GSU Awards Veteran Journalists and Social Activist with Honorary Degrees

Leading up GSU’s 2018 commencement, the GSU Newsroom is telling the stories of inspiring graduates and honorees. This week, we are featuring our honorary degree recipients Journalists Carol Marin, Don Moseley, and Social Activist Martin R. Castro.

Governors State University will honor three nationally recognized cultural figures with honorary degrees for their lifetime commitment to journalistic excellence, social equity and inclusion during its 47th commencement ceremony Saturday, May 19 at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

Investigative journalists Carol Marin and Don Moseley and social activist Martin R. Castro have devoted their lives and work to principles that mirror the mission of GSU, which seeks to be a cornerstone of the public square.

“Carol Marin, Don Moseley, and Martin R. Castro epitomize the highest ideals of their respective professions by shedding light on systemic inequalities,’’ said GSU President Elaine P. Maimon.

Ms. Marin and Mr. Moseley form an intrepid reporting team who has investigated and reported on politics, misdeeds, and corruption for more than three decades.

In 2015, the George Foster Peabody Award Committee hailed their reporting as “relentless and unrivaled” and recognized the team for the second time following their investigation that exposed Chicago police misconduct surrounding the death of Laquan McDonald.

The team has also won two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia awards and two national Emmys. As founders and co-directors of the DePaul Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence, the Marin-Moseley team is continuing their legacy of truth seeking and justice through teaching the next generation.

Mr. Castro is a passionate social activist recognized as a cultural champion and one of the most influential Latinos in the world.

In 2009, Mr. Castro was appointed to lead the Illinois Human Rights Commission by Governor Pat Quinn, and in 2011 President Barack Obama named him as the first Latino Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Since 2016, he has served as interim CEO of Casa Central, one of the largest Hispanic social service agencies in the Midwest, and as founder of Castro Synergies, he consults with businesses, entrepreneurs, and agencies seeking social change.