Susan Looney is President of Reading Area Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Reading Area Community College Susan Looney President Institution website: https://www.racc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.racc.edu/about-racc/presidents-biography Susan Looney is President of Reading Area Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Leah Bornstein is President of Aims Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Aims Community College Leah Bornstein President Institution website: https://www.aims.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.aims.edu/employee-directory/leah-bornstein Leah Bornstein is President of Aims Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

David May is President of Bellevue College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Bellevue College David May President Institution website: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/about-us/college-leadership/president/ David May is President of Bellevue College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Kristine Strickland is Chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Fletcher Technical Community College Kristine Strickland Chancellor Institution website: https://www.fletcher.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.fletcher.edu/about-us/message-from-dr-strickland Kristine Strickland is Chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Jennifer Gomez-Chavez serves as Vice President for Institutional Engagement of Excelencia in Education. Jennifer supports the advancement of institutional transformation to intentionally serve Latino students through engaging with institutions and their leaders to connect them to Excelencia’s programs, services, resources and research. < Back to Our People Page Jennifer Gomez-Chavez Vice President for Institutional Engagement Excelencia in Education Email: jgomez-chavez@EdExcelencia.org Current Position: Jennifer supports the advancement of institutional transformation to intentionally serve Latino students through engaging with institutions and their leaders to connect them to Excelencia ’s programs, services, resources and research. She facilitates a network of affiliates through outreach strategies, engaging them in learning communities, keeping them informed about policy issues, and ensuring that they receive support to advance their efforts. Portfolio includes: Excelencia in Action, Affiliate Engagement in the network, Policy, Liaison for Institutional programs and practitioners, and Liaison for Emerging HSIs. Past Experiences: Jennifer Gomez-Chavez is a native New Mexican born and raised in Hagerman, a small rural farming community. Jennifer has 30 years of experience working with low-income, and students from underrepresented backgrounds through her positions with the LULAC National Educational Service Center and the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque. She holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice, a Master’s in Counseling, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Jennifer retired from the University of New Mexico where she spent 27 years in various roles that include: Special Assistant to the Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UNM Health Sciences Center and main campus, Executive Director of the Unidos Project, Central Region Director for ENLACE New Mexico, Director of Collective Impact Initiatives and an adjunct faculty member. She led the first Title V grant at UNM main campus and was named as the inaugural Director of Student Success for the university. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? My passion has been focused on the success of students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, first generation, low-income and rural communities which is aligned to Excelencia 's mission and goals. I believe in the critical work that Excelencia has been undergoing for the last 18 years, and I want to be part of transforming institutions. My hope is to help institutions transform to be "student ready" and educate and empower the present and future generations of Latino students to dream big and achieve their highest goals. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? It is exciting to be working for an organization that is leading nationally on Latino student success. I feel honored to be part of an incredible team that is committed to building a national movement based on data, practice and leadership to transform higher education institutions and support practitioners in their efforts to accelerate Latino student success.

** is President of Loyola Marymount University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Loyola Marymount University ** President Institution website: https://www.lmu.edu/ Bio Page: https://president.lmu.edu/ ** is President of Loyola Marymount University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Harrison Keller is President of the University of North Texas and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page University of North Texas Harrison Keller President Institution website: https://www.unt.edu/ Bio Page: https://president.unt.edu/president-keller-bio.html Harrison Keller is President of the University of North Texas and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Sarita E. Brown is Co-Founder and President of Excelencia in Education, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating Latino success in higher education by linking research, policy, and practice to serve Latino students. < Back to Our People Page Sarita E. Brown President Excelencia in Education Email: sbrown@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD BIO Sarita E. Brown is Co-founder & President of Excelencia in Education, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating Latino success in higher education by linking research, policy, and practice to serve Latino, and all, students. A recognized leader and advocate for equity in higher education, she began her career at the University of Texas at Austin, where she built a national model for increasing the number of students of color in graduate education and in the academy. Once in Washington, DC, Sarita served in leadership roles in higher education associations, at American University and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute. She was appointed as the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans during the Clinton Administration. As Excelencia’s President, Sarita is responsible for the vision and governance of the organization, working with the Board of Directors to communicate with stakeholders and identify forward-thinking partners, funders and investors to support Excelencia’s mission. With over 30 years of experience catalyzing and supporting higher educational institutions and leaders to address equity, she applies her skills and energies to expanding Excelencia in Action (E-Action), Excelencia’s national network of college and university leaders who have committed to making their institutions learning environments where Latino, and all, students thrive.

