Human rights activist Sonia Picado Sotela will receive honorary degree

University to conduct December commencement

uman rights activist, lawyer, and political leader Sonia Picado Sotela, who in 1980 became the first female dean of a public law school in Latin America, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the University’s new series of December commencement exercises.

Sonia Picado is renowned for promoting and protecting international civic, economic, and political liberties not only in her native Costa Rica, but around the world. She will receive the honor as well as address graduates at the 8:30 a.m. ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Communication and Education. This is one of three exercises that will be held for undergraduate and graduate students on December 19 on the University Green.

Justice Picado leads a stellar lineup of commencement day speakers that also includes Florida Governor Jeb Bush and U.S. Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.

Governor Bush, who also spoke at President Donna E. Shalala’s inauguration in November 2001, will give advice to graduates at a 1:30 p.m. ceremony for the College of Engineering, the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and the Schools of Architecture, Continuing Studies, Music, Nursing, and Medicine. Senator Edwards, a champion for issues affecting the lives of the nation’s citizens, will address graduates at the 5:30 p.m. ceremony for the School of Business Administration.

A massive tent, similar to the one used for the May 2002 spring graduation exercises, will rise once again on the University Green for what will probably be the last time for commencement. Future commencement ceremonies are planned to be held in the new 7,000-seat Convocation Center opening early next year.

Following the format set at last May’s ceremonies, each graduate will be called by name and walk across the stage to be congratulated by Shalala and their respective dean. “Having each student recognized individually personalizes the experience for students and provides a positive closure for the graduates’ academic careers at the University,” says Patricia A. Whitely, vice president for Student Affairs and chair of the commencement committee, which includes members from Student Affairs, University Relations, the Office of Enrollment Services, University Advancement, and other departments.

The December 19 exercises on the Coral Gables campus are highlighted by figures who have achieved national and international success in the political and social reform arenas.

Throughout her distinguished career as a political leader, ambassador, law school dean and professor, and jurist, honorary degree recipient Picado has worked tirelessly to champion human rights around the world. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Costa Rica Law School in 1968, one of only two women in her class. She became dean of the school in 1980, making her the first female to lead a public law school in Latin America.

As executive director of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights from 1984 to 1994, she worked to establish fair elections in Latin America while fostering the idea that true democracy cannot be achieved while poverty and other social ills remain. Also during this time, she was elected to the Inter-American Court, becoming one of seven jurists “of the highest moral authority and of recognized competence in the field of human rights.” She resigned after serving as vice president of the court to become the Costa Rican ambassador to the United States.

From 1999 until this year, Picado was president of the social-democrat National Liberation Party in Costa Rica and a member of the country’s Legislative Assembly.

She is currently president of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. Along with Shalala, Picado is one of ten distinguished members of the international Commission on Human Security, formed last year by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Bush, the first Republican governor in Florida history to win a second term, has demonstrated a commitment to improving education, diversifying Florida’s economy, reducing crime, preserving the natural environment, and reforming social services to better address problems faced by children, elders, and those with disabilities.

Edwards was a chief sponsor of the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, strong and far-reaching patient protection legislation that passed the Senate in 2001. Edwards’ bipartisan accomplishments also include a major investment in America’s public schools, strong antiterrorism measures, modernization of the nation’s banking system, campaign finance reform, and legislation to fight corporate corruption.

Two other commencement ceremonies are scheduled to take place off the Coral Gables campus. A ceremony for the School of Medicine’s graduate program in physical therapy takes place on December 14 at 10 a.m., at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Miami. Edelle C. Field-Fote, research assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Division of Physical Therapy, will address graduates at this ceremony.

And an exercise for School of Law graduates occurs on December 22 at 2 p.m., also at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Florida Supreme Court Justice Raoul G. Cantero III will speak at this ceremony. Born in Madrid, Spain, to Cuban parents who had fled the communist regime in Cuba, Cantero is the first Hispanic to serve on the state’s highest court.