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Massey Villarreal is Chief Executive Officer & President of Precision Task Group, Inc., and Excelencia in Education's Board Member. < Back to Our People Page Massey Villarreal Chief Executive Officer & President Precision Task Group, Inc. Massey Villarreal is Chief Executive Officer & President of Precision Task Group, Inc. He is a respected business leader and a long-time advocate for the Latino community and higher education. Villarreal is immediate past chairman of the Texas Association of Business (TAB) and serves on the Texas Association of Community College Business Advisory Council, the WWII Museum, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) National Council. He was the first person to serve as chairman of a local, state, and national Hispanic chamber, including the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He has also served on the Texas State University System Board of Regents.

Andreia Nebel is President of Clarkson College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Clarkson College Andreia Nebel President Institution website: https://www.clarksoncollege.edu/ Bio Page: https://directory.clarksoncollege.edu/Andreia-Nebel Andreia Nebel is President of Clarkson College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

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. About A Transformative Leader in Higher 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. DISCOVER OUR STORY What We Do Excelencia meets the opportunity of accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education with a portfolio linking leadership, data, and evidence-based practices in partnership with colleges and universities across the country. We build momentum for institutional efforts that will improve Latinos’ higher educational achievement amongst all served at a national scale by: Leading a community of common cause made up of professionals committed to intentionally serving Latino, and all, students. Informing change agents with data-driven analysis that compels action to improve the educational achievement of Latinos. Promoting education policies and institutional practices that advance Latinos, and all, students' academic achievement. LEARN MORE The Excelencia Team Excelencia’s team is why Excelencia works. Our leadership and staff are dedicated to accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education and advancing our families, communities, and nation. MEET OUR PEOPLE Support Excelencia in Education When you invest in Excelencia , you support our work to empower more Latino, and all, students to graduate and strengthen our country’s civic leadership and workforce. SUPPORT OUR MISSION

John Keenan is President of Salem State University and a President for Latino Student Success. < Back to E-Action Main Page Salem State University John Keenan President Institution website: https://www.salemstate.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.salemstate.edu/salem-state-difference/presidents-office/john-d-keenan-biography John Keenan is President of Salem State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Alexia Carrillo Villalobos serves as a Policy & Research Analyst of Excelencia in Education. Alexia informs Excelencia’s policy and practice efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education by conducting research related to Latinos in higher education. < Back to Our People Page Alexia Carrillo Villalobos Policy & Research Analyst Excelencia in Education Email: acarrillovillalobos@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As a Policy & Research Analyst, Alexia informs Excelencia’s policy and practice efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education by conducting research related to Latinos in higher education. Alexia also supports work on institutional transformation through the Seal of Excelencia , and the policy agenda’s current four core priorities: affordability, institutional capacity, retention and transfer, and workforce preparation. Past Experiences: Alexia’s passion for higher education policy was motivated by her personal background as a first-generation college student. She previously worked as a Research Assistant with the Johns Hopkins Poverty & Inequality Research Lab (PIRL) and the Education Policy Initiative (EPI) at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy - University of Michigan where she supported a qualitative research study aimed at reducing inequality in access to higher education. She was also a Summer Scholar at the Postsecondary National Policy Institute with a particular emphasis on accessibility and affordability for underrepresented student populations. She received her AA in Sociology and Social Behavioral Sciences from Santa Rosa Junior College, her BA in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside, and her Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? I decided to join Excelencia because of their commitment and dedication to accelerating Latino student success in higher education. I wanted to bring my experiences and be a part of the leadership that can transform higher education at the national level. By combining research and policy, I look forward to uplifting student voices and identifying areas that serve Latinos, and all students more intentionally. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia is an inspiring, collaborative, and empowering experience. As a collective, we believe in Excelencia’s mission and commitment to intentionally serve the Latino community. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and work alongside professionals who are just as passionate as I am in supporting students to, through, and beyond their journey in higher education.

Jesse Peters is President of Western Oregon University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Western Oregon University Jesse Peters President Institution website: https://wou.edu/ Bio Page: https://wou.edu/president/?_q=President%27s%20Office Jesse Peters is President of Western Oregon University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Luke Wood is President of California State University-Sacramento and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State University-Sacramento Luke Wood President Institution website: https://www.csus.edu/ Bio Page: http://www.csus.edu/president/ Luke Wood is President of California State University-Sacramento and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Recertified Institution: 2023-2026 California State University Sacramento (Sacramento State) serves over 28,000 undergraduate students, 39% of whom are Latino. An anchor university, Sacramento State has seen enrollment of full-time and part-time Latino students increase by 34% and 66%, respectively, from 2015-2023.

