December 14, 2022

HACU statement on the passing of José F. Méndez González, president emeritus of the Ana G. Méndez University System

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has released the following statement on the passing of José F. Méndez González, president emeritus of the Ana G. Méndez University System in Puerto Rico. 

“Dr. Méndez González was a great colleague and fervent leader who supported the mission and achievements of our Association,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “His commitment to higher education was evident through his accomplishments for more than 40 years and he will be sorely missed.”

As president of the then Ana G. Méndez University System, he managed the transition of the institution from colleges to universities, the creation of university centers around the island to bring education to distant communities, the development of academic schools specialized in engineering, tourism and culinary arts, and the integration of innovative study modalities for the adult student.

As part of his initiatives to achieve a greater international projection of SUAGM, Méndez González also established strategic alliances with universities and entities in Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. He managed to expand SUAGM to the U.S. to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic community by offering the first bilingual program at the university level in the nation.