The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has announced the agenda and speakers of its 25th Annual Higher Education Leadership Institute, a pre-conference event taking place Oct. 31, 2026, at the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, in conjunction with HACU’s 40th Annual Conference. The one-day Institute will focus on vital skills and strategies for moving up the faculty and administrative ladders in higher education.
The Higher Education Leadership Summit will explore topics under the theme “Student Success by Design: Leading Institutional Transformation Across Campus Systems.” Héctor Garza, Ph.D., dean of arts, letters & learning services at Imperial Valley College, will serve as moderator. A morning keynote will be presented by Mark Sanchez, Ed.D., superintendent/president of Southwestern College.
Concurrent breakout sessions include:
“By Design, Not by Chance: Leading Strategic Working Groups in an Era of Minority-Serving Institution Uncertainty,” led by Amy J. Díaz, Ed.D., chief of staff and vice chancellor for strategy and operations, Rutgers University Newark.
“From Silos to Systems: Leading Institutional Transformation for Student Success,” led by Steven Partridge, vice president, strategy, research and workforce innovation of Northern Virgina Community College.
“From Checkboxes to Strategy: The Evolution of a Midwestern University Toward Integrated Servingness,” led by Andrea Stapleton, Ph.D., vice president for mission and justice, Mount Mary University.
The luncheon keynote speaker will be Pradeep K. Khosla, Ph.D., followed by an afternoon session on the “White House Fellowship Program,” presented by Francisco Leija providing information about the leadership and service program.
The Institute concludes with a Presidents’ Panel that includes Alberto J.F. Cardelle, Ph.D., president, SUNY Oneonta; Tiffany Hernandez, Ph.D., president, Glendale Community College; John A. Nunes, Ph.D., president, California Lutheran University; and Ashanti Hands, Ed.D., president, San Diego Mesa College.
For agenda, click here. To register online, click here.
The 25th Annual Higher Education Leadership Institute is a pre-conference event of HACU’s 40th Annual Conference taking place in Chula Vista, California, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 2026.
