Michael Ortiz (Ph.D. ’81), president of California State Polytechnic University, has been awarded the 2014 Latina/o Alumnus Award from the Carolina Latina/o Collaborative.
The award was presented to Ortiz at the Fifth Annual Latina/o Alumni Reunion dinner on April 4.
Ortiz received his Ph.D. in early childhood special education from UNC’s School of Education. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Mexico.
He has been president of Cal Poly Pomona since 2003. Under his leadership, the university has expanded student success programs, built supports for timely graduation and increased access for under-represented students. He also launched the university’s $150 million Campaign for Cal Poly Pomona, which attracted a record $42 million challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Among other honors, Ortiz recently received the President’s Award from Region IV of NASPA, the leading association for student affairs administrators in higher education. He has been named among Latino Leaders magazine’s “Top 25 Latinos in Education.”