For Immediate Release
September 30, 2024
HACU announces second cohort of its Enlace Mid-level Leadership Program
SAN ANTONIO – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is pleased to announce the second cohort of its Enlace Mid-level Leadership Program. Fifty-four 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 November 2024 at HACU’s Annual Conference in Aurora, Colorado and at the National Capitol Forum in Washington, D.C., in April 2025. The program will conclude with a graduation ceremony.
Special thanks to Capital One* and the Mellon Foundation** for their support in providing grant funding for select participants.
The selectees and their home institutions are:
Priscilla Aguilar, Palo Alto College
Margarita Macias Alarilla, Ed.D., St. Mary's University
Elizabeth Aranda, Western Governors University
Christian Bello Escobar, Ed.D., University of North Georgia*
E. Dani Belvin, Central New Mexico Community College**
Julie A. Bettergarcia, Ph.D., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Erika Buenrrostro, UA Cossatot Community College*
Brittany Bryant-López, Ed.D., Maricopa County Community College District
Marisa Castro, Pima Community College
Aida Castro-Henix, Bergen Community College
Christopher J. De La Cerda, Wellesley College
Damon De La Cruz, Ph.D., Cypress College
Alejandra Emely Diaz Mireles, University of California, Merced
Leslie Flores, Texas Lutheran University*
Nadia Y. Flores-Yeffal, Ph.D., Texas Tech University
Tatiana M. Gallegos, Richard J. Daley College - City Colleges of Chicago
Daniel Garcia, University of St. Thomas
Dulcemaria Anaya Garcia, University of California, Merced
Corina V. Giron, Maricopa Community Colleges
Yolanda Gonzales, Pima County Community College
Javier Gonzalez-Sanchez, Ph.D., California Polytechnic State University
Michael Gutierrez, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Yvette V. Huerta, Ed.D., El Paso Community College
Donna Lopez, University of New Mexico
Jose M. Lowe, Ph.D., Hudson County Community College
Cecilia Luna, University of California, Berkeley
Valerie A. Martínez, Ph.D., Our Lady of the Lake University**
Mario Marquez Guerrero, Paradise Valley Community College
Cristian Mendez Garcia, Western Oregon University
Fernando Mendoza, University of Mount Saint Vincent
Natalie Morales, Wilbur Wright College
Rebecca Morales Saiz, Sam Houston State University
Norma Morán, Gallaudet University
Isabelle (Izzy) Narvaez, University of California, San Diego
Ali Nejat, Ph.D., Texas Tech University
Rachel Perlman, Ph.D., John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Renee Quintana-Romero, Central New Mexico Community College
Andrea Ramirez, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
Margarita Regalado Rivera, Pasadena City College
Pedro L. Rivera, Laredo College
Christopher M. Rodriguez, Pima County Community College
Josefina E. Rosario, University of Central Florida
Kelly Rueda, New Mexico Junior College
Vanessa Ruelas, Salt Lake Community College
Elijah Serena, St. Mary's University*
Fabian Sigala Orozco, Colorado State University Pueblo
Nori E. Sogomonian, Ed.D., San Bernardino Valley College**
Brandi Stone, University of New Mexico
Maung Thein Myint, Ph.D., Southeast New Mexico College
Cristalyn Vargas, Southern Connecticut State University*
Julie Vega, Sul Ross State University
Lisa Vázquez Vigil, The University of Texas at San Antonio
Alejandra Yep, Ph.D., California Polytechnic State University
Candace Zepeda, Ph.D., Our Lady of the Lake University**
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., Sacramento, California, and Chicago, Illinois.