The 23rd Annual Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration at California State University, Fresno on Saturday, May 22, will honor Dr. Antonio Flores, president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).
Honorary doctorate recipient Hugo Morales, founder and executive director of Radio Bilingiie, Inc., will also be recognized at the celebration which will be held in Bulldog Stadium beginning with entertainment at 6:30 p.m. and the ceremony at 7:15 p.m.
Flores is the recipient of numerous awards for his contributions to education and for his service to the Hispanic community. He is also the author of various published works on issues relating to education, financial aid and Hispanic dropouts.
Flores holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Michigan, and a master of arts degree in counseling and personnel from Western Michigan University. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the Universidad of Guadalajara, and a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from the Centro Normal Regional, both in Mexico.
Based in San Antonio, Texas, HACU is a national association of more than 200 colleges and universities that collectively enroll two-thirds of all Hispanics in higher education. HACU represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) where Hispanics constitute a minimum of 25 percent of the total.
Morales will receive an honorary doctorate of letters degree from The California State University and California State University, Fresno earlier in the day at the university’s general commencement.
He is a Harvard-educated Fresnan who emigrated from Mexico to the United States. A former lecturer in the then-La Raza Studies Program (now Department of Chicano and Latin American studies) at Fresno State, Morales has worked to foster multicultural understanding through his endeavors.
The Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration is the largest in the nation in terms of attendance, said Dr. Luz Gonzalez, chair of the Department of Chicano and Latin Americans Studies. Last year approximately 14,000 family members and guests attended the ceremony, she said.
For more information, contact Fabiola Alvarez at (559) 278-2848.
Antonio R. Flores, Ph.D.
Biography
Dr. Antonio R. Flores is president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), a national association of higher education institutions and based in San Antonio, Texas.
Established in 1986, the association represents over 200 colleges and universities that collectively enroll two-thirds of all Hispanics in higher education. HACU represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) where Hispanics constitute a minimum of 25 percent of the total enrollment at either the graduate or undergraduate level and Associate Members where Hispanics constitute a minimum of 10 percent of the total enrollment. HACU member institutions are located in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. In 1996, HACU initiated an international membership program and currently represents universities in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua and Peru.
As president of HACU, Dr. Flores is responsible for the affairs of the association and its services to its member institutions, as well as to its corporate and government partners. Prior to his position at HACU, Dr. Flores served as the director of support services and programs for the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority and the Michigan Higher Education Student Loan Authority.
Dr. Flores holds extensive professional experience in higher education, in the areas of administration, teaching, public service and research. He holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Michigan, a master of arts degree in counseling and personnel from Western Michigan University, a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from the Universidad of Guadalajara and Centro Normal Regional, Mexico, respectively.
He is the recipient of numerous awards for his contributions to education and for his service to the Hispanic community. Dr. Flores is the author of various published works on issues relating to education, financial aid and Hispanic dropouts. He also has presented numerous papers on these issues at professional conferences and seminars throughout his career.
Dr. Flores is a member of the American Association for Higher Education, the American Educational Research Association, the Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility, the Washington Higher Education Secretariat, and other national and international organizations.
