U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter will deliver the commencement address at the graduation ceremonies for Hillsborough Community College Friday at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.
As under secretary, Kanter oversees policies, programs, and activities related to postsecondary education, adult and career-technical education, federal student aid and six White House Initiatives on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Educational Excellence for Hispanics, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Educational Excellence for African Americans, 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 in the under secretary position.