FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     

July 13, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT

Francisco Aviles Pino

E: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

Statement on Dr. Mildred García Appointment as New Chancellor

LOS ANGELES – On July 12th, the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees selected Dr. Mildred García as the 11th Chancellor of the CSU system, the first Latina to lead the statewide CSU system, the nation’s largest public four-year university system.

Statement from Dr. Veronica Terriquez, Director of the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, and Sonja Diaz, Founding Executive Director of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute. Co-Directors of the Latina Futures, 2050 Lab

“We congratulate Dr. Mildred García on her appointment as Chancellor of the CSU system. Dr. García’s unwavering dedication to cultivating future leaders and advancing accessibility in higher education for underrepresented communities has not only yielded tangible results, such as improved graduation rates but directly confronted and tackled disparities. At Cal State Fullerton, her efforts in supporting student success contributed to a 65% increase in the four-year graduation rate. Additionally, under Dr. Garcia’s leadership, the campus emerged as a top performer in graduating Latino students among all CSU campuses. Her appointment to lead the full CSU system, not only marks a significant stride for Latina leadership in higher education but also serves as an inspiration for future leaders. 

The appointment of Dr. García should serve as a model for more representative leadership in our state’s educational institutions, including the University of California system. Since 2000, Latinos have been the largest contributor to U.S. population growth, and since 2014, the Latino share of California’s population made it the largest demographic group. Yet, Latinos continue to lag behind all other racial/ethnic groups in degree attainment; for example, only 22% of U.S.-born Latinos obtained a Bachelor’s degree in California compared to 45% of all other U.S.-born populations. 

Elevating Dr. García to lead the nation’s largest system of higher education, home to 21 Hispanic Serving Institutions, showcases the resilience of our community’s leadership and provides an 

unprecedented opportunity to confront issues of access, affordability, and quality with a Latina lens. We look forward to collaborating with Dr. García and our colleagues in the CSU system as we work to achieve a society where all students can thrive.”

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About UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute addresses the most critical domestic policy challenges facing Latinos and other communities of color through research, advocacy, mobilization, and leadership development to expand genuine opportunity for all Americans.