Gracia M. Hillman was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on December 9, 2003, to serve an initial two-year term on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). She was reappointed to a second term on October 2, 2008. Ms. Hillman was elected Vice-Chair of the EAC for 2009. She served as Chair of the EAC in 2005, after serving as the Agency's first Vice Chair in 2004. Her term of service extends through December 12, 2009.

A Massachusetts native who first entered community service in 1970, Ms. Hillman has effectively handled both domestic and international issues throughout her career. Her areas of expertise include nonprofit management, public policy and program development, and the interests and rights of women and minorities, including voting rights. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, meeting with national and local groups and businesses. Through her international work, Ms. Hillman has traveled in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Europe. She conducted nonpartisan political training in Haiti and Kenya, and participated in United Nations sponsored conferences in Vienna, Beijing, and New York City.

Prior to her appointment with EAC, Ms. Hillman served as President and Chief Executive Officer of WorldSpace Foundation, a nonprofit organization that uses digital satellite technology to deliver educational programming to Africa and Asia. She also served as the U.S. Department of State's first Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues, developing agency-wide strategies to ensure U.S. foreign policy promoted and protected women's rights.

Her work experience includes having served as Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of the United States, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation. She also held positions as Executive Consultant to the Council on Foundations, and Coordinator of the Voter Law Policy Project for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

Throughout the 1980s, Ms. Hillman championed nonpartisan and bipartisan efforts to ensure open access to the voting process for all citizens and the continued voting rights of minority Americans, including work on the historic 25-year extension of the National Voting Rights Act. Her political experience includes paid and volunteer positions on numerous campaigns, including a role as Senior Advisor on Congressional and Constituent Relations for the 1988 Dukakis for President Campaign.