University President Named Among 100 Most Influential Hispanics

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 09, 2007 – Hispanic Business magazine has named California State University, Dominguez Hills’ president, Dr. Mildred García, to its 100 Most Influential Hispanics list for 2007. The feature appears in the magazine’s October issue.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized among such an inspiring group of individuals,” García said. “I am extremely proud to be the first Latina president in the California State University system and to lead CSU Dominguez Hills, a university known for its commitment to academic excellence with a diverse, global student body.”

Established in 1979, Hispanic Business magazine has been publishing its 100 Most Influential Hispanics list since 1983. García joins a notable list of politicians, entertainers, CEOs, doctors, lawyers, judges, scientists and fellow educators. Among those recognized in the past have been Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; New Mexico governor and presidential hopeful, Bill Richardson; Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment; and Arturo Moreno, Angels baseball team owner, to name a few.

Included among this year’s list are New York Mets general manager, Omar Minaya, who became the first Hispanic general manager in baseball history in 2001 as GM for the Montreal Expos; America Ferrara, star of the hit television show “Ugly Betty;” New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez; and Patti Solis Doyle, campaign manager for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2008 presidential bid. Of the 100 on the list, 34 were women — the most in the list’s history.

In compiling the list for 2007 — based on nominations from readers and visitors to the paper’s web site, http://www.hispanicbusiness.com, and from editorial and research staff members — the editors of Hispanic Business said, “We look for people we think are having a great year now or who can expect a great year in 2008; people who are contributing to their communities or professions; people who are generally raising the bar in whatever they do.”

García was specifically named one of the most influential Hispanics in education. The magazine alludes to García’s commitment to ensuring the success of Dominguez Hills as one reason for her inclusion. They quote her as saying, “We will bring Dominguez Hills to the highest level of excellence for the benefit of our students, faculty, staff, and the state of California.”

This past August, García became the seventh president of California State University, Dominguez Hills, and in doing so became the first Latina president in the California State University system. She previously had been president of Berkeley College in New York and New Jersey.

The 100 Most Influential Hispanics issue is available online at http://www.hispanicbusiness.com.