Rockville, MD - The 2014 Steering Committee of the Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala (MCEHG) announces the first of three awards to be presented during the gala celebration on September 18, 2014 to take place at The Fillmore Silver Spring. 

University of Maryland President, Dr. Wallace D. Loh, will be the 2014 recipient of the “Advocate of the Year Award”.

“President Loh has been a constant voice advocating for youth and higher education in the State of Maryland,” said Claudia Canales, Event Chair of the 2014 MCEHG. "Many of our Latino scholarship recipients attend the University of Maryland and we are delighted that he will be honored during our gala celebration," she added. 

Dr. Loh was appointed as the 33rd president of the University of Maryalnd in November 2010.   President Loh leads the State's flagship and land-grant institution with 37,500 students in 12 schools and colleges, 9000 faculty and staff, and $1.7 billion annual operating budget.

Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Provost of The University of Iowa; Dean of Seattle University's College of Arts & Sciences; Director, Governor's Policy Office and chief policy adviser to The Hon. Gary Locke, State of Washington; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculties, University of Colorado-Boulder; and Dean, University of Washington Law School.

President Loh is Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. Previously, he was Visiting Professor of Law at Cornell, Peking University (China), Emory, University of Texas-Austin, University of Houston, and Vanderbilt. His scholarship and teaching are in the areas of law and social change and in criminal justice reforms.   He chaired the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's academic advisory board.

Born in China, Loh moved with his family to Peru. After graduating from high school, he immigrated alone to the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen.

Education: B.A., Grinnell College; M.A., Cornell University; graduate study, Universiteit te Leuven (Belgium); Ph.D. in psychology, The University of Michigan; J.D., Yale Law School

The Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala is a 100% volunteer-run event committed to assisting Hispanic youth achieve a high level of education.  Funds raised support the Maryland Hispanic Achievement Scholarship Program which provides financial assistance to Hispanic students enrolled in Maryland higher learning institutions.

The Executive’s Hispanic Gala will serve to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. 

To become a Sponsor, Donate or to Purchase Tickets, visit: www.MontgomeryHispanicGala.org