FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PELHAM, NEW YORK, RESIDENT HECTOR GONZALEZ, A MANHATTAN COLLEGE ALUMNUS, INDUCTED INTO ALUMNI HALL OF DISTINCTION

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Pelham, New York, resident and Manhattan College alumnus Hector Gonzalez ’85, partner with Mayer, Brown, Rowe and Maw law firm and chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, was recently inducted into the Independent Sector Alumni Hall of Distinction.  All 14 honorees have made outstanding contributions to the state of New York through their careers and public service.  The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) announced the inductees during its 48th Annual Meeting at the Albany Institute of History and Art in early March.  Manhattan College is a CICU member institution.

During the annual meeting, a handful of New Yorkers discussed their experience attending a New York-based institution.

Mr. Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manhattan College in 1985.  He then went on to carve an exemplary legal career in both the private and public sectors.  He earned the Department of Justice’s Director’s Award for Superior Performance as Assistant U.S. Attorney, became a Fulbright Scholar in Guatemala and was appointed chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  Mr. Gonzalez also is partner with one of the oldest and largest law firms that is especially known for its pro bono activities.

CICU represents the chief executives of New York’s 100 plus independent (private, not-for-profit) colleges and universities on issues of public policy.  The institution has been busy promoting the state Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) as they face budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year.  This year, TAP is celebrating its 30th anniversary and HEOP its 35th anniversary. More than 306,000 New Yorkers rely on TAP to meet their college expenses.  Most TAP funds go to families earning less than $20,000 annually.  At independent colleges, one in three New Yorkers enrolled full time comes from a household earning less than $40,000 annually.  CICU continues to stress the importance of providing educational access for students from all income and demographic groups.

Manhattan College was founded in 1853 upon the Lasallian tradition of excellence in teaching, inspired by St. John Baptist de La Salle.  Manhattan College, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2003, is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning that offers more than 40 major programs of study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science.  For more information about the College, visit www.manhattan.edu.

   Manhattan College Parkway
   Riverdale, New York 10471
   718-862-8000 / 1-800-MC2-XCEL

   © Copyright 1995-1999, 2000-2004 Manhattan College, All rights reserved.