Janet Napolitano, who served as president of the University of California System from 2013 to 2020 and currently is a professor of public policy and director of the Center for Security in Politics at the University of California, Berkeley. was selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the American Council on Education.
“It is an honor to bestow ACE’s Lifetime Achievement Award on a leader who has accomplished so much for all of the UC campuses, UC students, and the entire higher education community,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education. “Under her watch, UC expanded access and affordability for underserved populations, fought to protect Dreamers, led on global climate action, and much more.”
“I’m humbled and honored to receive this recognition from ACE, a champion of higher education access and equity,” said Professor Napolitano. “I’ll always be inspired by the hardworking and creative students, faculty, and staff at UC — and at colleges and universities across the nation — who are making the world a better place through their research, advocacy, and public service.”
Napolitano was appointed secretary of Homeland Security at the beginning of the Obama administration. At the time she was serving in her second term as governor of Arizona. Previously, she had served as attorney general of Arizona and as the U.S. Attorney for Arizona. As governor, she was the first woman to chair the National Governors Association.
Professor Napolitano is a graduate of Santa Clara University in California. She earned her law degree at the University of Virginia.