Carine Feyten is Chancellor and President of Texas Woman's University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Texas Woman's University Carine Feyten Chancellor and President Institution website: https://twu.edu/ Bio Page: https://twu.edu/chancellor/about-chancellor-feyten/ Carine Feyten is Chancellor and President of Texas Woman's University and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2023-2026 Texas Woman’s University (TWU), the nation’s first woman-focused university system, enrolls 10,150 undergraduate students, of whom 34% are Latino students and 56% are Pell Grant recipients. TWU’s academic and student life missions together is the overarching vision of a university experience that develops the whole person. Built on the cornerstones of experiential learning and leadership development, TWU aims to graduate thriving individuals who have a strong sense of community, health, prosperity, and purpose.

Russell Lowery-Hart is Chancellor of Austin Community College District and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Austin Community College District Russell Lowery-Hart Chancellor Institution website: https://www.austincc.edu/ Bio Page: https://offices.austincc.edu/chancellor/biography/ R ussell Lowery-Hart is Chancellor of Austin Community College District and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 Austin Community College District (ACC) is a public two-year college serving the Austin, Texas region. ACC is one of the largest HSIs in the country and serving the fastest-growing demographic in the Central Texas region, where education is a key lever for economic and social mobility.

Olivia Glad serves as Administration Manager, Institutional Programs of Excelencia in Education. Olivia supports the IP team in the planning, execution, and documentation of activities and resources related to Excelencia’s evidence-based practices portfolio. < Back to Our People Page Olivia Glad Administration Manager, Institutional Programs Excelencia in Education Email: oglad@edexcelencia.org Current Position: Olivia supports the Institutional Programs team in the planning, execution, and documentation of activities and resources related to Excelencia’s evidence-based practices portfolio. Olivia works closely with the team to engage constituents, refine processes and protocols, and track outcomes so the team can deliver on organizational goals. Past Experiences: Olivia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and an interdisciplinary minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in May 2021 from Furman University. During her time as a student, she engaged in coursework which ignited her passion for understanding the complex interplay between gender and ethnicity. Olivia was later appointed the inaugural Post-Baccalaureate Fellow within Furman’s Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program, where she supported the scaling of the program through educational outreach, mentorship, and collaboration between the university and local community-based organizations. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? I am committed to bridging the gaps between academic knowledge and real-world activism, with the goal of fostering positive change for all students in higher education. At Excelencia , we advocate for a multifaceted approach that combines education, initiatives, and community engagement to address the needs of Latino students, with the objective to more intentionally serve all students. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? As an organization, we are devoted to supporting and uplifting the individuals and programs that are devoted to seeing Latino students thrive academically, socially, and culturally. I am glad to spend each day surrounded by agents of change with an immense commitment to serving Latino students.

Emily Labandera serves as Director of Research of Excelencia in Education. Emily leads research and project coordination that furthers Excelencia’s portfolio of policy, programs, and practice to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. < Back to Our People Page Emily Labandera Director of Research Excelencia in Education Email: elabandera@EdExcelencia.org Current Position: As Director of Research, Emily leads research and project coordination that furthers Excelencia ’s portfolio of policy, programs, and practice to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. She conducts research and data analysis on topics related to Latinos in higher education; project manages several ongoing projects that inform public policy and institutional practice and develops dissemination plans for research publications; collaborates, coordinates, and supports research colleagues in their efforts as it relates to practice and research; coordinates across teams and portfolios for organizational work and deliverables; and, evolves and maintains key relationships with partner organizations, funders, practitioners, and institutions to advance Excelencia ’s research agenda. Past Experiences: Emily’s path in higher education policy was sparked by her personal experiences as a first-generation and STEM undergraduate student. Upon deciding on a career change to that of public service and being a change agent, Emily pursued public policy in her graduate studies. During her graduate studies, she focused on higher education policy and research and interned at Education Reform Now and Excelencia in Education. Emily earned her Master of Public Policy from George Washington University in 2019, which prepared her with the necessary skills to think critically and analyze higher education data and policy deeply at national, state, and local levels. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? Excelencia ’s core mission of accelerating Latino student success in higher education to enhance our workforce, leadership, and economy, the vision and leadership of Excelencia ’s leaders, and the knowledge that our efforts push the needle forward in service of our comunidad are all part of the why I bring my talent to Excelencia . Our collective effort in transforming higher education to be a more equitable place for Latino, and all, students is the factor that motivates me every day to work alongside my colleagues and our leadership. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia is an enriching, collaborative, and rewarding experience. Across the entire team at Excelencia , we share a deep-rooted stewardship of mission in serving our community. The passion and effort are palpable amongst our team, making it an honor to work here.

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.