Wagner College alum Angelo Castillo made history this year when he became the first Hispanic mayor of Pembroke Pines, Florida, adding to an impressive career that includes executive roles in the administrations of New York City mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani, as well as New York Governors Mario Cuomo and George Pataki.
Castillo said that rather than going to “retire in a chair” he wanted to get to work to make a difference, according to Wagner College Newsroom.
“It’s a very humbling experience, but it’s one that I feel very prepared to take on,” Castillo said. “In government, the accounting rules are slightly different, but it’s still a business,” Castillo said. “You have to bring in money, you have to manage money and you have to manage programs. You have to understand trends. There are many of the root functions of business that do apply to government.”
Castillo also showed is appreciation for Wagner College.
“I’m really thankful that I had the opportunity to go to Wagner,” Castillo said. “Wagner brings out the best in you. It exemplifies the American small college experience in which almost everyone knows everybody else. I fondly remember my classes and the professors who knew me by name.”
“Find the thing that calls to you and pursue that, and you’ll be successful,” Castillo said.
