Dr. Miguel Cardona, Former US Secretary of Education, Named NASBE’s 2025 Friend of Education

Alexandria, VA—The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is proud to honor Dr. Miguel Cardona, the 12th US secretary of education, as its 2025 Friend of Education. This national award is presented annually to an individual or organization whose contributions to preK-12 education are both significant and enduring.

A lifelong educator and tireless advocate for equity, Dr. Cardona has dedicated nearly 30 years to serving students, educators, and communities at every level of public education. His journey from the classroom to the principal’s office, and later to state and national leadership, has been guided by a steadfast belief that students must always come first—a philosophy that has defined his service throughout his career.

As commissioner of education, Dr. Cardona led Connecticut through one of the most challenging periods in modern education: the COVID-19 pandemic. “His leadership was marked by compassion, collaboration, and a clear focus on safely reopening schools while ensuring students and educators had the tools they needed to succeed,” said Erin Benham, vice chair on the Connecticut State Board of Education. Dr. Cardona worked closely with the state board and other key stakeholders and championed the board’s adoption of Connecticut’s landmark ethnic studies course.

In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed Dr. Cardona as US secretary of education, where he led the national effort to fully and safely reopen schools for in-person learning. He also oversaw the distribution of $170 billion in federal education funding for preK-12 schools and higher education; expanded college access and affordability; and spearheaded historic reforms of the federal student loan system.

As secretary, Dr. Cardona emphasized collaboration with parents, families, educators, and students while highlighting the urgency to reimagine a more equitable and higher-performing education system. Through his Raise the Bar initiative, he charted a path for recovery and progress, focusing on raising student achievement, strengthening mental health supports and the educator workforce, expanding career pathways and multilingual learning, and making higher education more affordable and accessible.

Dr. Cardona has been a featured lecturer at Yale University, Harvard University, among other colleges and universities. He has partnered with the Brookings Institute, Newsweek, and TIME magazine to bring attention to challenges facing today’s students. He also serves on the boards of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz and the USC Schwarzenegger Institute of Policy and is a resident fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

“I am humbled and honored to receive NASBE’s Friend of Education Award.  I receive it on behalf of the entire team at the Department of Education during my time as Secretary. Together, we were committed to make the Department a service agency whose primary focus was giving all students the respect they deserve and opportunities to reach their God-given potential,” said Dr. Cardona. “Throughout my career, I have been driven by my desire to strengthen public education.  Our country’s growth and strength depend on it. NASBE’s role in this important work has never been so important. Thank you for the award, and for your continued commitment to the millions of students in our schools.”

“Dr. Cardona exemplifies what it means to be a true friend of education. His lifelong dedication, principled leadership, and unwavering belief in the potential of every child make him an ideal recipient of this award. Just as important, he has been a steadfast partner to state boards of education, engaging them in meaningful collaboration to strengthen schools and ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive,” said NASBE President and CEO Paolo DeMaria.

NASBE will present its national awards during the NASBE Annual Conference, October 27–29, 2025, in Austin, Texas.

NASBE serves as the only membership organization for state boards of education. A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, NASBE elevates state board members’ voices in national and state policymaking, facilitates the exchange of informed ideas, and supports members in advancing equity and excellence in public education for students of all races, genders, and circumstances.

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