This report portrays perspectives and leadership choices by select college and university presidents on the front lines of the changing higher education landscape. < Back Leading in a Changing America: Presidential Perspectives from Hispanic-Serving Institutions Deborah A. Santiago May 2009 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview This report portrays the perspectives and leadership choices by a select group of college and university presidents who are on the front lines of the changing higher education landscape. These leaders offer pragmatic approaches for serving first generation college-going students in the present and visions for the future of higher education that can inform the future of public policy in higher education to serve a changing America. All are presidents of institutions that enroll large numbers of nontraditional college students in some of the largest and most populous states in the country: California, New York, and Texas. Their institutions rank among the top in the country in both enrolling and graduating Latinos. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

This brief offers policy recommendations based on recent research and discussions to improve educational attainment of California's workforce, especially Latinos. < Back California Policy Options to Accelerate Latino Success in Higher Education Deborah A. Santiago October 2016 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview To be competitive, California's economy, like the rest of the U.S., requires a greater number of well-educated workers than currently exists. Many activities are underway to improve educational preparation and opportunity for Californians. However, without concerted statewide focus to leverage existing efforts and introduce new strategic initiatives, accelerating California's higher educational attainment and workforce preparation will remain difficult. This brief offers policy recommendations, based on recent research and discussions, to improve the educational attainment of California's workforce, especially Latinos. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Excelencia’s affordability recommendations compel policymakers to expand access to excellence by reducing financial barriers to ensure students can earn a degree without unmanageable debt. < Back Excelencia’s Policy Agenda: College Affordability Excelencia in Education September 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Latino students leverage cost-saving measures to make college more affordable (e.g., working while enrolled, enrolling part-time, mixing their enrollment, etc.), and they balance many financial decisions when pursuing a college education–supporting their families, covering transportation costs, and weighing the opportunity cost of lost wages. Policy solutions and institutional practices must reduce prices and other financial barriers to ensure students can earn a degree without incurring unmanageable debt. We prioritize: Increasing Transparent Financial Literacy: Expanding efforts by states, institutions, and other key actors to provide resources and tools so that students and families fully understand the real costs of college and the financial resources available to them. Fostering Low-Debt Education: Advocating for policies that prioritize need-based grants over loans and include basic needs—such as childcare, food, transportation and housing—within the true cost of attendance. Lowering the Price of Education: Supporting and incentivizing institutions to lower prices and contain costs to students while investing in academic excellence. How can policy help Latino, and all, students afford a degree? Incentivize FAFSA completion to increase access to financial aid. Reduce unmet financial need to pay for college by including basic needs in financial aid calculations. Strengthen the Pell Grant and make it a fully mandatory program. Revise the Federal Work-Study distribution formula to more strategically support students with high financial need, reduce administrative burdens to program participation, and increase funding for the program. Featured Publications How Latinos Pay for College: 2025 National Trends College Affordability: Insights and Solutions from Texas Students and Postsecondary Leaders 2024 Compilation of Fast Facts RADD Consortium for the Reform The Impact of Financial Aid Student Aversion to Borrow Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Glena Temple is President of Dominican University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Dominican University Glena Temple President Institution website: https://www.dom.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.dom.edu/about-dominican/office-president Glena Temple is President of Dominican University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Excelencia’s interactive dashboard provides data on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in 2024-25 based on sector, student body race/ethnicity, and location. < Back Explore Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Dashboard: 2024-25 Excelencia in Education April 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS HSIs Dashboard SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview What is the breakdown of HSIs in 2024-25 by sector? What does the student body look like at HSIs by race/ethnicity? Where are HSIs located? Check out Excelencia’s HSI interactive dashboard to find out the answers. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Latino student college enrollment was growing at an accelerated pace, but in 2020 dropped. Excelencia provides a summary of past, current, and projected enrollment. < Back Latino College Enrollment: Past, Current, and Projections Excelencia in Education April 2022 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Fact Sheet SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Latino student college enrollment had been growing at an accelerated pace for more than 20 years, but in 2020 dropped significantly despite previous projections of continued growth. While Latino student enrollment is projected to grow later in this decade, this growth is not at the accelerated pace seen in the years prior to the pandemic. In this fact sheet, we provide a summary of past, current, and projected Latino student enrollment that can help institutions identify and understand patterns to improve their efforts to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education. (2022). Latino College Enrollment: Past, Current, and Projections. Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Latino College Completion: 2019-2020 While Latino enrollment decreased in 2020, we continue to see an increase in Latino college completion. This brief provides the most up-to-date overview of Latino college completion. LEARN MORE Infographics to share Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

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.

