Dianey Leal serves as Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships 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 Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships Excelencia in Education E-mail: dleal@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As the Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships, 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.

Martha Garcia is President of Mt. San Antonio College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Mt. San Antonio College Martha Garcia President Institution website: https://www.mtsac.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.mtsac.edu/president/ Martha Garcia is President of Mt. San Antonio College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Krista L. Newkirk is President of the University of Redlands and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page University of Redlands Krista L. Newkirk President Institution website: https://www.redlands.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.redlands.edu/about/office-of-the-president/president Krista L. Newkirk is President of the University of Redlands and part of Excelencia in Action network.

The Seal of Excelencia expands the meaning of accountability for institutions beyond compliance towards intentionality and continuous improvement. < Back Reframing Accountability: Review of the Seal of Excelencia Higher Ed Insight; Excelencia in Education December 2025 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Accountability is key for institutions of higher education to assess their impact, inform continuous improvement, and demonstrate value to students, their families, and society. Yet, accountability is too often defined by compliance and standard outcome measures such as enrollment and graduation rates. This definition and approach to accountability does not capture the full story of how an institution is intentionally serving its students. This brief highlights how the Seal of Excelencia (Seal) expands the meaning of accountability beyond compliance toward intentionality and continuous improvement by integrating essential components of transformation into a comprehensive institutional strategy for serving Latino, and all, students. Key Findings Findings from surveys and interviews with institutions that engaged in the Seal process highlight its effectiveness as a catalyst for institutional transformation by: Building capacity for accountability to improve outcomes for students. Institutions strengthened their ability to collect, disaggregate, and apply data to improve outcomes and identify inequities. Removing institutional silos and fostering collaboration. Cross-functional teams formed to interpret data and align strategies, reducing silos. Embedding data in institutional success practices. Institutions applied data to redesign programs, expand culturally responsive supports, and improve faculty and staff engagement. Validating strategy and signaling intentionality and trust to the community served. Earning the Seal serves as an external affirmation of internal commitment, building credibility with the institution’s students, families, and communities. Lessons for Reframing and Evolving Accountability Three lessons drawn from the Seal of Excelencia offer a roadmap for evolving accountability in higher education: Accounting for Institutional Readiness and Data Capacity: Accountability models should meet institutions where they are, accounting for institutions’ varying degrees of data capacity, knowledge, and resources. Holistic Contextualized Accountability: Accountability models should be iterative and asset-based, grounded in both quantitative and qualitative data to capture a full understanding of institutional mission, culture, context, impact, and outcomes for students. Tracking Momentum Through Longitudinal Data: Accountability models should use longitudinal data, such as five-year trends, to track momentum and year-to-year progress rather than stand-alone outcomes, and to sustain improvement efforts. Policy Recommendations The following recommendations outline actionable ways governing boards, accreditors, postsecondary data collection bodies, and Congress can apply lessons from the Seal of Excelencia to advance accountability. Governing Boards Promote the use of momentum trends (five years of data) for implementation and consideration of strategic plans for institutions. Accreditors Add a review of institutional momentum using five years of data in evaluation, as well as an articulated alignment between data, practices, and leadership (institutional plan) to show institutional effort for intentionally serving the students they enroll. Postsecondary Data Collection Bodies (College Scorecard, etc.) Include momentum measures for educational pathways to degree completion, and allow institutions to submit written summaries of their impact to complement other data provided. Congress Add criteria to the Title III and V programs of the Higher Education Act to detail institutional momentum measures of progress in key areas of the educational pathway that will be supported with the five-year institutional capacity investment. Create a recognition program for institutions disproportionately enrolling and graduating low-income, first-generation students. Policymakers can scale key elements of the Seal of Excelencia to demonstrate higher education’s value and support institutions’ continuous improvement to serve their students, families, and communities. Suggested Citation: McGuire, D., Clement, V., Labandera, E., Lucas, M., & Kirk, C. (December 2025). Reframing Accountability: Review of the Seal of Excelencia. Washington, D.C.: Higher Ed Insight and Excelencia in Education. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

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.

Ricardo Solis is President of South Texas College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page South Texas College Ricardo Solis President Institution website: https://www.southtexascollege.edu/ Bio Page: https://admin.southtexascollege.edu/president/ Ricardo Solis is President of South Texas College and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 STC, an open-access institution, serves a predominantly Hispanic population (95%) in a region of Texas where 32% lack a high school diploma and poverty rates are nearly 32%, making education a critical driver of opportunity. STC serves more than 27,000 students of which 94% identify as Latino.

