Rueben Martinez – owner of Librería Martinez Books and Art Gallery in Santa Ana – will be given a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa.

Two Latino leaders will be given honorary degrees during Chapman University’s upcoming commencement ceremonies, and a Latina educator will receive a university medal.

Cruz Reynoso will receive a Doctor of Laws degree, Honoris Causa, during the School of Law commencement and hooding ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 20 at Wilson Field.

Reynoso, who was born in Brea and graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law in 1958, became one of the first Latino law professors in the United States.

Cruz Reynoso

He also served as director of California Rural Legal Assistance, became the first Latino justice on the California Supreme Court (1982-87), and received the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom.

At 79, he teaches at UC Davis Law School and is active in community organizations throughout the state.

Rueben Martinez – owner of Librería Martinez Books and Art Gallery in Santa Ana – will be given a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, during the College of Educational Studies commencement at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 21 in Bert Williams Mall.

Martinez, who has traveled across the country promoting literacy, also serves as a distinguished presidential fellow at the university.

Sonia Nieto – an educator, author and professor emerita of language, literature and culture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst – will be the guest speaker during the college’s ceremony.

She’ll also receive the Changing the World Medal from the college.

For more information on the university’s commencement ceremonies, visit chapman.edu/commencement.