Two leaders in their respective fields will serve as commencement speakers at Cal State Fullerton Commencement 2015 ceremonies May 16 and 17.
Addressing graduates will be Julián Castro, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Richard Lui, an MSNBC anchor.
“We are delighted to have such outstanding leaders and role models for our students as this year’s keynote speakers,” said CSUF President Mildred García. “I know they will provide great advice and inspiration to our new graduates.”
Lui, an MSNBC dayside anchor, will be the Saturday, May 16, commencement ceremony keynoter.
During 12 years of anchoring at MSNBC, NBC News and CNN Worldwide, Lui has reported on most of the major stories of our time. His focus has been politics, covering every national election since 2004. His interviews include Detroit mayor to U.S. president. Lui became the first Asian American male to anchor a daily cable news show at CNN Worldwide in 2007 to 2010. His recognitions include Peabody and Emmy Awards. He currently serves as spokesperson for the UN and ambassador for Plan International USA, focusing on gender equality.
Lui earned an A.A. from City College of San Francisco, a B.A. from UC Berkeley, and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Castro, 16th secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is the keynote speaker for Sunday, May 17. He oversees 8,000 employees and a budget of $46 billion. Castro’s focus is ensuring that HUD is a transparent, efficient and effective champion for the people it serves. Utilizing an evidence-based management style, he has charged the department with one goal: giving every person, regardless of that individual’s station in life, new opportunities to thrive.
Before his appointment to HUD, Castro served as mayor of the city of San Antonio. During his tenure, he became known as a national leader in urban development.
In March 2010, he was named to the World Economic Forum’s list of Young Global Leaders. Later that year, Timemagazine selected him for its “40 under 40” list of rising stars in American politics.
Castro earned a B.A. from Stanford University in 1996, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2000.
Commencement ceremonies begin at 8 a.m. on May 16 and 17 on the fields north of Titan Gym.