Eduardo J. Padrón

Eduardo J. Padrón arrived in the United States as a refugee at the age of 15.

Since 1995, he has served as President of Miami Dade College (MDC), the largest higher education institution in the nation, with more than 174,000 students. He holds a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Florida.

In 2009, TIME magazine selected him as one of "The Ten Best University Presidents," and, a year later, Florida Trend magazine distinguished him as "Floridian of the Year." In 2011, The Washington Post named him one of the eight most influential university presidents in the United States.

Currently, Padrón's notable leadership has featured in some of the nation's most prominent organizations: he is president-elect of the board of directors of the American Council on Education (ACE); and former president of the board of directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).

President Padrón's leadership extends equally to the international sphere, where he frequently receives invitations to participate in educational policy forums. In 1993, President Clinton distinguished him as one of the nation's leading educators. Likewise, President George W. Bush appointed him as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy.

Recently, he represented the United States at UNESCO's World Conference on Higher Education, by invitation of President Barack Obama's administration, who also appointed him to the position of President of the Board of Directors of the White House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. In summary, throughout his extensive career he has been selected by six Presidents of the United States to hold positions of national prominence.

Dr. Padrón's tireless work at Miami Dade College has been praised as a model of innovation in higher education. The prestigious educator is credited with creating a culture of success that has produced impressive results in key areas such as access and school retention, graduation, and overall student performance. MDC enrolls and graduates more students belonging to minorities than any institution of its kind in the United States, including the highest numbers of Hispanics and African Americans.

Furthermore, the President of MDC has earned national respect for his tireless support of segments of the population that are least favored in terms of education. His thorough and comprehensive report A Deficit of Understanding highlights the funding crisis that threatens access to education for low-income students and ethnic minorities.

The rector of Miami Dade College will receive the Juan Ponce de León 500 award for his 'special contribution to the defense of the Hispanic legacy in Florida and the United States.' The Princes of Asturias present the award.