September 15, 2023

HACU announces inaugural cohort of its Enlace Mid-level Leadership Program

SAN ANTONIO – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is pleased to announce the inaugural cohort of its Enlace Mid-level Leadership Program. Fifty-five participants have been selected to begin the program this fall.

The six-month leadership development program for mid-level college and university professionals is designed to increase the number, variety, and quality of Latino/a talent in leadership positions at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and in higher education overall.

Selectees will participate in programming covering academic and student affairs management, regional institutional accreditation, diversity, equity and inclusion, and higher education advocacy issues. Participants will also interact with a professional search firm.

The sessions will be delivered through a series of online meetings and also in person sessions that will take place in October 2023 at HACU’s Annual Conference in Chicago and at the National Capitol Forum in Washington, D.C., in April 2024. The program will conclude with a graduation ceremony.

Special thanks to Capital One for their support in providing grant funding for 10 participants*.

The selectees and their home institutions are:

  • Austin Community College, Mirosalva Zuniga
  • Caldwell University, Benahir Crespo
  • California Institute of the Arts, Veronica Alvarez, Ed.D.
  • California Lutheran University, Maria G. Montejano-Thayer
  • California State University, Bakersfield, Jorge Villatoro*
  • California State University, Fresno, Laura Ramos*
  • California State University, Long Beach, Elyzza M. Aparicio, Ph.D.
  • California State University, Long Beach, Manuel Romero
  • California State University, Long Beach, Norma R. Salcedo, Ed.D.
  • California State University, Monterey Bay, Maria A. Gurrola, Ph.D.
  • Central Washington University, Arturo Torres
  • Central Washington University, Verónica Gómez Vilchis
  • Cypress College, Gabriela De La Cruz
  • Cypress College, José I. Sanchez
  • Cypress College, Juan Carlos Garcia, Ed.D.
  • Dominican University, Elizabeth Soto, Ed.D.
  • Estrella Mountain Community College, Isaac Torres
  • GateWay Community College, Leah Smith-Thompson
  • Hudson County Community College, Irma Williams*
  • Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Cindy Gil
  • Laredo College, Julio Reyes
  • Laredo College, Rene J. Montemayor *
  • Milwaukee Area Technical College, Maria Cristina Rodriguez*
  • Montgomery College, Glenda Hernandez Tittle, Ph.D.
  • Montgomery College, Yanira L. Rodriguez
  • Mount Saint Mary's University, Janet Rosas
  • National Louis University, Lady Gil
  • National University, Sonia Rodriguez, Ph.D.
  • New Jersey City University, Lorena Laverde*
  • North Park University, Evelyn Aponte-Aucutt, Ph.D.
  • North Shore Community College, Natalie Aleman, Ed.D. 
  • Northern Arizona University, Vidal Mendoza
  • Our Lady of the Lake University, Michelle Avila*
  • Our Lady of the Lake University, Pedro Tijerina*
  • Palo Alto College, Carmen Velasquez-Avila
  • Paradise Valley Community College, Ivette C. Quintero
  • Phoenix College, Georgina Ruiz
  • Pima Community College, Maira Rodriguez, J.D.
  • Pima Community College, Valerie Vidal-King
  • Rio Salado College, Regina Hernandez-Garcia
  • San Bernardino Valley College, Leticia Hector*
  • St. Augustine College, Alejandro De la Luz
  • St. Augustine College, Karla Martinez
  • Texas A&M University Commerce, Melissa Guerrero Arrambide, Ed.D.
  • The University of Texas at Arlington, Maria Yareli Delgado, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis, Lina R. Mendez, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Merced, Ariel Harrison 
  • University of California San Diego, Omar Padilla, Ph.D.
  • University of California San Diego, Claudia I. Martinez
  • University of California San Diego, María Luisa Reyes
  • University of San Diego, Lissette Martinez
  • University of Texas at San Antonio, Cynthia Arreola
  • University of Texas at San Antonio, Feiyi Ring
  • University of the Incarnate Word, Monica Ayala Jimenez, Ed.D.*
  • Western Oregon University, Doris I. Cancel-Tirado, Ph.D.

Detailed information about the Enlace Mid-level Leadership Program is available online at hacu.net. 

About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C and Sacramento, California.

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Media Contact:
Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia
Senior Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
210.576.3206
njgarcia@hacu.net

Christopher de Hoyos                                           
Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
Phone: (210) 576-3242 E-Mail: chris.dehoyos@hacu.net



  

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, California.

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