Audrey Dow serves as Partner, Secoya Affect at the Campaign for College Opportunity, and Excelencia in Education's Board Member. < Back to Our People Page Audrey Dow Partner, Secoya Affect Campaign for College Opportunity Audrey Dow is a public affairs, media and communications strategist who provides consulting services to leading nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and business organizations working to improve the lives of marginalized people in California and the nation. She previously served as a member of the Executive Team at the Campaign for College Opportunity, one of the most impactful higher education policy, advocacy, and research organizations in California. Ms. Dow's work has influenced historic policy reforms in higher education, including ending the inequitable practice of placement exams and remedial courses, expanding financial aid for students, improving transfer policies from community colleges to universities, stopping unfair admission changes at the California State University, and supporting the end of SAT/ACT exams for University of California admissions. California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Ms. Dow to the Health Professions Education Foundation Board of Directors. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for a Better Community.

Adrien L. Bennings is President of Portland Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Portland Community College Adrien L. Bennings President Institution website: https://www.pcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.pcc.edu/news/2022/11/her-community-college-moment/ Adrien L. Bennings is President of Portland Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Rey Rivera is President of Estrella Mountain Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Estrella Mountain Community College Rey Rivera President Institution website: https://www.estrellamountain.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.estrellamountain.edu/about/administration Rey Rivera is President of Estrella Mountain Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

< Back to News Page National Nonprofit Unveils Direct Impact Fund for Donors Committed to Latino Student Success Nationwide Dec 17, 2024 Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Excelencia in Education’s Futuro Fund will fuel investment in programming, partnerships, and research working to accelerate Latino college completion goals by 2030 WASHINGTON, D.C. ( December 17, 2024 ) – Excelencia in Education ( Excelencia ) , the nation’s leading organization focused on accelerating Latino student success in higher education, concludes its 20th year of service to its mission this month by announcing the Excelencia Futuro Fund . This new direct impact fund will facilitate investment and collaboration among donors committed to advancing Latino college enrollment, success, and graduation. “Anniversaries remind us of where we’ve been, but they are not destinations. The Futuro Fund marks a significant milestone in our organization’s history with action. We launch the Fund and continue advancing Latino student success with colleges and universities serving all their students,” said Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia . “We invite you to join us in supporting the institutions playing an outsized role in helping more Latino students thrive in college and graduate ready for the workforce and civic leadership. Simply put, this is about investing in what works.” The announcement of the Futuro Fund comes at a pivotal moment — and a shifting policy environment — for American higher education and Latino communities. Hispanic enrollment in higher education has more than doubled since 2008, reflecting the growing share of Hispanic Americans in the U.S. population. Yet there are many more Latino students who could enroll. For those who do, 44% of Latino college students are the first in their families to attend college . That statistic underscores the need to connect Latino students with institutions well-equipped to meet their needs and prepare them for the world of work. Since its founding in 2004, Excelencia has demonstrated a proven track record of identifying evidence-based practices and influencing policy to improve Latino student outcomes. To accelerate this vital work, the Futuro Fund will mobilize support and investment around institutions in the Presidents for Latino Student Success network that are making significant strides toward the ambitious goal of enrolling and graduating 40% of all Latino undergraduates by 2030. The Fund will support greater impact by expanding at least 20 proven strategies that drive measurable improvements in Latino student outcomes. “For 20 years, Excelencia has proven itself an indispensable partner to countless college leaders, educators, and policymakers by transforming research into action, policy into impact, and mere conversation into institutional commitments,” said Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, president of the University at Albany, which welcomed a record number of first-year Latino students in 2024 . “The Fund will support the network of colleges and universities committed to providing learning environments where every Latino student can thrive — and inspire others to join us.” Contributions to the Fund also will provide resources and financial support to the more than 45 colleges and universities that have earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia , a nationally recognized certification for institutions that go beyond enrolling Latino students by intentionally supporting their success. Using Excelencia’s framework, Seal-certified institutions outperform other institutions, HSIs and non-HSIs, in Latino student success metrics such as retention and completion rates. “Making good on the promise of college and documenting return-on-investment to the nation through evidence-based outcomes for today’s Hispanic students is vital to the workforce of the future — and the civic and community leaders of tomorrow,” said Dr. Elizabeth Béjar, provost at Florida International University, a top 50 public research university, one of the nation’s strongest Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Seal of Excelencia -certified university. “For those looking to make a positive, meaningful impact for Hispanic students, the Futuro Fund provides a platform for investing in advocacy, action, and research.” For more information on the Excelencia Futuro Fund and how to support this initiative, visit: EdExcelencia.org/about/donate About Excelencia in Education Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers 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 accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, informing educational policies with a Latino lens, and advancing evidence-based practices. In 2024, Excelencia marks 20 years of commitment to Latino student success. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org