs and business opportunities with the U.S. Department of Commerce and domestic & foreign government officials.
Teresa was the first African-American ever elected in 2008 and has served twelve (12) years as Vice-Chair, Ohlone Community College Board of Trustees where she has also devoted her time to improving our education system. Her efforts have led Ohlone College to improve every year and ranked Top 5 among all of California Community College and Top 7 nationally with the highest transfer rates to 4-year universities. In her time as a Trustee she’s also fought for women’s rights for equal pay and minorities & women initiatives, passage of a $350 million dollar bond measure for new academic core buildings, sports facilities, and increased high tech and green technology on the Ohlone campus.
Teresa has received numerous awards of distinction including State of California Assembly Woman of the Year, City of Fremont Leadership Award, and Congressional Awards from Congressmembers Ro Khanna, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Lee, and Eric Swalwell.
Teresa earned a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Northwestern University in Illinois and a MBA Degree from the Simon Graduate School of Business Administration in Rochester, New York. She was the former Chair, Commissioner for the City of Fremont Economic Development Advisory Commission. She lead the Fremont Delegation and visited Fremont businesses and Ohlone Community College’s sister College in Shanghai and Suzhou, China.
Teresa previously worked at The White House Office of Public Engagement where she coordinated events to strengthen community relations with constituent groups at national levels.
Teresa is the proud mother of two amazing children, a daughter and a son raised in Fremont and volunteers at their school, community, and sports activities.
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