Feb 25, 2026
Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org
Excelencia in Education Elevates Leadership with New Higher Ed and Workforce Visionaries on Board
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 25, 2026) – Excelencia in Education, a national organization catalyzing institutional transformation for Latino, and all, student success in higher education, announced today that three distinguished visionaries in education, policy, and workforce development have joined its Board of Directors. Together with the full Board, they are elevating Excelencia’s leadership in helping colleges and universities embed student-centered, data-informed, continuous improvement into their strategies and practices — and prove their positive student impact to funders, accreditors, and communities.
The new directors bring a powerful combination of experience and commitment to ensuring Latino, and all, students earn a quality college education, and to upholding higher education’s role as an engine of social mobility, workforce development, and economic vitality. They include an executive in a community college system innovating to facilitate access to excellence, a longstanding expert on education and workforce development, and a president who has led institutions transforming to intentionally serve their students in multiple states.
Excelencia will leverage their perspectives to inform and drive the organization’s efforts to design, scale, and certify institutional solutions that produce measurable outcomes for Latino, and all, students.
The new directors joining the Excelencia Board are:
Verónica Herrero, Executive Vice Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago, and President, City Colleges of Chicago Foundation
Verónica provides leadership for the City Colleges of Chicago district in the areas of strategy, institutional effectiveness, external affairs, advancement, and marketing and communications.
Jane Oates, Senior Policy Advisor, WorkingNation
Jane previously served as President of WorkingNation following a decades-long career as a thought leader in education and workforce.
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, San José State University
Cynthia’s leadership at San José State University has been marked by strategic growth, national recognition, and facilities initiatives, repositioning the university as a premier public urban research institution. Most recently, she served as president of a university in Texas.
“Excelencia continues to transform higher education for Latino, and all, students, growing excellence for America’s future,” said Massey Villarreal, Excelencia in Education Board Chair. “We are honored that the new and continuing board members are strengthening our impact, each bringing a proven commitment to producing meaningful results for students, institutions, and our nation’s workforce.”
“The Directors on the Excelencia Board know first-hand that what works to intentionally serve Latino students in higher education can also work for others,” said Sarita E. Brown, Excelencia in Education Co-founder and President. “They are holding themselves accountable for delivering access and value that matters for the success of our students and country — and calling on others to do the same.”
Meet the Excelencia in Education Board of Directors: EdExcelencia.org/about/our-people
About Excelencia in Education
Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia ensures access to excellence by promoting student achievement, informing educational policies, and advancing evidence-based practices to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org