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Secretary of Commonwealth Chosen to Address King’s Class of 2008

March 19, 2008 - Pedro A. Cortés, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will address the Class of 2008 at King's College Commencement exercises to be held Sunday, May 18, at Wachovia Arena.

Cortés was nominated as Secretary of the Commonwealth by Governor Edward G. Rendell on April 2, 2003 and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, making him the first confirmed Latino Cabinet member in Pennsylvania history and the highest ranking native of Puerto Rico to be elected to any statewide position in the United States.

 The Secretary of the Commonwealth administers the Department of State.  The Department protects the public's health, safety and welfare by licensing more than one million business, health and real estate professionals; maintaining registration and financial information for thousands of charities soliciting contributions from Pennsylvanians; overseeing Pennsylvania's electoral process; maintaining corporate filings; and sanctioning professional boxing, kick-boxing and wrestling in the Commonwealth.  Secretary Cortés is also the Commonwealth's Chief Election Official.

For years, Secretary Cortés has also been active with many community and government related organizations, including the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).  He currently serves as NASS President-Elect.  In July he will become the association's President, making him the first Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth to serve in that role in the organization's 104-year history.

Prior to being appointed to his current position, Secretary Cortés was the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs.  He has also served with the PA State Civil Service Commission and the PA Department of Public Welfare. 

 Secretary Cortés was named among the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States by “Hispanic Business Magazine”.

Cortés will be conferred an honorary doctorate from King’s College at Commencement.  Also being conferred honorary doctorates will be local leaders Sister Lucille Marie Brislin, R.S.M., director of Mercy Services, and Susan Shoval, founder, president and chief operating officer of GUARD Insurance Group.

Pedro A. Cortes – Susan Shoval – Sister Lucille Marie Brislin, R.S.M.

King's College is a Catholic College sponsored by the congregation of Holy Cross.