Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer and Commissioner Carlos Santiago to Provide Framingham State University Commencement Addresses
Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer and Commissioner Carlos Santiago to Provide Framingham State University Commencement Addresses
Framingham State University is pleased to announce that Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer and Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos Santiago will give the commencement addresses during this year’s undergraduate and graduate ceremonies on May 20th.
Dr. Spicer made history last year when she was elected the first mayor of the City of Framingham. She is also the first African American woman to be popularly elected as mayor in Massachusetts history. A longtime educator, Dr. Spicer was most recently the Vice President for Advocacy and Educational Partnerships at Boston’s Museum of Science.
“FSU’s connection to Framingham dates back to 1853 so it’s truly an honor for us to host the very first mayor of the City of Framingham,” President F. Javier Cevallos says. “Dr. Spicer’s historic election captivated our community and her commitment to public service and education is inspiring. I know our graduates will be excited to hear from her.”
Dr. Spicer will be presented with the honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service from the University during the ceremony, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 20th at the DCU Center in Worcester.
Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos Santiago will give the commencement address during the graduate ceremony at 2 p.m. that day. Dr. Santiago was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker in July 2015. Working with the Board of Higher Education, he is responsible for providing overall direction to public higher education in Massachusetts and helping shape state-level policies that maximize the benefits of higher education to the Commonwealth and its citizens. On two separate occasions during his distinguished career, Dr. Santiago has been named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States by Hispanic Business magazine.
“Commissioner Santiago’s advocacy on behalf of students, particularly those from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds, has been crucial in extending the promise of a college education to more people in Massachusetts,” says President Cevallos. “We are honored to have him address our graduate students.”
Commissioner Santiago will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from FSU during the graduate ceremony.
About Framingham State University
Framingham State University was founded in 1839 as the nation’s first public university for the education of teachers. Since that time, it has evolved into a vibrant, comprehensive liberal arts institution offering small, personalized classes on a beautiful New England campus. Today, the University enrolls more than 6,000 students with 58 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences and professional fields. As a State College and University (SCU), Framingham State prides itself on quality academic programs, affordability, and commitment to access for all qualified students.