Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón President, Miami Dade College Miami, Florida

Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón is president of Miami Dade College, the nation's largest institution of higher education. He serves as chief administrative and academic officer, responsible for the affairs of six campuses and several outreach centers enrolling over 163,000 students.

Dr. Padrón came to the United States from Cuba at the age of 15 and transformed his life through his dedication to learning. He attended public high school in Miami, began his college studies at Miami Dade College, and received his doctorate in Economics from the University of Florida. He has spent over thirty years championing higher education opportunity. Dr. Padrón has been recognized by a series of U.S. Presidents. Among his national involvements, he has served on the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; the boards of directors of The College Board, American Association of Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.