Cecilia Phalen Abbott

Cecilia Phalen was born on November 13, 1959. Abbott was raised in San Antonio, Texas by her parents, both of whom were educators, and she had three siblings. Abbott graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her future husband, Greg Abbott.^[1] She later attended the University of St. Thomas, where she received a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master's degree in education, and a master's degree in theology.^[2]

Abbott has been a principal at various Catholic schools in Texas; most recently, she served as principal of Cathedral School of Saint Mary in Austin between 1996 and 2001. She later worked in the health care industry as a managing director of Community Relations for a senior adult health care company.^[2] Throughout her career, she has served on various boards and organizations. Abbott took the position of First Lady of Texas on January 20, 2015, succeeding Anita Thigpen Perry.^[3] Abbott is the first Hispanic First Lady of Texas as the granddaughter of Leonara and Augustin Segura, who settled in San Antonio from Mexico before 1935.^[4] Abbott is a Republican.^[5]

In 1981, she married Abbott, with whom she shares a birthday. They have one adopted daughter, Audrey. The Abbott family lives in the Texas Governors Mansion in Austin, Texas. They have three dogs: Pancake, known as the First Dog of Texas, Peaches, known as the First Puppy of Texas, and Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit.