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Sign up for updates on our latest releases and events. Excelencia will not share your contact information with third parties. Contact Us Stay Informed Sign up for updates on our latest releases and events. Excelencia will not share your contact information with third parties. SIGN UP NOW Commonly Requested Contacts Below is a list of the most commonly requested contacts for Excelencia information. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact: Contact@EdExcelencia.org Ask about nominating a program for Examples of Excelencia – Examples@EdExcelencia.org Request an interview with an Excelencia expert – Media@EdExcelencia.org Join Excelencia’s national network of higher education leaders – E-Action@EdExcelencia.org See what it takes to earn the Seal of Excelencia – Seal@EdExcelencia.org Inquire about one of our Capacity Building Institutes – InstCapacity@EdExcelencia.org

Havidán Rodríguez is the President for the University at Albany - State University of New York, and Excelencia in Education's Board Member. < Back to Our People Page Havidán Rodríguez President University at Albany - State University of New York Havidán Rodríguez is the 20th president of the University at Albany, one of the nation’s most diverse research universities. The first Latino president of a SUNY four-year institution, he took office in September 2017. Under President Rodríguez’s leadership, the University at Albany has opened a state-of-the-art teaching and research facility, won $75 million in state support for the UAlbany-led Albany Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Initiative, and became the first R1 institution in the northeast to earn the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to Latino student success. Most recently, under President Rodríguez’s leadership, the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering returned to UAlbany and merged with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences to become the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering, solidifying UAlbany as an essential partner in semiconductor and nanoscale research and economic development in New York State.

Excelencia’s institutes, workshops, and convenings provide forums for sharing knowledge on effective strategies for Latino student success. These opportunities engage leadership from multiple sectors to focus on Latino students as essential to America’s human capital growth. Programs + Initiatives We Promote What Works for Student Success Excelencia in Education believes the nation can make a measurable difference in increasing Latino, and all, student success in higher education by coming together and taking action. Participate in the following programs and initiatives: have your institution enroll in the Excelencia in Action network nominate programs for the annual Examples of Excelencia learn about evidence-based programs attend the Celebración de Excelencia invest in Excelencia’s programs and initiatives Looking to know what works or connect with evidence-based programs recognized by Excelencia ? Let’s talk. 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 Latino, and all, students. Click here to contact us . LEARN MORE Examples of Excelencia A Community of Action Excelencia’s institutes, workshops, and convenings provide forums for sharing knowledge on effective strategies for Latino, and all, student success. These opportunities engage leadership from multiple sectors to focus on Latino students as essential to America’s human capital growth. Our partnership model and asset-based focus on Latino students leads to public recognition of students, institutions, communities and leaders making significant progress in improving Latino, and all, student attainment. Excelencia in Action LEARN MORE Capacity Building LEARN MORE

Jane Oates is the Senior Policy Advisor, WorkingNation, and Excelencia in Education's Board Member. < Back to Our People Page Jane Oates Senior Policy Advisor WorkingNation Jane Oates is the Senior Policy Advisor at WorkingNation, a non-profit media entity dedicated to telling the stories of solutions at the intersection of learning and earning. She previously served as President and WorkingNation following a decades-long career as a thought leader in education and workforce. She began her career teaching in the Boston and Philadelphia public school districts, spent a decade working with Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Health, Education, and Pensions Committee (HELP), served as the SHEEO of New Jersey under Governor Jon Corzine, and was nominated by President Obama and confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training under Secretary Hilda Solis in 2009. She currently serves on the boards of the Center for Workforce Inclusion, Competency-Based Education Network, Frontline Justice, the Heldrich Center at Rutgers University, NCCEP, NOCTI, the Corps Network, and Excelencia in Education.

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.

Anna Israel serves as Development Coordinator of Excelencia in Education. Andrianna supports the executive team in advancing fundraising efforts by researching potential funders and aligning their priorities with Excelencia’s portfolios. < Back to Our People Page Anna Israel Development Coordinator Excelencia in Education Email: aisrael@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As Development Coordinator, Anna supports the executive team in advancing fundraising efforts by researching potential funders and aligning their priorities with Excelencia’s portfolios. She prepares briefing materials, tracks funder engagement, and coordinates input from senior leadership. Anna also collaborates with internal teams to drive portfolio goals and streamline processes for greater efficiency in fund development. Past Experiences: Anna has extensive experience in nonprofit development and fundraising, including conducting prospect research, managing fundraising campaigns, and overseeing fundraising operations. She has supported nonprofits with grant research and writing, as well as public relations and social media management. Anna earned a bachelor’s in communications with a focus on public relations from Purdue University Northwest. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? As a first-generation student and graduate of an HSI, Excelencia’s mission resonates deeply with me. I understand firsthand the transformative power of higher education in providing opportunities for professional growth and economic mobility. I also recognize the importance of being in a learning environment that genuinely supports students and sets them up for success. Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to using my skills and experience to help nonprofits serve and advocate for Black and Latino communities. Working at Excelencia allows me to extend that impact on a national scale. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? From the founders to every staff member, there is a powerful echo of passion, professionalism, innovation, and resilience. It’s both an honor and an inspiration to work alongside individuals who consistently uphold such a high standard of excellence.

