Peggy Heinrich is President of Elgin Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Elgin Community College Peggy Heinrich President Institution website: https://elgin.edu/ Bio Page: https://elgin.edu/about/administration/president.php Peggy Heinrich is President of Elgin Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Michael Avaltroni is President of Fairleigh Dickinson University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Fairleigh Dickinson University Michael Avaltroni President Institution website: https://www.fdu.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.fdu.edu/about/university-leadership-offices/university-president/biography/ Michael Avaltroni is President of Fairleigh Dickinson University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Kenneth Lawson is President of Columbia Gorge Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Columbia Gorge Community College Kenneth Lawson President Institution website: https://www.cgcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.cgcc.edu/presidents-office Kenneth Lawson is President of Columbia Gorge Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Valerio Ferme is President of New Mexico State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page New Mexico State University Valerio Ferme President Institution website: https://nmsu.edu/ Bio Page: https://president.nmsu.edu/ Valerio Ferme is President of New Mexico State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Luis Pedraja is President of Quinsigamond Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Quinsigamond Community College Luis Pedraja President Institution website: https://www.qcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.qcc.edu/about-qcc/presidents-office Luis Pedraja is President of Quinsigamond Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Jose Gomez is President of Pasadena City College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Pasadena City College Jose Gomez President Institution website: https://pasadena.edu/ Bio Page: https://pasadena.edu/about/president/biography.php Jose Gomez is President of Pasadena City College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Lynn Mahoney is President of San Francisco State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page San Francisco State University Lynn Mahoney President Institution website: https://www.sfsu.edu/ Bio Page: https://president.sfsu.edu/biography Lynn Mahoney is President of San Francisco State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2024-2027 San Francisco State University (SFSU) is a comprehensive, public, urban university serving six Bay Area Counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara). SUSU draws just over 60% of its students from these counties. As of fall 2023, Latino students represented 37% of SFSU’s student body. The SFSU student body has become increasingly more diverse, and the university has earned Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) designation in 2012 and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation in 2016.

Carlos E. Santiago served as the Commissioner Emeritus, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, and Excelencia in Education's Board Member. < Back to Our People Page Carlos E. Santiago Commissioner Emeritus Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) Carlos E. Santiago served as the Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education from 2015-2022. He served as the State Higher Education Executive Officer (SHEEO) and was selected as the recipient of the 2021 SHEEO Exceptional Agency Award. Carlos worked closely with the leadership of the three segments of public higher education: community colleges, State Universities, and the University of Massachusetts. Prior to his appointment, Carlos was the first Puerto Rican president of a major U.S. research university when he served as the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 2022 the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) honored him with the Alfredo de Los Santos Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award.

Xavier Cole is President of Loyola University New Orleans and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Loyola University New Orleans Xavier Cole President Institution website: https://www.loyno.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.loyno.edu/about/office-president Xavier Cole is President of Loyola University New Orleans and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Dianey Leal serves as Strategic Partnerships Manager of Excelencia in Education. Dianey is responsible for managing relationships and programs that support Excelencia’s partnership initiatives to advance institutions’ journeys to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. < Back to Our People Page Dianey Leal Strategic Partnerships Manager Excelencia in Education E-mail: dleal@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As the Strategic Partnerships Manager, Dianey is responsible for managing relationships and programs that support Excelencia’s partnership initiatives to advance institutions’ journeys to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. She also contributes to Excelencia’s internal learning, evaluation, and strategy development that enhance collaborations with partners and expand the organization’s impact in fulfilling its mission. Past Experiences: Dianey is a proud daughter of Mexican immigrant farmworkers and first-generation, college-going graduate raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Dianey’s professional background spans higher education, nonprofit, and philanthropy sectors, providing her with a diverse perspective on advancing opportunities for students. Prior to joining Excelencia , she oversaw corporate and federally-funded partnerships and programs aimed at supporting students’ educational journeys, including career preparation. Dianey holds a B.A. in Political Science and English Writing and Rhetoric from St. Edward’s University, a M.A. in Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Chicano/Latino studies from Michigan State University. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? My personal and professional experiences have fueled my passion for bridging research and practice to improve educational opportunities of underrepresented students in higher education, whether through policy, advocacy, or evidence-based programs. This role with Excelencia gives me the opportunity to listen to, learn from, and work with colleges and universities across the nation in support of that goal. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia brings me a deep sense of purpose and hope. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the thoughtful decision-making process that Excelencia takes to support institutions at every stage of their journey. This kind of commitment reinforces my belief in the power of collective action, especially when intentionality is at the heart of our efforts. I am grateful to collaborate with a team of dedicated individuals who are mission-driven, kind, and passionate about intentionally SERVING Latino students.

