U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter will deliver the commencement address for the School of Graduate Studies at Salem State University Thursday in Salem, Mass.
As under secretary, Kanter administers policies, programs and activities related to postsecondary education, adult and career-technical education and federal student aid. She also oversees six White House Initiatives, including: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Educational Excellence for Hispanics, Educational Excellence for African Americans, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Before joining the Education Department, Kanter served from 2003 to 2009 as chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District in California, one of the largest community college districts in the nation, serving more than 45,000 students with a total budget of approximately $400 million. She is the first community college leader to serve as U.S. education under secretary.