Matt Cuozzo serves as Chief of Staff of Excelencia in Education. Matt servs as a core liaison to support strategic implementation across the organization. < Back to Our People Page Matt Cuozzo Chief of Staff Excelencia in Education Email: mcuozzo@EdExcelencia.org Current Position: As Chief of Staff, my role is to serve as a core liaison to support strategic implementation across the organization. Internally, I coordinate communication across teams, support organization-wide strategic planning, and work with our Executive Team and portfolio leads to increase organizational capacity. Externally, I provide oversight for several strategic partnerships, represent the organization at relevant meetings and events, and intentionally engage with affiliates and partners to meet our mission of accelerating Latino student success in higher education. Past Experiences: I began my career as a college success program coach serving low-income and first-generation students. This led me to pursue a graduate degree in Higher Education, where I studied the systemic barriers and opportunities for equity in higher education. During that time, I interned for Excelencia , contributing to our work on College Completion through a Latino Lens. Most recently I worked at a community college implementing models of academic support, peer mentorship, engagement, and personal growth for 650+ students yearly, both dual enrollment high school students and college scholarship recipients. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? I am committed to a future that prioritizes and recognizes the strengths of Black and Brown students. While I have significant experience serving students directly, I have the opportunity in my current role to contribute to a broader awareness and help build coalitions in ways that empower Latino students and communities. In everything I do, I try to help advance racial equity on a national scale. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Excelencia ’s power is its people. We know that the community we serve always comes first. Whether we’re collaborating to develop an innovative approach to help institutions transform, or whether we’re playing lotería during a team holiday party, we uplift, challenge, and inspire one other.

Val Tovar serves as Evidence-Based Practices Manager of Excelencia in Education. Val oversees the annual cycle for Examples of Excelencia, supporting the public announcement of recognized programs, and collaborating on the efforts leading to Celebración de Excelencia. < Back to Our People Page Val Tovar Evidence-Based Practices Manager Excelencia in Education Email: vtovar@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As Evidence-Based Practices Manager, Val oversees the annual cycle for Examples of Excelencia , managing the submission and review process, supporting the public announcement of recognized programs, and collaborating on the efforts leading to Celebración de Excelencia . She also serves on cross-functional teams to support the planning and execution of capacity building institutes and related programming focused on evidence-based practices. Past Experiences: Val’s career has centered on advocating for students impacted by violence and providing wraparound services that support their retention and graduation. She has held roles at American University and Georgetown University, and most recently led a team at the University of Washington Bothell, offering crisis support to students affected by interpersonal violence. Throughout her career, she has led programs supporting underrepresented students and remains committed to increasing access to resources that help students succeed in college and beyond. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? As a former program practitioner, I understand the commitment and energy it takes to serve students and how isolating it can be when that work goes unseen. I joined Excelencia to help change that by elevating the voices of program practitioners who are using evidence-based practices that contribute to student success at their institutions. As a Latina and first-generation college graduate, I’ve experienced how transformative these programs can be. They supported me as a student, and now I’m committed to ensuring others have access to the same opportunities. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia is incredibly rewarding. It’s a place where passionate people come together, all deeply committed to the mission. The culture promotes teamwork, innovation, and a clear sense of purpose, making the work as a whole feel meaningful and impactful. Excelencia is an inspiring space where colleagues and institutions come together with a shared commitment to intentionally SERVE Latino, and all, students.

Melva Yanes serves as Finance Manager of Excelencia in Education. Melva’s daily responsibilities are invoicing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial reporting, and responding to affiliate inquiries. < Back to Our People Page Melva Yanes Finance Manager Excelencia in Education Email: myanes@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As the Finance Manager, Melva’s daily responsibilities are invoicing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial reporting, and responding to affiliate inquiries. Her role is essential in supporting Excelencia’s efforts in fiscal modernization and management. Past Experiences: Melva joined Excelencia with previous accounting experience in the nonprofit sector. Melva has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? Excelencia’s mission resonates deeply with me as a first-generation Latina college graduate. Excelencia offers the opportunity to both leverage my current skills and grow professionally with the organization, especially learning first-hand how to scale and modernize financial best practices in the nonprofit sector. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Everyone in the organization is mission-driven and demonstrates a passion for Excelencia’s work. It is amazing to work alongside team members who share their knowledge and bring their best every day.

Lawrence Schovanec is President of Texas Tech University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Texas Tech University Lawrence Schovanec President Institution website: https://www.ttu.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.ttu.edu/administration/president/about/ Lawrence Schovanec is President of Texas Tech University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Alexis Padilla-Torres serves as Institutional Engagement Manager of Excelencia in Education. Alexis supports the enrollment, onboarding, and engagement of institutions within the Excelencia in Action (E-Action) network. < Back to Our People Page Alexis Padilla-Torres Institutional Engagement Manager Excelencia in Education Email: apadillatorres@edexcelencia.org Current Position: Alexis supports the enrollment, onboarding, and engagement of institutions within the Excelencia in Action (E-Action) network. She is responsible for cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with institutional leaders and connecting them with Excelencia’s diverse portfolios, comprehensive resources, research, and programs. Past Experiences: Alexis brings experience from the public and private sectors and is passionate about community building, empowerment, and sustainable impact. She has cultivated a diverse skill set and robust network through her work in state and federal government, politics, and NGOs. Most recently, Alexis worked at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), where she led nationwide recruitment efforts for four leadership development programs, traveling extensively across the U.S. to bring Latino talent to Washington, DC. Prior to that role, she co-managed the Postgraduate and Public Policy Fellowship Programs, supporting fellows’ leadership journeys as they navigated life on and off Capitol Hill. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? As a mission-driven individual who has spent the last several years working for a national Latino-serving organization, it was important for me to continue contributing to a space that improves outcomes for all, while applying a Latino lens. Excelencia has provided me with the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of my greatest passions: community, education, leadership, and policy. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? I view Excelencia as a powerhouse of an organization. Founded with great intentionality, it is dynamic by nature and filled with dedicated staff – each connected to the mission in their own way. Working alongside such talented colleagues is a privilege.

Vinicio J. López is President of Evergreen Valley College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Evergreen Valley College Vinicio J. López President Institution website: https://www.evc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.evc.edu/people/vinicio-lopez Vinicio J. López is President of Evergreen Valley College and part of Excelencia in Action network.