In recognition of his leadership and service to the Latino community, President Michael Ortiz has received the 2014 Outstanding Latina/o Alumni award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The award is sponsored by the Carolina Latina/o Collaborative. An organization that is part the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, the collaborative is a joint effort of university officials, faculty, staff, students and community members based at UNC. It is committed to developing a greater awareness of Latina/o issues, cultures and identities.
“As an esteemed alumnus of UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Ortiz’s record of achievement stood out in the many nominations we had for the alumni award. His committed approach to education, professional development and teaching have propelled him to positions of leadership in academia. Our award is one of many honors that has been bestowed upon this most deserving Carolina graduate,” says Taffye Benson Clayton, associate vice chancellor for diversity and multicultural affairs and chief diversity officer at UNC.
President Ortiz has led Cal Poly Pomona since August 2003. He earned his doctoral degree in early childhood special education at UNC and has been recognized numerous times for his leadership and service in the community and in higher education.
Latino Leaders magazine named him one of the top 25 Latinos in education. In 2011, Ortiz received the Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr. Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award presented by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. Last fall, he was honored for advancing the quality of student life at Cal Poly Pomona, receiving the President’s Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Region VI.
Ortiz is a member of the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the Board of Trustees for the BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network, and the Board of Directors for the California Collegiate Athletic Association. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the L.A. County Fair Association and is a board member of the California Campus Compact, Bright Prospect, and the Boys and Girls Club.