LYNN – Lynn native Leocadia Zak may travel the world for business as the newly appointed Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, but she hasn’t forgotten her roots.In November of last year, Zak was nominated by President Barack Obama for her new position and was officially sworn in April 9.A graduate of Lynn English High School, Mt. Holyoke College and Northeastern University School of Law, Zak grew up on North Bend Street and is the daughter of city veterinarian Frank Zak.”I’m always willing to support people from Lynn and I tell everyone that I’m proud to be from Lynn,” she said in a phone interview from the Philippines.Zak’s new position enables her to promote economic growth in emerging markets, while simultaneously helping American businesses to export their products and services and support U.S. job growth.Shortly after her confirmation by the Senate in March, she was appointed to the President’s Export Promotion Cabinet.Despite her constant travel schedule to locales such as China, Indonesia, the West Bank and the Philippines, Zak said she still managed to make it home to Lynn to celebrate Easter with her family.”I still fly in to Lynn just for the day to see my family,” she quipped. “My dad always shakes his head when I do that.”Zak’s brother, Frank, is a retired public school principal and her sister, Mary Archambault, is a middle school teacher in Lynn.”I really do believe in a public school education and I give my siblings a lot of credit,” she said. “My education (in Lynn) gave me the ability to understand people from different cultures and diverse backgrounds, and it also prepared me for the international world. I credit my success from a good education and hard work.”Zak, who said she was always interested in a career in the international arena, was particularly honored to have been chosen by President Obama for the position since he and his wife, Michelle, worked their way up the ranks from a law firm background and public service.”It’s very unusual for someone to come up the ranks and be asked by the President to head an agency,” she said. “My parents have indicated that they are very proud.”Prior to joining the USTDA in 2000 as General Counsel and then Deputy Director, Zak was a partner in the Washington, D.C. and Boston offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., practicing in the areas of corporate, municipal and international finance.Zak was also an Adjunct Professor of Law and has taught “International Project Finance” at the Boston University School of Law, Morin Center for Banking and Financial Law Studies, and at the Georgetown University Law Center.