** is President of Texas A&M University-Victoria and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Texas A&M University-Victoria ** President Institution website: https://www.tamuv.edu/ Bio Page: ** is President of Texas A&M University-Victoria and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Latinos will need to earn 6.2 million degrees by 2030 to reach the U.S. degree attainment goal. Learn about Latino College Completion in Indiana. Latino College Completion - Indiana Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers continues. However, different patterns emerge within each state or location. To reach the Latino degree attainment goal by 2030, states can close the degree completion gap by accelerating Latino completion while increasing for all students and scale up programs and initiatives that work for Latino, and all, students. To find out more, scroll below. DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2021) 26% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 39% Of White adults Fast Facts Indiana had the 21st largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 12% K-12 Population 8% Total Population 2-Year Graduation Rate 38% Latino Students 36% White Students Median Age 25 Latinos 41 White 4-Year Graduation Rate 58% Latino Students 67% White Students Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions , Hispanics' graduation rate was 2%-points higher than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Indiana. At four-year institutions , Hispanics' graduation rate was 9%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Indiana. BACK TO MAIN LCC PAGE Top Institutions To find out more about the top institutions enrolling, and awarding associate and bachelor degrees to Hispanics by using the tabs below to navigate the information. Click on the tabs below to explore. ENROLLING ASSOCIATES DEGREES BACHELORS DEGREE Top Institutions Enrolling (Hispanic Undergraduates) in Indiana, 2021-2022 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 Purdue University Global Public, 4-year or above 32,213 4,650 14% 2 Indiana University-Bloomington Public, 4-year or above 33,995 2,693 8% 3 Ivy Tech Community College Public, 2-year 51,522 2,440 5% 4 Purdue University-Main Campus Public, 4-year or above 37,658 2,355 6% 5 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Public, 4-year or above 18,707 2,195 12% Top Institutions Awarding Associate Degrees to Hispanics in Indiana, 2020-2021 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 Purdue University Global Public, 4-year or above 1,985 323 16% 2 Ivy Tech Community College Public, 2-year 8,664 322 4% 3 Vincennes University Public, 4-year or above 1,404 179 13% 4 Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 544 23 4% 5 International Business College-Indianapolis Private for-profit, 2-year 152 16 11% Top Institutions Awarding Bachelor Degrees to Hispanics in Indiana, 2020-2021 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 Purdue University Global Public, 4-year or above 4,943 575 12% 2 Indiana University-Bloomington Public, 4-year or above 7,495 502 7% 3 Purdue University-Main Campus Public, 4-year or above 7,591 392 5% 4 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Public, 4-year or above 4,427 334 8% 5 Purdue University Northwest Public, 4-year or above 1,624 323 20% Examples of What Works for Latino, And All, Students Looking to know what works or connect with evidence-based programs recognized by Excelencia ? Our team can work with you to identify and connect with relevant programs making an impact on student success that can help you in your efforts to intentionally serve your Latino, and all, students. Click here to contact us . Sources Excelencia in Education. (2020). Ensuring America’s Future: Benchmarking Latino College Completion to 2030. Excelencia in Education. Washington, D.C. U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Excelencia in Education Analysis using the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2021 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey and Institutional Characteristics Survey.