Miami Dade College Announces 2024 Commencement Speakers

Miami, April 9, 2024 - Miami Dade College (MDC) will host three distinguished speakers at this year's Commencement Ceremonies set for Saturday, April 20, at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins. Working media is welcome.

Below is the schedule of ceremonies and speakers:

8:30 a.m., North, Hialeah & West campuses
Speaker: Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, President and CEO, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Wadsworth is the first woman and the seventh president to lead the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, where she also serves as a trustee. She began her career as an editorial assistant with the Associated Press in 1994, and evolved from reporter and editor roles to a key position in Gannett's corporate team, where she led the company's digital transformation. As president of the USA Today Network and later publisher of USA Today, she led a team of more than 4,000 journalists in more than 200 communities. During her tenure, Gannett newsrooms were recognized with five Pulitzer Prizes.

In 2019, Wadsworth received the News Leaders Association's Robert G. McGruder Award for Diversity Leadership. She serves on the governing board of the Pew Research Center and the board of the Associated Press, addressing challenges and shaping the media landscape.

1:30 p.m., Wolfson, Medical & Homestead campuses
Speaker: C.D. Glin, President, PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact, PepsiCo

Glin leads the social and community-driven impact efforts for the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo and a portfolio of global employee engagement programs designed to harness the expertise and passion of the company's 290,000+ employees to create positive, enduring change in communities around the world. He previously served as president and CEO of the U.S. African Development Foundation, the Foreign Assistance Agency Review Team for the 2008 Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, and in 2011 was honored as a Champion of Change in Civic Engagement and International Service by the White House.

Glin is a member of The Carter Center board of trustees and is on the board of directors of the Business Council of International Understanding and the National Urban League. He is a member of USAID's Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid and Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

6:30 p.m., Kendall & Padrón campuses
Speaker: Raymond Rodrigues, Chancellor, State University System of Florida

As chancellor of the State University System of Florida, which has been ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, Rodrigues is the primary liaison between the Board of Governors, the state Legislature, the executive branch, departments and agencies throughout Florida. Additionally, he leads the Board of Governors and provides oversight, guidance and administration by implementing policies and regulations adopted by the Board, which impacts 12 institutions and more than 430,000 students annually.

Rodrigues began his career at General Electric, managing their U.S. Import Compliance team. He later worked at Gulf Coast University for 17 years, where he was director of Interagency Partnerships, director of Community Relations and business manager for the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition, heserved as Florida state senator for District 27 and four terms in the Florida House of Representatives.

Location:
loanDepot park
501 Marlins Way
Miami, FL 33125

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