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Photo of commencement caps
Portrait photo of Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón

Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón

An American by choice, Dr. 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, the largest institution of higher education in America with more than 165,000 students. An economist by training, Dr. Padrón earned his Ph.D. degree from the University of Florida.

President Dr. Padrón is widely recognized as one of the top educational leaders in the world and he is often invited to participate in educational policy forums in the United States and abroad. During his career he has been selected to serve on posts of national prominence by five American presidents. In 1993, President Bill Clinton recognized him as one of America's foremost educators. In 2008, President George W. Bush nominated him to the National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board. More recently, President Barack Obama invited Dr. Padrón to represent the United States at the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education. Dr. Padrón has also worked closely with the Obama administration, notably Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, to recognize and elevate the importance of our nation's community colleges.

In 2016, Dr. Padrón received the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his decades of work in making higher education both accessible and inclusive.


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  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Team
    • Our Impact
    • News
    • Contact Us
  • Giving
    • How to Give
    • Where to Give
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  • Alumni
    • Alumni Benefits
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      • Inductees
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  • 305.237.3240
  • 300 NE 2nd Ave, Ste 1423-1
  • Miami, FL 33132
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Our Mission: Miami Dade College Foundation raises essential private funds to enable Miami Dade College to change lives, families, communities and the world through the opportunity of education.

Miami Dade College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution which does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, marital status, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, ethnicity, pregnancy, sexual orientation or genetic information. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the College’s Equity Officer: Dr. Joy C. Ruff, Director, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs/ADA Coordinator/Title IX Coordinator, at (305) 237-2577 (Voice) or 711 (Relay Service). 11011 SW 104 St., Room 1102-2; Miami, FL 33176. jruff@mdc.edu