Ann McLaughlin Korologos

Ann McLaughlin Korologos was an American corporate executive and public servant who served as the 19th United States Secretary of Labor from 1987 to 1989 under President Ronald Reagan. Born in Chatham, New Jersey, she pursued a career that spanned government service, business leadership, philanthropy, and arts patronage. After her cabinet tenure, Korologos continued to influence public policy through roles on corporate boards, nonprofit organizations, and civic initiatives until her death in 2023.

Early life and career

Ann Marie Lauenstein was born on November 16, 1941, in Chatham, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Marie (née Koellhoffer) and Edward Joseph Lauenstein, who worked as a manufacturer representative for a wartime ammunitions company. The family included one older brother. Korologos received her early education at Saint Patrick School in Chatham, followed by attendance at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth. She then enrolled at Marymount College in Tarrytown, part of Fordham University, where she spent a year abroad at the University of London.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Korologos pursued graduate business training and earned an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1988. In recognition of her professional achievements, several institutions awarded her honorary degrees, including Marymount College, the University of Rhode Island, the New England School of Law, the College of Saint Elizabeth, and Tri‑State University.

Korologos entered public service early in her career. From 1972 to 1973 she served as press secretary for the inaugural concerts accompanying President Richard Nixon’s second inauguration. Her experience in communications and political strategy led to subsequent appointments within the Reagan administration. Prior to becoming Secretary of Labor, she held positions as Under Secretary of the Department of the Interior and later as Under Secretary of the Department of the Treasury.

Cabinet tenure

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan nominated Korologos to serve as United States Secretary of Labor, a position she held until 1989. The Senate confirmed her appointment; however, specific vote tallies are not provided in the available records. During her tenure, she succeeded John T. Dunlop and was followed by Robert L. Carter.

While serving as Secretary of Labor, Korologos oversaw the Department of Labor’s broad portfolio, which includes workforce development, employment standards, and labor relations. Her leadership period coincided with a broader federal emphasis on economic policy initiatives characteristic of the Reagan administration. After completing her service in the cabinet, she continued to engage in public affairs through various civic and corporate roles.

From 1990 to 1995 Korologos led the Federal City Council, an organization comprising business, civic, educational, and other leaders focused on economic development in Washington, D.C. She then served as chair of the Aspen Institute from 1996 until 2000. In 2000 she joined the board of directors of Microsoft, a position she held until 2006 when she resigned to accommodate increasing demands from other professional and personal commitments.

Korologos also contributed to corporate governance through board memberships at Fannie Mae, Vulcan Materials Company, and The Kellogg Company. From 2004 to 2009 she chaired the RAND Corporation’s board of trustees. In 2008 she appeared on the District of Columbia Republican presidential primary ballot as a delegate supporting John McCain.

Legacy

Korologos’ career reflects a blend of public service, corporate stewardship, and cultural advocacy. Her tenure in the Reagan administration placed her among the first women to occupy a Cabinet position related to labor policy. After leaving federal office, she continued to influence economic development and higher education through leadership roles at the Federal City Council and the Aspen Institute.

Her involvement on corporate boards extended across diverse sectors, including technology (Microsoft), finance (Fannie Mae), construction materials (Vulcan Materials Company), and consumer goods (Kellogg Company). Her chairmanship of RAND Corporation’s board further underscored her engagement with research and policy analysis at a national level.

Korologos was also an avid art collector. In 2007 she purchased the Basalt Gallery in Colorado, later relocating it to a larger downtown space in June 2009 and renaming it the Ann Korologos Gallery. The gallery showcased contemporary Western American art and featured works by artists such as Veryl Goodnight, Gordon Gund, Michael Kessler, and many others.

Her personal life intersected with public affairs through her marriages. She was first married to William Dore, a financial investor. In 1975 she married John McLaughlin, a political commentator and former Jesuit priest; they had previously worked together on his 1970 Senate campaign in Rhode Island. The couple divorced in 1992. In 2000 she married Tom C. Korologos, a former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and former White House aide during the Nixon and Ford administrations.

Ann McLaughlin Korologos passed away from complications of meningitis on January 30, 2023, at the age of 81. Her death was noted by colleagues across government, business, and cultural institutions, reflecting a career that bridged public policy, corporate governance, and artistic patronage.