•Chairman’s Award•

Education:
-Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) — Columbia University
-M.A. in Higher Education Administration — Columbia University
-M.A. in Business Education/Higher Education — New York University
-B.S. in Business Education — Baruch College, City University of New York
-A.A. in Science — New York City Community College

Dr. Mildred García is a trailblazer in American higher education and a leader whose vision and determination have reshaped opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), particularly those from communities too often left behind. As the leader of the California State University (CSU) system, she oversees the largest and most diverse four-year public university system in the nation composed of 22 campuses, seven off-campus centers, 461,612 students and 63,375 faculty and staff members and an $8.4 million budget.

Throughout her career, Dr. García has championed initiatives that expand access to and success in higher education. At CSU Fullerton, where she served as president from 2012 to 2018, she led the university to record improvements in graduation rates and nearly tripled philanthropic commitments. Under her leadership, the institution not only narrowed equity gaps but also strengthened pathways for students entering STEM fields, a critical area for California’s workforce and the nation’s competitiveness.

Earlier, at CSU Dominguez Hills, Dr. García became the first Latina president of any CSU system campus. She significantly increased retention rates for freshmen and transfer students while eliminating a long-standing budget deficit, and her focus on academic quality and student achievement extended to strengthening STEM programs.

Her national influence was amplified during her tenure as president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) from 2018 to 2023. She directed a forward-looking agenda for public higher education leadership in the 21st century, providing professional development for university presidents and advocating policies that enhanced access to STEM education for historically underserved populations.

Dr. García’s leadership has been recognized widely. The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) established the Mildred García Founders’ Award in her honor, acknowledging her decades-long commitment to empowering Hispanic students, faculty, and administrators across academia. Her service also extends nationally and internationally through board memberships, including with PBS, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Postsecondary Value Commission, and the International Association of University Presidents.

Born to Puerto Rican parents and raised in New York City, she was the first in her family to attend college. She earned her associate degree from New York City Community College, a bachelor’s in business education from Baruch College, and a master’s in business education from New York University. She went on to earn both a master’s and a doctorate in higher education administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.

From her earliest roles at Arizona State University and Montclair State University to senior positions at Columbia and the City University of New York, she forged a career centered on equity and student success. In 2023, her appointment as CSU chancellor not only marked a personal milestone but also a historic one: she became the first Latina in the nation to lead a four-year public higher education system.

Dr. García’s leadership has been marked by advancing STEM awareness and access, strengthening public higher education, and empowering thousands of students to realize dreams once thought out of reach. By blending academic excellence with a deep personal mission to uplift others, she has become both a symbol and architect of progress in American education.