WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney Nandita Berry has been appointed as the Secretary of State for Texas by Governor Rick Perry, making her the first Indian-American to occupy this top position in the Southern State. In this position, effective Jan. 7 onwards, Berry will serve as the state’s Chief Election Officer, the Governor’s liaison on border and Mexican affairs, and Texas’ Chief Protocol Officer for state and international matters. “Nandita Berry personifies what is possible through hard work and dedication in the State of Texas,” Perry said in a statement. “Arriving from India at the age of 21 with nothing but $200 to her name, she worked diligently to earn her law degree and has since become one of the most accomplished attorneys in the state,” he said.