(Burbank, CA ­ April 26, 2002) Antonio Flores, Ph.D., a national expert on Hispanic higher education, will discuss diversity and changing demographics in America during Woodbury University's commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11.

The graduation ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 9 a.m. at the Burbank campus at 7500 Glenoaks Blvd. More than 265 students will receive graduate and undergraduate degrees.

The keynote address by Dr. Flores, who will also receive an honorary doctorate, is part of Woodbury's longstanding commitment to promoting diversity. Woodbury's student body mirrors the remarkable ethnic mix of Southern California and the university has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution. This means that more than 25 percent of Woodbury's student body is of Hispanic background.

As president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), Dr. Flores leads an international association of higher education representing more than 300 colleges and universities where Hispanics constitute a minimum of 25 percent of the total enrollment. HACU strives to improve access to and the quality of educational opportunities at universities for Hispanic students. The not-for-profit organization also works closely with business, industry, and government to develop and share resources, information and expertise regarding Hispanic education.

Hispanic enrollment in higher education has increased dramatically in recent years - from 782,000 in 1990 to about 1.3 million in 1999. By the year 2050, nearly one-quarter of the nation's population will be Hispanic, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Flores holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, a master's degree in counseling and personnel from Western Michigan University, a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Universidad de Guadalajara and Centro Normal Regional, Mexico, respectively.

Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. An accredited, nonprofit university, Woodbury is located on a 22-acre residential campus in Burbank and offers bachelor's degrees from the School of Architecture and Design, Business and Management, and Arts and Sciences. Woodbury also offers a master of business administration as well as weekend and evening study for working adults. A San Diego campus was established in 1998 to offer bachelor of architecture degrees.