Gordon Lauded by HEEF

For his two decades of work supporting Latino students, President Milton A. Gordon was recognized Oct. 20 at the 18th annual awards banquet of the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF).

Caption: Juan Francisco Lara, left, congratulates Milton A. Gordon.

The organization's executive committee chair, Juan Francisco Lara, singled out Gordon for the myriad programs that support and promote underrepresented students at CSUF, presenting him with a crystal vase inscribed: “In Appreciation for Leadership for Latino Students.”

Gordon thanked HEEF; his wife, Margaret Faulwell Gordon, dean of the College of Extended and International Education, for her support; and Silas H. Abrego, acting vice president for student affairs, for his role overseeing the many university programs that support students, promote diversity and boost graduation rates.

“During my lifetime and career in higher education, I have been very blessed and have received many honors and awards, but I must confess that this recognition from HEEF is very special to me because diversity in higher education and access for all students, especially Hispanic students, have been priorities for me throughout my career,” said Gordon, who has served as CSUF's president since 1990 and has announced his plans to retire this year.

“I am especially proud that California State University, Fullerton, is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, that our university is a full participant in the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund and that many of HEEF Scholarship recipients choose Cal State Fullerton as their university for earning their higher education degrees,” he said. “I am also very proud to see that one of our outstanding graduates, alumna Yamila Castro, is receiving an Apple of Gold Award for Excellence in High School Teaching tonight.”

Gordon pointed out that: CSUF is ninth in the nation for baccalaureate degrees to underrepresented students, as reported by Diverse Issues in Higher Education in June; and first in California and fifth in the nation in awarding baccalaureate degrees to Latino students, according to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education in May.

More than 36,000 students — 32 percent Latino — are enrolled at Cal State Fullerton. The freshman class is nearly 40 percent Latino.

“Long before the current demographic changes, Cal State Fullerton reached out to Hispanic students and their parents in our service region and to other underrepresented groups, and we put in place outreach programs for these students and then once these students were enrolled at Cal State Fullerton, we had support programs in the university that enabled Hispanic students and other underrepresented group members to successfully complete their degree objectives,” Gordon said. “In addition, we also put in place K-12 outreach and support programs to begin to prepare Hispanic elementary and secondary students for college, as well as effective outreach programs to the community colleges in our service region to encourage successful transfer to our university.”

Gordon noted his pleasure with Gov. Jerry Brown, who recently signed the California Dream Act — legislation making certain undocumented immigrants eligible to receive state financial aid to attend California universities and community colleges — into law “because it will remove some of the barriers to higher education for thousands of children who have grown up in this country, attended our schools and have the desire and ability to make vital contributions to our country and society at large.”

Gordon “is an extraordinary leader,” Abrego said. “He is committed to assuring that all students have the opportunity to pursue their educational goals, especially first-generation college students. He serves as an inspiration, role model and mentor to all students. He leaves behind a great legacy.”

Oct. 25, 2011