AMN Healthcare President and CEO Susan Salka and engineering entrepreneur Irwin Zahn will receive honorary degrees at commencement ceremonies next month at San Diego State University, the school announced Monday.
Salka, an SDSU alumna, will be recognized with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from SDSU’s College of Business Administration during a private reception as commencement weekend begins on May 13.
Zahn, who has donated millions to SDSU, will be given the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters the following day.
SDSU President Elliot Hirshman called Salka and Zahn “extraordinary contributors to our university” who are dedicated to the betterment of the entire San Diego region.
“We are grateful for Susan’s and Irwin’s support of San Diego State University, their vision, innovation, generosity and their selfless dedication to San Diego,” Hirshman said. “They are both an inspiration to our entire campus community.”
Salka has expanded her firm over the last 26 years into the largest healthcare staffing and workforce company in the country.
She’s a member of SDSU’s Campanile Foundation Executive Committee, received the Monty Award for Distinguished Alumni in 2010 and is a former member of the College of Business Administration Dean’s Advisory Board.
Zahn founded General Staple Co. in 1954. The company starting by making zippers for jeans and later moved into electronics, changing its name to Autosplice Inc.
A member of the SDSU College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board, he now runs the Moxie Foundation, which supports numerous educational and nonprofit institutions.
—City News Service
