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85th Berkeley Graduation Anniversary Features First System-Wide President

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. – More than 2,200 Berkeley College students are set to graduate on April 29 at the Newark’s Prudential Center.

Berkeley College is preparing for it's 85th commencement on April 29.

Berkeley College is preparing for it's 85th commencement on April 29.

Photo Credit: File

As the graduates don their caps and gowns and await the announcements of their names, they’ll listen to the college’s 2016 commencement address, which will be given by Mildred García, PhD, an educator and administrator who once served as the first system-wide president of Berkeley College and now serves as president of California State University (CSU) Fullerton.

“We are honored to have Dr. García join us at this year’s commencement ceremony,” said Michael J. Smith, president of Berkeley College. “She shares our pride as these graduates join more than 50,000 Berkeley College alumni who every day make a difference in the world.”

García has a distinguished career in the world of higher education.

Early in her career, she served as a faculty member at several institutions, including Arizona State University and the Teachers College at Columbia University.

In addition to her roles with Berkeley and CSU Fullerton, she has also served as president of CSU Dominguez Hills – becoming the first Latina chief executive in the nation’s largest public higher education system, according to Berkeley.

Since arriving at CSU Fullerton in 2012, García has earned numerous awards, including the Latina Woman of the Year Award from the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award from the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Business Woman of the Year from the National Hispanic Business Women Association, according to Berkeley.

She also has been appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in addition to several other national committees and boards.

As part of the commencement ceremony, the college’s 85th, Berkeley will present García with an honorary Doctor of Pedagogy degree.

Learn more about Berkeley College.

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