2008 Woodie Awards
Former Peruvian President to speak at SSU
Ashley Serota
Issue date: 9/23/08 Section: News
The former President of Peru, Alejandro Toledo, will be speaking in Person Theatre on Thurs., Sept. 25, at 7 p.m.
"I think that it is amazing that a former president from another country will be coming to SSU," said Jessica Dela Cruz.
Toledo, who was president from 2001 to 2006, was the 46th president of Peru and the first Native American in 500 years to be democratically elected President.
His lecture is titled, "A New Social Agenda for Democracy," and discussion will include some of his concerns, such as rights for the indigenous people, education and democracy.
"Alejandro Toledo is an acquaintance of mine, as we went to college together," said Dr. Andrea Neves, Emerita Professor of Education.
"We decided to ask him to speak because of the issues he is concerned with," said Neves.
Toledo was born in a tiny and secluded village in the Peruvian Andes to a family who lived in severe poverty.
He came to the California Bay Area in 1965, when he was nineteen-years-old, to study at the University of San Francisco on a one year scholarship.
He ended up staying and living in the Bay Area while getting two masters and a doctorate from Stanford.
He then worked for The World Bank and the United Nations in New York, and taught at Harvard before moving back to Peru in 1994.
He ran for presidency in 1995, but lost with only four percent of the votes.
In 1996, Toledo became known internationally after he led an opposition to stop the oppressive rule of Alberto Fujimori, who had held the presidency since 1990.
Fujimori decided to resign unexpectedly in 2000, and an election was held to determine the next president of Peru.
Toledo won and was elected president in 2001.
The first thing he did was decide to cut military spending by 20 percent and use that money towards health and education.
There was huge economic growth during his presidency. In two years, the employment rate grew at about six percent. In the five years of Toledo's presidency, the economy grew at a rate of about six percent, making it one of the quickest economy growths in Latin America.
"I think that it is amazing that a former president from another country will be coming to SSU," said Jessica Dela Cruz.
Toledo, who was president from 2001 to 2006, was the 46th president of Peru and the first Native American in 500 years to be democratically elected President.
His lecture is titled, "A New Social Agenda for Democracy," and discussion will include some of his concerns, such as rights for the indigenous people, education and democracy.
"Alejandro Toledo is an acquaintance of mine, as we went to college together," said Dr. Andrea Neves, Emerita Professor of Education.
"We decided to ask him to speak because of the issues he is concerned with," said Neves.
Toledo was born in a tiny and secluded village in the Peruvian Andes to a family who lived in severe poverty.
He came to the California Bay Area in 1965, when he was nineteen-years-old, to study at the University of San Francisco on a one year scholarship.
He ended up staying and living in the Bay Area while getting two masters and a doctorate from Stanford.
He then worked for The World Bank and the United Nations in New York, and taught at Harvard before moving back to Peru in 1994.
He ran for presidency in 1995, but lost with only four percent of the votes.
In 1996, Toledo became known internationally after he led an opposition to stop the oppressive rule of Alberto Fujimori, who had held the presidency since 1990.
Fujimori decided to resign unexpectedly in 2000, and an election was held to determine the next president of Peru.
Toledo won and was elected president in 2001.
The first thing he did was decide to cut military spending by 20 percent and use that money towards health and education.
There was huge economic growth during his presidency. In two years, the employment rate grew at about six percent. In the five years of Toledo's presidency, the economy grew at a rate of about six percent, making it one of the quickest economy growths in Latin America.
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