Velázquez, Nydia, 1953-

Nydia Margarita Velázquez Serrano (born March 28, 1953) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993. Her district was numbered the 12th district from 1993 to 2013; it has been numbered the 7th district since 2013. Velázquez is the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in the United States Congress.

Born in the town of Limones in the municipality of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, she became the first in her family to graduate from high school. She became a student at University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras at age 16. In 1974, she received a B.A. degree in political science, magna cum laude, and became a teacher. In 1976, Velázquez received an M.A. degree in political science from New York University. She served as an instructor of political science at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao from 1976 to 1981. After returning to New York City, Velázquez was an adjunct professor of Puerto Rican studies at Hunter College from 1981 to 1983. In 1983, Velázquez was appointed Special Assistant to Congressman Edolphus Towns. One year later, she became the first Latina appointed to serve on the New York City Council. By 1986, Velázquez served as the Director of the Department of Puerto Rican Community Affairs in the United States. Velázquez ran for Congress in the 1992 election, seeking a seat in the New York's newly drawn 12th congressional district, which was drawn as a majority-Hispanic district.

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