She was a general-assignments reporter for the San Antonio Express before returning to UT, where she received a master of business administration degree with high honors.
In her last assignment at the company, she was a regional vice president for AT&T's Global Business Communications Systems, where she led a $400 million division to its highest profit levels.
[17][18] She developed and implemented two programs to increase access to college: a joint initiative with the U.S. Treasury Department to make nearly $70 billion in 2008-09 federal student loans available during the financial crisis, an effort described by The Wall Street Journal as "one bright spot in a season of crises and bailouts",[19] and the website, college.gov (now StudentAid.gov), which helps students and families to prepare for college.
In addition to the oversight of over $32 billion in disbursed appropriations and almost 5,600 discretionary awards, Tucker provided expert testimony before congressional committees and special hearings, led policy discussions within the administration and with trade associations, and led or represented the United States in international delegations.
[21] In 2005, Time named her one of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America;[22] Town & Country ranked her among the new, young, breed of philanthropists.