“The United Nations named former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to head the gender equality body U.N. Women on Wednesday, after former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet stepped down to pursue another presidential bid,” Reuters reports (Nichols, 7/10). “Announcing the decision at the U.N. midday press conference, a spokesman for the U.N. general secretary, Ban Ki-moon, said: ‘Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka brings to this position a wealth of experience in advocating for women’s issues with a combination of strategic leadership, consensus building and hands-on management experience,'” The Guardian writes, noting, “She is expected to take up her position at U.N. Women in August” (Ford, 7/10). “She was the first woman to hold the position of deputy president of South Africa from 2005 to 2008, and has also served as deputy minister in the Department of Trade and Industry, minister of Minerals and Energy, and briefly as acting minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology,” according to the U.N. News Centre, which adds, “Among her many activities, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka established Umlambo Foundation in 2008 to provide support to schools in impoverished areas in South Africa through mentorship and coaching for teachers and in Malawi through school improvements with local partners” (7/10).