California State University, Stanislaus announced on Thursday that CIA Director Leon Panetta will join Dr. Marc Lamont Hill in addressing the University’s 50th anniversary graduating class at the June 4 commencement ceremony.
Panetta served as President Bill Clinton’s White House chief of staff from 1994 to 1997, worked as a lawyer, was a professor of Public Policy at Santa Clara University and served 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is also the founder and director of the Panetta Institute, which provides students with study opportunities in government, politics and public policy.
He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Santa Clara University and earned his Juris Doctor from the Santa Clara University School of Law. He also received honorary doctorates from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Northeastern University.
CSU Stanislaus awards Jose Bernardo an honorary degree
As a servant to the spirit of the civil rights movement, California State University, Stanislaus will award an honorary degree at this year’s commencement to Jose Bernardo.
Bernardo has played a major role in organizing and building of the Filipino Center Plaza in Stockton when it was established in 1972 to promote educational and cultural awareness. It provides both life-saving and life-enhancing services to underserved, disadvantaged and senior citizens in the Stockton area.
He serves on the Stockton Unified School District for the last 12 years. He also served on the Civil Service Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission of San Joaquin County. He served in the U.S. Navy in China and during the Korean War. He received his Associate’s Degree in Engineering from Stockton College and attended University of California, Berkeley and the Industrial Training Institute.
Bernardo currently owns JB Construction & Engineering and has for the past 30 years.
