September 28, 2005 :: No. 32

Cal State Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon is scheduled today (Sept. 28) to address the Senate Hispanic Leadership Summit, chaired by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), at the Renaissance Washington D.C. Hotel.

Gordon is serving as a panelist during the 9:20-10:30 a.m. session on “Education: Closing the Achievement Gap.”

Antonio R. Flores, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, tapped Gordon for the two-day summit — a gathering of Hispanic and government leaders for discussions on economic development, education, job creation, immigration reform and health care.

Gordon’s participation comes on the heels of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce recognizing Cal State Fullerton with its Chair’s Award for the university’s superior record of awarding degrees to Hispanic students.

Cal State Fullerton leads California and is fifth in the nation in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics, according to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, which reported in May on statistics collected by the U.S. Department of Education.

Hispanics constitute one-fourth of Cal State Fullerton’s student population, which numbers more than 35,000 and draws from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. CSUF is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution.

In September, Gordon accepted the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Chair’s Award from Melinda Guzman Moore, the organization’s outgoing chair. She is also a CSU Trustee and partner in the law firm of Goldsberry Freeman Guzman & Ditora, LLP.

“Education plays such a significant role in the state’s economic and social development,” said Moore. “The award to CSUF is for all of its successes in graduating Latino students with undergraduate degrees.

“I’ve been very impressed with the campus. It is full of diversity in all areas; it has what I would refer to as principles of community that start with the leadership and permeate the campus,” she added. “It was no surprise to me that through Dr. Gordon’s leadership, CSUF is No 1. in the state of California. . . . This is a significant milestone both for the community and the state.”

Gordon said he was gratified by the CHCC award for its significance in supporting the mission of the chamber and by the positive reaction of those gathered for its presentation at the group’s 26th annual statewide convention.
“It’s about preparing those who are going to be able to take their place,” said Gordon, noting that the newly elected chair of the CHCC Board of Directors is a Cal State Fullerton graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

At the convention, the mantle was passed from Guzman Moore to Henry Mendoza, managing partner of the accounting firm of Mendoza Berger & Co. LLP of Irvine.

“Clearly, we are making a mark on the economic development of the state of California with the success of our alumni,” said Don Castro, special assistant to Gordon and director of a U.S. Department of Education-funded effort at CSUF to enhance programs for Hispanic students.

Silas Abrego, associate vice president for student affairs at CSUF, observed that the standing ovation for the university among Hispanic business leaders was indicative of an organization whose members “so much value education.”

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