University of St. Francis to honor former U.S. treasurer at spring commencement
Former United States treasurer Rosario Marin, the highest-ranking Latina in the Bush Administration, will be honored by the University of St. Francis at its spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 6. The University of St. Francis will graduate some 545 undergraduate and graduate students from 27 states.
Marin, who spoke at USF last September, will receive an honorary degree of doctor of humane letters at the undergraduate commencement at 3 p.m. in the university’s Recreation Center. She will deliver the commencement address at both the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies. Admission to the graduation ceremonies is by ticket only.
In August 2001, Marin, the daughter of a janitor and seamstress, was sworn in as the 41st Treasurer of the United States as her parents and family watched. Marin is fond of saying her "signature validated the most powerful currency on earth."
Growing up in an economically disadvantaged family, Marin understood at a very young age that education is the key to achieving her goals. Marin learned English, graduated in the top of her high school class and worked her way through college.
Marin has extensive professional and life experience: in the private sector, as a mayor and city councilwoman, as an advocate for the disabled, as a state official in Gov. Pete Wilson's administration and as treasurer of the United States. She accomplished all of this while raising a family.
Spurred by the birth of her son born with Down Syndrome, Marin became a fierce advocate for people with disabilities, and she saw a particular need for a support and advocacy group to help Spanish speaking families with children with disabilities. In 1987, Marin founded FUERZA, which continues to assist many families today.
Marin has received numerous awards including the distinguished Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Prize in 1995; the following year Marin was named to the Special Olympics Board of Directors, where she continues to serve today.
She traveled the country as a champion of President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act and also helped launch the "Yes, I Can" website to help encourage Hispanic students to continue their education beyond high school.
The University of St. Francis, at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet, serves some 4,100 students nationwide. The university offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study in arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and allied health and social work. Degree completion and graduate programs are also offered.