Dr. George Santiago, Jr., president of Briarcliffe College, will be honored for his outstanding leadership by the Long Island Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender (GLBT) Services Network at the 2011 Equality Awards Gala on April 29, 2011. The programs that comprise the LIGLBT Services Network are vital to building communication and understanding in our schools, communities, and workplaces, said Santiago. I commend their efforts and am proud to be recognized for my support. In 2004, Dr. Santiago served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Briarcliffe College until being unanimously appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as the College's fourth President in 2006. In his years at Briarcliffe, he has overseen the introduction of new academic degree programs, an increase in student enrollment, the re-organization for a successful athletic program, a commitment to the communities of Long Island, and an outreach to previously underserved populations - from Hispanics to Long Island's gay and lesbian youth. Under his leadership, Briarcliffe College introduced a Hispanic Scholarship program to encourage high school Latinos to continue their education by entering college. After the attack and stabbing death of Marcelo Lucero, the College's Patchogue campus took an active role in hosting public hearings on bias crime, receiving a Governor's Citation. The Briarcliffe family of students, faculty and administrators organizes to support blood drives, cancer awareness, and charity drives. Dr. Santiago has been recognized for his many efforts, earning recognitions and awards from, among others: The American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, La Fuerza Unida, Adelante of Suffolk County, and the Nassau County Youth Board. In 2008, he received the Suffolk County Hispanic Role Model Award and in 2009, the Nassau County Executive Hispanic Heritage Award and the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year. For more information on the LIGLBT Equality Awards Gala on April 29th featuring a performance by Nikki Blonsky, host Loni Love, and special guests Wilson Cruz, Carolyn Hennesy and Gbenga Akinnagbe, visit www.liglbtnetwork.org or call the LIGLBT office at: 631-665-2300. About Briarcliffe College A proprietary institution with locations in Bethpage, Patchogue and Queens NY., Briarcliffe College is a four-year career education college offering degree programs in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, graphic design, information technology, management and paralegal studies. Programs vary by location. The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (267) 284-5000 accredits Briarcliffe College. Briarcliffe College does not guarantee employment or salary. Briarcliffe College is also a member of the Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO) network of colleges, universities and schools. For more information, visit www.briarcliffe.edu or www.bcl.edu.