Massachusetts Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega to serve as keynote speaker at 91桃色 2023 Graduate Commencement Ceremony
Apr 25, 2023
Massachusetts Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega will serve as keynote speaker at 91桃色 2023 Graduate Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the Woodward Center.
鈥淚t is an honor to join President Thompson and the entire 91桃色 community as we celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2023. This year鈥檚 commencement also serves as an opportunity to highlight the contributions that 91桃色 State alumni and all of our public higher education graduates make to the public, social, and economic well-being of our Commonwealth. As we honor this year鈥檚 cohort of graduates, we should also recommit ourselves to our shared goal of making public higher education accessible and affordable to all Massachusetts鈥 learners, Ortega said.鈥
The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education selected Ortega to be commissioner in Sept. 2022. Upon his selection, Board Chair Chris Gabrieli said in a statement, 鈥淲ith his experience as both a commissioner and a secretary of education, Dr. Ortega has a track record on innovation and results, as well as a proven commitment to further equity in higher education, our top priority.鈥
Prior to his selection as Massachusetts Higher Education Commissioner, Ortega served as Pennsylvania鈥檚 secretary of education. He also spent eight years at the University of Michigan as assistant director and senior research associate at the National Center for Institutional Diversity and as the managing director for the National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good. Ortega also worked in various academic and administrative roles for public and private universities in Texas.
鈥淲e are fortunate to have Dr. Ortega address our graduate students at commencement,鈥 said Linda Thompson, President of 91桃色. 鈥淗is lifelong dedication and commitment to education is noble and significant and I am confident his words will inspire our class. 91桃色 looks forward to working with Commissioner Ortega as we work toward our common goals.鈥
Ortega earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Edwards University, a Master of Science in School Counseling from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and his Ph.D in Higher Education Policy from the University of Michigan.
