The Excelencia Fellowship Program
The Excelencia Fellowship Program engages leaders from Seal of Excelencia certified institutions in the Excelencia in Action (E-Action) network that have demonstrated data-informed, student-centered, continuous improvement to ensure their students thrive. These institutions nominate campus leaders who exemplify their commitment to intentionally serving Latino, and all, students. In turn, Excelencia puts a select few on a path to serve on the frontline of higher education transformation through the program.
Fellows participate in programming that deepens their understanding of federal higher education policy and national strategy and leverages the Seal of Excelencia framework so they can strengthen institutional effectiveness and build a strong community of practice. In the three years since the program began, several leaders have been promoted and at least one Fellow has become the president of an institution.
Excelencia selected 13 higher education leaders for our 2026 cohort of Fellows, increasing their voices to inform policy and practice
2026 Excelencia Fellows
Claudia Aguilar
Interim Chief Innovation Officer, Long Beach City College
Yvania Garcia-Pusateri
Director, Diversity Initiatives and Resource Centers, California State University, Fullerton
Victor Munoz
Director of First Year Experience, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
April Aultman Becker
Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Sul Ross State University
Alam Hasson
Vice Provost, California State University, Fresno
Maira Rodriguez
Director of Virtual Support, Pima Community College
Gilbert V. Castillo, Jr.
Dean for Performance Excellence, San Antonio College
Julia Heck
Associate Vice President for Student Life and Support Programs and Dean of Students, California State University Channel Islands
Vanessa Sansone
Assistant Department Chair and Associate Professor, The University of Texas at San Antonio
Luis Duarte
Executive Director of the Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) Program, University of Illinois Chicago
Patricia López
Associate Professor and Chair, California State University, Fresno
Marla Franco
Special Advisor, Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives, University of Arizona
Deanna Merino Contino
Associate Vice President, Student Life, University of Nevada, Las Vegas