NAU alumnus Ernest Calderón, former member and president emeritus of the Arizona Board of Regents, will be honored at the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 54th annual Black and White Ball and Business Awards this weekend.
Calderón will be presented with the chamber’s Man of the Year award on Saturday, May 5, at the Phoenix Convention Center.
“Any success that I have had is due to others’ either leading the charge or helping carry the task’s weight,” Calderón said. “I certainly wouldn’t be in a position to help people if it wasn’t for the support and education I received at Northern Arizona University. Lumberjacks help others.”
Calderón earned his bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in business administration from NAU in 1979 and served as president of the Associated Students of NAU his senior year. He earned a juris doctorate from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1982 and a graduate certificate from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 2009.
Calderón was appointed to ABOR in 2004 by then Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and served an eight-year term on the board that ended with the recent appointment of Greg Patterson of Scottsdale.
“Regent Calderón has been a strong advocate on behalf of Northern Arizona University and higher education in this state,” said NAU President John Haeger. “He is a dedicated public servant and highly deserving of the Man of the Year award.”
In addition to receiving numerous awards in recognition of his volunteer service and professional achievements, Calderón was the first Latino elected to serve as president of the State Bar of Arizona. He is the founder of Calderón Law Offices in Phoenix and has nearly 30 years legal experience.
Calderón currently serves on the NAU Foundation board and teaches a section of graduate course EDL 622, Legal Aspects of School Administration, through NAU’s Extended Campuses.