Mildred Garcia

Mildred Garcia never thought she had much of a future, especially in academia. When she was 12, Garcia's father died and she moved into a New York City housing project with her mother and six siblings. As a teenager, she worked part-time factory jobs. Two friends died young, one from AIDS and the other from a drug overdose. "But I held to values taught by my parents," Garcia recalled in a voice edged with a pronounced New York accent.

Nursing programs: An article in Tuesday's California section profiling Mildred Garcia, the new president of Cal State Dominguez Hills, said the university recently launched a master's degree program in nursing. The university started a master's program for registered nurses in 1985. The new master's program is for people who are not yet registered nurses.

Nursing programs: An article in Tuesday's California section profiling Mildred Garcia, the new president of Cal State Dominguez Hills, said the university recently launched a master's degree program in nursing. The university started a master's program for registered nurses in 1985. The new master's program is for people who are not yet registered nurses.

Mildred Garcia never thought she had much of a future, especially in academia. When she was 12, Garcia's father died and she moved into a New York City housing project with her mother and six siblings. As a teenager, she worked part-time factory jobs. Two friends died young, one from AIDS and the other from a drug overdose. "But I held to values taught by my parents," Garcia recalled in a voice edged with a pronounced New York accent.