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On June 9, 2024, more than 2,500 members of the UAGC Spring 2024 graduating class are expected to converge on Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, to celebrate their academic achievements during a special commencement ceremony.

Thousands of family members, friends, and distinguished guests will join in the excitement to help recognize the amazing accomplishments of our graduates. Among them will be Cecilia Mata, chair of the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), the governing body for the state’s three public universities.

Last December, Chair Mata delivered the keynote speech for The University of Arizona College of Engineering convocation ceremony, and now she is set to do the same when she addresses the crowd at the UAGC Spring Commencement Ceremony.

The significance of her attendance is noteworthy.

Chair Mata, who is half way through an eight-year ABOR term, is a staunch advocate of making education accessible to diverse learners. Born to immigrant parents from Hong Kong and educated in Panama, where she became the first in her family to finish college — earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration — she is a vocal proponent of small businesses, particularly those owned by women.

A military spouse who relocated to Sierra Vista, Arizona, in 2000, Chair Mata has since made a direct impact in the region. Within five years of her arrival in the state, she achieved her goal of starting her own business and continues to operate ALLSource Global Management, a professional services company that does business with the Department of Defense. In addition, she serves as a leader in Southern Arizona and within the Hispanic community as a member of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West, and Women Presidents Organization.

Q&A with ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata 

Ahead of the UAGC Spring 2024 commencement ceremony, Chair Mata spoke with the University about the lessons she’s learned from her life in business and beyond. Read on to learn more about this impactful leader in education and small business before she delivers her keynote address.

UAGC: What was it like to grow up in Panama?
Chair Mata: “My parents were immigrants from Hong Kong, and we lived in a multigenerational house with my family of five. I am appreciative that my parents taught me their native language of Chinese, and I had the ability to speak Spanish elsewhere. Being raised in Panama also taught me a great deal about people, business, and commerce from a global perspective. The Panama Canal connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and is the basis for modern-day transportation globalization. As a young girl, I was always fascinated by the sight of cargo ships passing through the locks carrying goods to people all over the world, not knowing that I would be joining multinational companies headquartered in Panama and Switzerland and working for over 20 years shipping their goods all over the world.”  

UAGC: How important is your heritage and your culture to you and the work you do?
Chair Mata: “My experiences in Panama provided me with an education in global affairs and broadened my own worldview. I apply lessons learned throughout childhood and later in life to my own work. These lessons ensure I am the architect of my own destiny.”

UAGC: Your first role was at a university in the United States, and in Arizona, no less. Can you tell us a little about what it was like to take on that first position here?
Chair Mata: “Although I came to Arizona with significant global business experience and an established reputation in Panama, I had to start over again in Sierra Vista. In Panama, I worked in business management, purchasing, human resources, total quality management (TQM), and manufacturing with multinational companies. What helped me in the United States was applying the same principles and transferring my skill sets to new industries in the U.S. I learned about the nuances of American culture and began to take advantage of this new country that offers so many opportunities. When I first moved to the U.S., I applied to many companies looking for a job. I was grateful and thrilled to land a job at the University of Arizona South and work in higher education.”

UAGC: Why was the appointment to the Arizona Board of Chair chair meaningful to you? 
Chair Mata: “Higher education is incredibly important to individuals and to our state. Being able to work on behalf of Arizona’s public universities represents an opportunity to change lives for the better through the power of higher education. I know how much my education impacted the trajectory of my life as I was the first in my family to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Higher education empowers you to choose the direction you want to take in life. It gives you choices to find the job of your dreams with a good salary or start your own business.”

UAGC: What do you do in this role?
Chair Mata: “I serve as the chair of the Arizona Board of Regents. The board provides governance and strategic direction for the state’s public universities— Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona. The board’s promise to Arizona is to increase postsecondary access and attainment for Arizona students; to seek solutions to societal challenges; and to do both while increasing quality, affordability, and efficiency. The board is committed to bringing the benefits of the universities to Arizona communities while maximizing the state’s investment in higher education. My work with the board includes many initiatives benefiting students and the state. As ABOR chair, I lead the strategic direction of the board and preside over our public meetings. I am passionate about the impact higher education can make on students and communities. One recent example of this is a new summit that seeks to increase collaboration in research and partnerships between our universities and Arizona’s military.”

UAGC: What draws you to the region, and why are you so passionate about the State of Arizona?
Chair Mata: “Arizona is a magical place. It’s one of the most diverse areas in terms of terrain, from the Sonoran Desert to the pine forests of Southern Arizona’s sky islands. It is also where I got my start in this amazing country, where I was able to establish my businesses, work with wonderful people who also call this state home, and serve students and the state on the Arizona Board of Regents.”

UAGC: Why have you dedicated so much of your time to education?
Chair Mata: “Education is incredibly important. It opens your world to opportunities and possibilities. Education empowered me and gave me the confidence to start successful businesses. It gave me vision and structure in my life, and it does the same for others. And the benefits of education are numerous. It can provide you with a better salary and could enable individuals to climb out of poverty. Students who earn their college degrees not only make better wages on average than peers with less education, they are less likely to be unemployed and are more likely to be engaged in their communities. Investing in higher education is an investment in yourself.”

UAGC: Can you tell us a little about your advocacy work and why you work to promote women in small and minority-owned businesses?
Chair Mata: “As a minority and woman business owner, I’m well-versed in the challenges and doubt that at times face women and minorities in the workplace. I want to help change the narrative and open the door to opportunity for other women and minorities who dream of owning successful businesses.”

UAGC: You’ve received many awards for your role in the business world. How did it feel to be recognized for those achievements?
Chair Mata: “I’m always grateful to be recognized for my work. I’m honored to receive awards such as the 2022 People’s Choice AccountabilIT Lifetime Achievement Award from the Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards; the 2019 Women Business Enterprise IMPACT Award from WBEC-West; and the 2018 Workforce Arizona Council (WAC) Outstanding Council Member of the Year from the State of Arizona, among others. Beyond awards, what I find most fulfilling is the service I’m able to provide to my business customers. I am motivated and inspired every day by how our customers use our services to fulfill their expectations, find creative solutions to problems, advance their opportunities, and remain connected to what is important to them.

UAGC: What is one of the greatest lessons you have learned from your personal experience, and how has it impacted the trajectory of your career?
Chair Mata: “My parents always told me: ‘Your degrees will take you places,” and it has done exactly that. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had my share of challenges, but I’ve learned from those experiences, developing perseverance and working hard for my goals despite any obstacles that may come my way. Everyone at some point in their careers will face what may seem like insurmountable odds, but it’s important to always look at the big picture and put things in perspective. It’s always important, too, to do your due diligence on any project and to make sure what you are doing is what your heart tells you is right.”

UAGC: What is the importance of earning a college degree today, particularly for an adult learner?
Chair Mata: “Earning a degree can take you to new heights in your career, provide more security for your family, and bring personal fulfillment. It may take longer to earn your degree if you’re working full time and supporting a family, but online learning offers so much flexibility that particularly suits adult learners. When I was in college, I worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and then took classes at night. Many adults may already have a year or two of college completed when they return to earn their degree – one of the smartest decisions an individual can make.” 

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