Richard Bierschbach is President of Wayne State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Wayne State University Richard Bierschbach President Institution website: https://wayne.edu/ Bio Page: https://president.wayne.edu/about Richard Bierschbach is President of Wayne State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Donna Hodge is President of Fitchburg State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Fitchburg State University Donna Hodge President Institution website: https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/about/leadership/presidents-office Donna Hodge is President of Fitchburg State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

< Back to News Page New Analysis Shows Latino Talent Is Key to U.S. Global Competitiveness as AI Changes Workforce Needs Mar 17, 2026 Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Excelencia in Education Identifies Top Institutions and Strategies Cultivating Latino Talent to Meet Demands of High-Growth STEAM Fields WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 17, 2026) – A new analysis from Excelencia in Education makes clear that integrating the arts into STEM is essential to heightening U.S. global competitiveness as AI reshapes industries. Latino talent will be key to building an interdisciplinary workforce equipped to guide new technologies. The brief, Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) , examines national trends in Latinos’ STEAM degree completion, identifies top colleges and universities where Latinos earn STEAM credentials, and provides strategies for institutions and employers to prepare and recruit Latino talent for fast-growing STEAM fields. Excelencia’s analysis shows that Latinos earned nearly one-third of all STEAM degrees in 2023. However, they are underrepresented in STEM and STEAM occupations. For example, Latinos make up only 15% of the STEM workforce, despite accounting for 18% of all U.S. workers and being projected to drive the majority of workforce growth in the next decade. With STEAM occupations growing twice as fast as others, meeting the nation’s demand for a workforce that combines technical expertise, creativity, collaboration, and problem solving will take intentional investment to expand the Latino community’s access to interdisciplinary, career-connected education. The brief identifies the top 25 institutions where Latinos earn STEAM credentials — prime locations for recruiting Latino talent. Among the top 25, seven have earned the Seal of Excelencia , a national certification for continuous improvement and positive impact on student success, and three are certified by Excelencia as Intentionally Thriving Institutions (ITIs) for delivering strong post-completion outcomes. “The talent our country needs to strengthen and drive growth in our workforce, and especially in the evolving AI-enabled economy, is already here,” said Deborah Santiago, Excelencia in Education Co-founder and CEO. “The institutions and employers that commit to intentionally building partnerships and pathways that connect Latino, and all, graduates to STEAM careers will shape our future.” Excelencia identifies and scales what works with intentionality for Latino, and all, students to ensure higher education remains a powerful engine of social mobility, workforce development, and economic vitality. To that end, the brief highlights evidence-based practices from five ITIs and a Seal of Excelencia certified institution that are enhancing individual outcomes and the broader STEAM workforce pipeline — Arizona State University, Austin Community College, Florida International University, Miami Dade College, The University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Arizona. These practices inform actionable strategies for institutions and employers to prepare and recruit Latino STEAM talent, creating sustainable ecosystems that expand opportunity and fuel innovation for the nation’s economic and civic future. Strategies for institutions include: Include the arts in STEM curricula; Assess and increase Latino participation in STEM and STEAM programs; Expand post-completion STEAM support for graduates; Evaluate and deepen industry partnerships; Track how Latino alumni apply their education in the workforce and use those insights to refine programs and strengthen career readiness; and Collaborate with other stakeholders to strengthen the STEAM talent pipeline. Strategies for employers include: Recruit from the top institutions graduating Latinos in STEAM. Invest in interdisciplinary Latino talent ecosystems; Align workforce and academic goals with institutional partners; Collaborate on data and insight sharing; Engage faculty as innovation partners; and Connect Latino professionals as mentors to support current students’ transitions into STEAM careers. Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in STEAM was developed in partnership with the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Read the full brief: EdExcelencia.org/research/publications/finding-your-workforce-linking-college-completion-us-workforce-needs-steam About Excelencia in 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. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org

Excelencia’s workforce recommendations compel policymakers to ensure access to excellence by aligning higher education and economic opportunity. < Back Excelencia’s Policy Agenda: Workforce Excelencia in Education September 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Latinos are one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in the United States and will play a critical role in the nation’s workforce, economic competitiveness, and civic future. Institutions serving Latino students, particularly Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), are essential to preparing students for careers in an evolving economy increasingly shaped by technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and growing workforce demands. To support Latino, and all, students’ educational pursuits and maximize their contributions to the workforce and economy, higher education has a responsibility to connect students with career-aligned learning opportunities and meet the needs of the competitive workforce. We prioritize: Expanding Work-Based Learning: Strengthening partnerships between colleges and employers to align learning with workforce needs through hands-on experiences, internships, apprenticeships, and career-ready credentials that lead to high-quality jobs with economic mobility. Creating Clear Pathways to Workforce Success: Ensuring connectivity between educational programs and careers so students leave higher education with credentials that translate to job opportunities and economic advancement. Advancing Workforce Readiness Through AI and Digital Innovation: Supporting institutions in responsibly integrating AI literacy and emerging technologies into teaching, learning, advising, and workforce preparation to ensure Latino, and all, students are prepared for an evolving economy. How can federal and state policy ensure access to excellence by aligning higher education and economic opportunity? Support work-based learning opportunities for students by leveraging existing federal programs, such as Federal Work-Study. Make workforce development an allowable activity for federal Title V grants to support institutions in creating workforce programs. Incentivize engagement between employers and the institutions serving Latino, and, all students. Create targeted funding to prepare students and graduates in using AI and workforce readiness. Featured Publications Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in Science, Technology, Post-Completion Success: How Leading HSIs Are Transforming Career Readiness How Institutions Can Use AI to Intentionally Serve Latino, and All, Students Latinos and the Future Workforce Tapping Latino Talent Examining Life Outcomes Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

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. He 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, Santiago 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.