Renowned U.S. statesman George Shultz to receive SF State's President's Medal

George Shultz, a renowned statesman who served in three U.S. presidential administrations, will receive the President's Medal at San Francisco State University's 115th Commencement ceremony on May 27.

In addition, honorary doctorate degrees will be awarded to Bob Linscheid, former president of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and former chair of the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees; Jeffrey Mallett, entrepreneur and one of the founding members of Yahoo; and Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, chief of protocol for the city of San Francisco.

"Commencement is a celebration of years of hard work by students and families as well as our faculty and staff to prepare our graduates to become engaged global citizens and make their mark on the world," said SF State President Les Wong. "I can think of few individuals more inspiring for our students than George and Charlotte Shultz, Jeffrey Mallett and Bob Linscheid, and I am excited to honor them during this year's ceremony."

A crowd of 35,000 is expected to be in attendance at AT&T Park as more than 8,000 graduates will receive their degrees. Jonas Rivera, a 1996 SF State alum and producer of the Oscar-winning Disney/Pixar film "Inside Out," will deliver the Commencement address. More information about the ceremony is available at commencement.sfsu.edu and by downloading the Commencement mobile app.

George Shultz

A published author, professor, renowned political economist and dynamic political leader, George Shultz remains widely recognized as a significant figure in American foreign and economic policy. He served as Secretary of Labor, Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard Nixon, and Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan. Under President Reagan, Shultz was directly involved in U.S. diplomatic relations around the world, including the conclusion of the Cold War. He also served as a senior staff economist on President Dwight Eisenhower's Council of Economic Advisers. His academic career includes appointments as the dean of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago from 1962-1969 and his current position as the Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. In recognition of his contributions to the security and national interests of the United States, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989.

Bob Linscheid

Bob Linscheid has served California businesses and communities for more than two decades, providing leadership on critical economic issues to public, private and nonprofit organizations. A CSU graduate, he received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in public administration from California State University, Chico. From 2005 to 2014 he served as a member of the CSU Board of Trustees, including as vice chair from 2010-2012 and chair from 2012 to 2014. He has also been recognized for his leadership in the business community, serving as president and chief executive officer of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce from 2013-2016 and as president and chief executive officer of The Linscheid Company since 1993. A strong believer in the community importance of athletics, Linscheid has served in leadership roles with the Chico Heat and Chico Outlaws baseball teams and the Western Baseball League. His many awards and honors include the CSU Chico College of Business Person of the Year and the Western Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives' Executive of the Year.

Jeffrey Mallett

A Canadian-born entrepreneur and investor, Jeffrey Mallett is most widely known as the president and chief operating officer at Yahoo Inc., where he helped propel the company into an internet giant. He was an early employee of Reference Software International, a company started by then-SF State professor Don Emery. The company, which developed grammar-checking software, was purchased by WordPerfect Corporation, where Mallett became head of the global consumer division. In 1995, Mallett was appointed by Yahoo! Inc. founder Jerry Yang as the president and COO of the company when it was a small start-up with 11 employees. Mallett has always had a deep love for sports, particularly soccer, which he played while attending SF State from 1987-88. Today he is a principal owner and executive committee member of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, a role that includes ownership and management of the award-winning AT&T Park.

Charlotte Mailliard Shultz

Charlotte Mailliard Shultz served as chief of protocol in the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Protocol for seven consecutive mayoral administrations, a role to which she was reappointed by Mayor Willie Brown in 1995 and continues to hold to this day. Commended as the "city's premier party giver" by the San Francisco Chronicle, she brought back the city’s Black and White Ball, organized the 50th anniversary celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge, and has welcomed distinguished visitors such as Pope John Paul II and members of the British royal family. In 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed her as chief of protocol for the State of California. Shultz also serves as the president of the San Francisco War Memorial Board of Trustees and is active on the boards of the San Francisco Opera, the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among others. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the State of California Woman of the Year Award in 1996 and 2000. In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon Shultz the title of commander of the Royal Victorian Order for her long record of service in assisting royal visitors.