Community Involvement

Dr. Calderón’s community work.

Honors Received

Honors Dr. Calderón has received.

Professional Affiliations

Dr. Calderón professional affiliations.

An active participant in civic and community organizations, Dr. Calderón is president emeritus of the Arizona Board of Regents (appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano). He was named Valley Leadership’s Man of the Year for Metropolitan Phoenix. He served as President of the Grand Canyon Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and also serves on the Northern Arizona University Foundation (Emeritus Member) Board. He has served as President of the State Bar of Arizona and serves as a Delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. Dr. Calderón served as President of the State Bar of Arizona in 2002-03 – the first person of Hispanic origin to serve as President since the Bar’s founding in 1933.

He is a past President of Valley Leadership, a past Chairman of the Catholic Community Foundation of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Phoenix, and a former member of the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments.

He has served the State of Arizona and six Arizona Governors by appointment. A listing of professional and community affiliations is listed below.

Community Involvement 

  • Aquila Family of Funds, 2000-2024
    Tax Free Trust of Arizona, Independent Director

  • Arizona Board of Regents, 2004-2012
    Regent Emeritus Member (appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano in 2004)

  • Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Western Hospital Board, 2005-2015

  • Arizona Community Foundation Board
    Past Board Member

  • Arizona Town Hall
    Panel Chairperson, 60th and 72nd Town Halls,
    Member, 1977-present

  • America Red Cross, Grand Canyon Chapter
    Board Member, 2007-2011

  • American Diabetes Association, Arizona Affiliate
    Board Member, 1989-1991

  • Boy Scouts of America, Grand Canyon Council
    President, 2004-2006
    Executive Board, 2001-present
    Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop #262, St. Helen’s Parish
    Cubmaster Pack #148 Ss. Simon and Jude Parish, 2001-2003
    Wood Badge Training Graduate
    Eagle Scout Copper Council, 1971

  • Central Arizona Shelter Services
    Board Member, 1990-1996

  • City of Phoenix Police Department
    Disciplinary Review and Use of Force Boards Citizen Past Member

  • City of Phoenix Indian School Land Use Team, 1989-1999

  • City of Phoenix Local Development Corporation Board, 1986-1989
    Community Council, Inc., Past Board Member

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation Citizen Academy
    Phoenix, 1999

  • George C. Marshall 1985 Public Service Conference, Participant

  • Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes
    Transition Team

  • Governor Janice Brewer’s
    Transition Team, 2008-2009

  • Governor Janet Napolitano’s
    Transition Team 2002-2003

  • Governor Janet Napolitano’s P-20 Council, Member

  • Governor Janet Napolitano’s School Readiness Task Force, 2003

  • Governor Rose Mofford’s Highway and Traffic Safety Task Force
    Chairman, 1990-1991

  • Governor Fife Symington’s Committee on Implementation of Proposition 102, 1996-1997

  • Hispanic Diabetes Coalition, Inc.
    Past Board Member

  • Honorary Commander,
    Luke AFB, 2022-2024

  • Interfaith Mission to Israel 1993
    Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix

  • Maricopa County Hospital and Health System
    Board of Directors, Past Member

  • Maricopa Association of Governments 
    Chair, Continuum of Care to End Homelessness Through Regional Planning, 2003-2005

  • National Association for Community Leadership, National Board Member, 2000-2004

  • Northern Arizona University Foundation
    Board Member, 1986-present

  • Northern Arizona University Alumni Association
    Past Board Member

  • Northern Arizona University Adjunct Faculty, Full Professor
    1997-2017

  • Phoenix College Adjunct Faculty
    1997-2003

  • Valley Leadership, Inc.
    President, 1994-1995
    Graduate, Class VII Valley Leadership Program

  • Valley of the Sun United Way
    Past Board Member, 1994-1997

  • Volunteer Center of Maricopa
    Board of Directors, Past Member

  • Arizona Business and Education Coalition
    Board Member

Honors  

  • American Law Institute, Member, 1999-present

  • Anti-Defamation League, 1998 Leaders of Distinction Award

  • Arizona Attorney Magazine, “100 Women & Minority Lawyers”, November 2000

  • Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys, 2002

  • Chicanos Por La Causa, 1993 Community Advocacy Award Recipient

  • 1977 Harry S Truman Scholar, Representing State of Arizona

  • Hispanic National Bar Association, National “Latino Lawyer of the Year”, 2002

  • American Jewish Committee,
    Judge Learned Hand Award, Community Service Award, 2004

  • Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer, Charter Fellow

  • Los Abogados, 1998 Member of the Year

  • Martindale-Hubbell, “AV”  “Preeminent” Rated

  • Best Lawyers, Rated and Listed

  • Super Lawyers, Rated and Listed

  • Northern Arizona University
    1999 Centennial Top 100 Grad, The Pine
    1998 Recipient, Distinguished Alumnus Award, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
    1990 Recipient, “100” Top Graduate
    Gold Axe Award, 1979
    1987 Alumni Service Award Recipient
    President’s Award (Outstanding Graduating Senior), 1979
    ASNAU President 1978-79

  • Southwest Superlawyers, since 2007

  • St. Vincent de Paul Dan O’Meara Award, 2003 Community Award

  • University of Arizona, Distinguished Citizen Award, April 2003

  • Valle del Sol, 1993 Profiles of Success Award Recipient

  • Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Phoenix
    Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (Papal Order)
    Knight Grand Cross
    Vice Councillor, Diocese of Phoenix, 2003-2006
    Catholic Community Foundation
    Chairperson, 1998-2000
    Board Member, 1992-2002
    Diocesan Finance Council, Member, 1994-2001
    Diocesan Human Development Council, Past Member
    Diocesan Immigration Task Force, 2007-2008
    Ss. Simon and Jude Roman Catholic Parish, Parishioner
    Ss. Simon and Jude School Mardi Gras 2000, Underwriting Co-Chair
    Cub Scout Pack 148, Ss. Simon and Jude Parish, Cubmaster, 2001-2003

  • Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys, 2002

  • Best of the Bar, The Business Journal, 2004, 2006, 2007

  • Phoenix Business Journal, “Top 10 Influential – Law,” 1999

  • Maricopa County Bar Association, Hall of Fame Inductee, 2020

  • Honorary Commander,
    Luke Air Force Base, 2022-2024

Professional Affiliations  

  • American Law Institute Elected Member, 1999 – present

  • State Bar of Arizona
    President, 2002-2003
    Probable Cause Panelist, 1999-2001
    Board of Governors, 1987-1988; 1997-2003
    Labor and Employment Section, Executive Council, Past Member
    Appointments Committee, 1988-1992,
    Appointments Committee Chair 1999-2000
    Construction Law Section
    Disciplinary Committee, Former Member
    Former President, Young Lawyers Division
    State Bar of Arizona Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 1990
    Committee on Minorities and Women in Law, 1987-1991
    Committee on Victims’ Rights (Proposition 104)

  • American Bar Association
    House of Delegates 2004 – 2008 and 2023 –
    Litigation Section
    Labor and Employment Section
    Judicial Division Lawyers Conference, Executive Council, former member
    Member Since 1983

  • American Bar Foundation, Past Fellow

  • Arizona Bar Foundation, Past Fellow

  • Judge Pro Tempore, Arizona Court of Appeals, Department S, 1993, 1994, 1996

  • Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, 1993-2000

  • Arizona Appellate Practice Institute, Past Faculty Member

  • Supreme Court of Arizona Professionalism Course, Past Faculty Member

  • Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Performance Review, past Member, Pilot Project

  • APRL (Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers), Member

  • Federal Bar Association, Past Member

  • Maricopa County Bar Association, Member
    Volunteer Lawyer of the Month, August 2001
    Volunteer Lawyer of the Month, June 1989

  • Hispanic Lawyers Association (Los Abogados)
    Vice President, 1985 – 1987
    Board Member, 1985-1992
    Co-Founder, Valdemar Cordova Fund Scholorship

  • PRIMA (Public Risk Management Association),
    Arizona Affiliate Member

  • St. Thomas More Society, Past Board Member
    President, 1992-1993

  • Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Law Society, Board Member 1992-1997

  • University of Arizona Law College Assn., Board Member, 1986-1994

  • Arizona Council of School Attorneys, Member

  • National School Boards Association, Council of School Attorneys

  • Selection Committee, Judge Pro Tempore, Civil Division, Maricopa County, 1993, 1994

  • Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners
    President, 1990
    Member, 1986-1993

  • National Employment Law Institute Employment Litigation Workshop, September 1990

  • Past Special Assistant Attorney General

  • Horace Rumpole Inn of Court, Past Barrister Member

  • National Organization of Legal Problems in Education, Past Member