The Honorable Donna M. Christensen continues to distinguish herself as a leader in the United States 
Congress. As a Member serving her eighth term, she is the first female physician in the history of the 
U.S. Congress, the first woman to represent an offshore Territory, and the first woman Delegate from 
the United States Virgin Islands. She serves as an Assistant Minority Whip.
In the 112th Congress, Delegate Christensen serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce; its 
Subcommittees on Oversight and Investigations as well as the Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology. The Subcommittee on Communications and Tech-
nology has jurisdiction over telecommunication and information 
transmission by broadcast, radio, wire, microwave, satellite, or 
other modes. The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
has responsibility for oversight of agencies, departments, and 
programs within the jurisdiction of the full committee, and for 
conducting investigations within such jurisdiction. She is the first 
delegate to serve on this select, exclusive committee.
Delegate Christensen is the First Vice-chair of the Congressional 
Black Caucus and chairs the Congressional Black Caucus’ Health 
Braintrust, which oversees and advocates minority health issues 
nationally and internationally. She is a Member of the Congres-
sional Caucus for Women’s Issues; Member of the Steering Com-
mittee of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus; Member 
of the Congressional Rural Caucus; Member of the Friends of the 
Caribbean Caucus; a Member of the Congressional National Guard 
and Reserve Caucus, as well as many other caucuses and taskforces.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in 1966 at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She earned an 
M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) in 1970 from George Washington University School of Medicine in Wash-
ington, D.C. She interned at Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, California, from 1970 to 1971 
and did her residency in family medicine at Howard University Medical Center from 1973 to 1974. She 
became a board certified family physician in 1977.
Christensen began her medical career in the Virgin Islands in 1975 as an emergency room physician. 
She served as staff physician at the Maternal & Child Health program, Medical Director of the Nesbitt 
Clinic in Frederiksted, Director of the Frederiksted Health Center, Director of Maternal and Child Health 
and Family Planning, served as the Medical Director of the St. Croix Hospital and rounded out her medi-
cal career as the Territorial Assistant Commissioner of Health and as the Acting Commissioner of Health. 
She maintained a private family medicine practice from 1975 until her election to Congress in 1996.
As a registered member of the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands, member and officer of the Virgin 
Islands Democratic Territorial Committee, she has served as Democratic National Committeewoman, 
Delegate to Democratic Conventions from 1984 to present, and Member, Platform Committee of the 
Democratic National Committee from 1988 to present. She was elected to the Virgin Islands Board of 
Education from 1984 to 1986, and was appointed as a member to the Virgin Islands Status Commis-
sion from 1988 to 1992.
Christensen is a member of the National Medical Association, the Virgin Islands Medical Society, the 
Caribbean Studies Association, the Caribbean Youth Organization and the Virgin Islands Medical Insti-
tute. Prior to her election to Congress she served on a variety of church and civic associations.
She is the mother of two daughters, Rabiah Green George and Karida Green, and the grandmother 
of Nia Elena Hamilton, Kobe and Layla Marie George, and Nealia Williams. She is the granddaughter 
of the late renowned Virgin Islands educator Elena Christian, and daughter of the late distinguished 
Judge Almeric Christian and Virginia Sterling Christian. 
Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen
Honorary Doctorate
Hon. Donna M. Christensen
Forty-Eighth Annual
Commencement
ST. THOMAS
Saturday, the Twelfth of May
Two Thousand and Twelve
Seven O’Clock in the Evening
Sports and Fitness Center
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
ST. CROIX
Sunday, the Thirteenth of May
Two Thousand and Twelve
Half after Four O’Clock in the Afternoon
Campus Grounds
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands