From The Editor

One could argue that for many, following the national news has never been more exciting. President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court has generated an explosion of discourse in the media and among friends. In Obama’s own words, his nominee would have to possess such qualities as “a rigorous intellect, a mastery of the law, an ability to hone in on the key issues and provide clear answers to complex legal questions,” but also have a clear understanding of judicial limits and an unbiased approach to making decisions. Should Sotomayor’s nomination to the nation’s highest court be confirmed, the appointment would make her not merely the first Latina Supreme Court justice, but also add her name to an ever-growing list of Hispanic women emerging as leaders in countless fields in the United States.
In this issue, we take a moment to celebrate some of those women—who, whether by fortune or by design—have established a name for themselves as innovators, experts and ones to watch. They each will have a hand in reconstructing the role of leader for the next generation (p. 30). In the entertainment world, we profile Ana de la Reguera, a top actress in her native Mexico who is making international waves with new projects and building herself a big career in the U.S. (p. 34). Women of music (p. 40) and TV anchor Maria Celeste Arraras tell us how they succeed (p. 50). And finally, we tip our hats to Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space, and the person who broke through the final frontier for young women everywhere (p. 64). Enjoy!

Marissa Rodriguez
Editor