Our Story
Excelencia’s History and Evolution
Excelencia in Education began as a Latina-led organization with Co-founders Sarita Brown and Deborah Santiago. In 2004, they launched Excelencia with the belief that it is both crucial and possible for the U.S. to accelerate Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education through an intentional, strategic effort.
Since our founding, Excelencia has grown in size and influence, as well as leveraged our role as a national leader, trusted source of information, and advocate for evidence-based practices to support Latino students’ achievement amongst all served. We continue to create opportunities to examine critical issues in postsecondary education from new perspectives and reconsider traditional efforts in a post-traditional context to the benefit of all students.
Our story is one of commitment, persistence, credibility, and collaborative action for positive results on behalf of Latino, and all, students to ensure America’s future.
20 Years of Serving Our Mission
In 2024, Excelencia marked 20 years of service to our mission — accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success, to close postsecondary attainment gaps and advance our families, communities, and nation. See how we have shaped the national agenda for student-centered institutional transformation over the last two decades.