Excelencia provides an updated summary of how Latinos pay for college to inform financial aid policy to ensure Latino college access, retention, and success. < Back How Latinos Pay for College Fact Sheet Excelencia in Education April 2019 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Fact Sheet SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Excelencia knows college is not affordable for many Latino students. One of our first reports (2005) summarized how Latino students paid for college. Fifteen years later we see significantly more Latinos in higher education—but challenges in affordability remain. The profile of Latino students and their participation in federal financial aid are important as we consider implications for policy changes and investments that impact all students. Latino students make pragmatic choices to finance their college education. Latino students pay for college through grants more so than loans and adapt their enrollment and the types of institutions they enroll in to make college affordable. In this factsheet, Excelencia provides a summary of how Latinos pay for college to better inform financial aid policy to ensure Latino, and all, students' college access, retention, and success. This summary includes Latino students’ participation in federal student aid overall, Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, and federal student loans with the latest available data from the 2015-16 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education analysis of U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. Infographics to share Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

** is Superintendent/President of Palomar Community College District and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Palomar Community College District ** Superintendent/President Institution website: https://www.palomar.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.palomar.edu/presidentsoffice/ ** is Superintendent/President of Palomar Community College District and part of Excelencia in Action network.

** is President of Mohave College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Mohave College ** President Institution website: https://www.mohave.edu/ Bio Page: ** is President of Mohave College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Susan Parish is President of Mercy University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Mercy University Susan Parish President Institution website: https://www.mercy.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.mercy.edu/news-events/news/maverick-magazine-spring-2023-mercy-college-selects-13th-president-susan-l-parish Susan Parish is President of Mercy University and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Recertified Institution: 2025-2028 Mercy University continues to serve Latino students as the largest Hispanic-Serving Institution in the New York region, enrolling almost 6,800 students of which 48% identify as Latino.

Erika Beck is President of California State University-Northridge and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State University-Northridge Erika Beck President Institution website: https://www.csun.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.csun.edu/office-of-the-president/erika-d-beck-phd-biography Erika Beck is President of California State University-Northridge and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2023-2026 In Fall 2022, California State University (CSU) Northridge enrolled about 36,000 students, of whom 57% identified as Latinx, over 70% as first-generation college students, and 60% from historically underrepresented groups, representative of the Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley racial and economic diversity they serve. CSU Northridge’s top priority is to shape an inclusive future as an HSI by leveraging the Seal of Excelencia’s core components of data, practice, and leadership. CSU Northridge is contributing to the national movement of intentionally serving Latinx students while serving all as the lead in the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub, advancing CSUN’s institutional transformation and supporting HSIs CSU-wide and nationally.

Excelencia's 2023 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education compendium recognizes programs making a positive difference in their campus and community. < Back 2023 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education Excelencia in Education September 2023 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Since 2005, Excelencia in Education has led the Examples of Excelencia , the only national data-driven initiative that recognizes programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate level as well as at community-based organizations with evidence of effectiveness in increasing Latino student success amongst all served. Across 18 years, over 2,000 programs have been submitted for consideration and over 400 programs have been highlighted. This year, our compendium recognizes the robust efforts that practitioners across the country are making through our four Examples of Excelencia , nineteen Finalists , and eight Programs to Watch . These programs join a strong history of recognizing what works and each program described in this compendium is making a difference in the lives of their students, their campus, and their community. They show what is possible when institutions and organizations intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all students. Excelencia in Education invites you to learn more about the programs that this year best embodies the spirit of Examples of Excelencia . 2023 Examples of Excelencia ASSOCIATE LEVEL: Engineering Program at Wright | City Colleges of Chicago, Wilbur Wright College (IL) Institution/Organization: City Colleges of Chicago, Wilbur Wright College State: Illinois Issue Area: Academic Program Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Transfer BACCALAUREATE LEVEL: Spanish Community Translation and Interpreting Program | The University of Texas at Arlington (TX) Institution/Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington State: Texas Issue Area: Academic Program Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Discipline/Subject GRADUATE LEVEL: Graduate Equity Fellowship Program | California State University, Chico (CA) Institution/Organization: California State University, Chico State: California Issue Area: Retention Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Mentoring COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION LEVEL: College and Career Success | Breakthrough Central Texas (TX) Institution/Organization: Breakthrough Central Texas State: Texas Issue Area: Support Services Program Focus: First-Year Support, Mentoring Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce