Cal State LA concluded Commencement week at the Shrine Auditorium by honoring double alumna Capri Maddox with the Presidential Award during the ninth and final college-based ceremony at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20.
Maddox serves as executive director of the Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, which enforces civil rights protections in the private-sector areas of commerce, education, employment, and housing.
President Berenecea Johnson Eanes presents the award to individuals who propel the mission of Cal State LA.
“I’ve always wanted to say this as loud and as proud as I could: My name is Capri Maddox, and I am proud to be a Golden Eagle,” Maddox told the Class of 2026.
Maddox earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and her Master of Science in Public Administration from Cal State LA. She maintains connection with her alma mater by serving on the Cal State LA President’s Council.
“I just want to thank President Eanes,” Maddox said. “You have been on board to make a better Los Angeles for all—inside and outside the campus. We especially need leaders like you in these challenging times. We have force multipliers in this room to change and build a better world and a better Los Angeles for all.”
She received her Juris Doctorate from the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law.
Maddox defied the odds and achieved success despite economic hardship and an unstable childhood.
She was constantly on the move, attending 13 different schools by the age of 13. She would have ended up in foster care if not for the kindness of her grandmothers and five families who took turns housing her. Her school guidance counselor told her she was not college material.
Maddox finally found stability when she enrolled at Cal State LA as an undergraduate in 1988.
“I showed up at Cal State LA with all my belongings and a dream—no tuition, no secured housing,” she said.
She credits David Sandoval, former Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) director, for taking a chance on her and turning her life around. Sandoval attended the ceremony to share in Maddox’s achievement.
“It all began with Cal State LA betting on me,” Maddox said. “I, like some of you, overcame a few hurdles on my journey. Many of you in this audience overcame obstacles related to immigration, foster care, how you identify, incarceration, racism, or financial hardships. You had to deal with those things before you could be here today. So, I wish I could bottle up all the resilience in this room.”
Maddox brings more than two decades of legal and public service experience to her role as the founding executive director of the civil rights department. She has been appointed to City Hall leadership roles five times, including by Mayors Karen Bass, Eric Garcetti, and Antonio Villaraigosa; an elected city attorney; and the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent.
The Civil Rights Department was established under her leadership in 2020 to maintain and strengthen Los Angeles’ commitment to diversity, equity, and accountability. Maddox has been intentional in building a diverse staff, including an all-female senior management team.
Maddox concluded her speech by imploring the new Cal State LA graduates to be brave as they stand up for others.
“Don’t hide your story because it is your superpower,” she said. “You are ready to soar as Golden Eagles. Regardless of your discipline, you will still likely be the people in the room to support some of the most marginalized communities in our region and beyond. Today, stand and bask in the moment. Remember to stay connected to your Cal State LA family. Friends, you can call us for help, or you can be the helper. Together we are stronger. We Are LA!”
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.
