University Honors 1982 Business Graduate for Distinguished Achievements

Alicia Fernandez-Mott did not take the traditional route to becoming successful. As a mono-lingual Spanish speaking first grader in a Texas school district that only spoke English, Fernandez-Mott dropped out of school in the 10^th grade, traveling around the country as a migrant agricultural worker. She later received her general equivalency diploma at age 30 and enrolled and graduated from BGSU with a business degree at the age of 38.

Her career goal was to help migrant workers become skilled through job training programs. The 1982 BGSU graduate became the chief of the Department of Labor’s Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs, Employment and Training Administration until her retirement.

Fernandez-Mott was one of four BGSU alumni honored by the Academy of Distinguished Alumni, the highest honor bestowed by the University and established to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of alumni.