Higher education must prepare students for a changing workforce. As more jobs require postsecondary credentials, institutions and employers must intentionally prepare, connect, and invest in Latino, and all, college students to ensure they are equipped to meet the nation’s economic and civic needs. < Back Latinos and the Future Workforce Excelencia in Education March 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Fact Sheet SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Higher education has a responsibility to prepare students for a competitive and evolving workforce, yet gaps in access to quality education and career pathways persist. Latino students, the fastest-growing group of college-goers, are central to the nation’s workforce and economy. As more jobs require postsecondary credentials, institutions and employers must intentionally prepare, connect, and invest in Latino, and all, college students to ensure they are equipped to meet the nation’s economic and civic needs. In this fact sheet, we provide a summary of key trends on Latinos in the workforce and the role of institutions in advancing workforce success and economic mobility for Latino, and all, students. Key Trends Latino College Enrollment & Completion : Enrollment grew from 49% to 58%, and completion grew from 23% to 41% (2000–2023). Latinos’ Labor Force Participation : Highest among racial/ethnic groups (66%) and projected to account for 91% of new workers by 2031. Latino Representation in the Workforce: A third (34%) of Latinos were employed in manual labor occupations, while only 26% are in management or professional positions (2023). The Institutional Role in Workforce Preparation Institutions are designing academic pathways, partnerships, and data-informed strategies that advance workforce success and economic mobility. As many Latino students fit a post-traditional profile—often attending part-time, working while enrolled, and balancing family responsibilities—these efforts are essential to translating education into meaningful careers. Excelencia's fact sheet highlights four ways colleges and universities advance workforce success and economic mobility for Latino, and all, students: Preparing Students for Workforce Success by Embedding Career Development into Academics Linking Students to Workforce Opportunities Through Partnerships and Experiential Learning Measuring and Tracking Outcomes to Drive Data-Informed Workforce Preparation Advancing Economic Mobility Through Education-to-Career Pathways Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education. (2026). Latinos and the Future Workforce . Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Excelencia is the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, building momentum to improve Latino, and all, students’ achievement through innovation across three key areas: Leadership, Data, and Practice. Our Approach What We Do Even before Excelencia in Education’s founding in 2004, our co-founders filled a crucial gap in information on Latinos in higher education for institutional leaders, practitioners, and policymakers. Today, we are a national leader in catalyzing institutional transformation for student success in higher education, building momentum to improve Latino, and all, students’ achievement through innovation across three key areas: Leadership: Excelencia leads a national community of action-oriented leaders, practitioners, and supporters to transform higher education. Over 200 college and university presidents and chancellors have chosen to enroll in the Excelencia in Action (E-Action) network, a small group of institutions that disproportionately enrolls and graduates Latino students. Among them, 45 have earned the Seal of Excelencia for efforts to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally SERVE Latino students. Data: Excelencia establishes a foundation of information on factors influencing success for Latino students from which to prompt action, advance effective policies, and catalyze institutional efforts that benefit all students. It began 20 years ago with our annual analysis of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and development of the Emerging HSIs (eHSIs) categorization to inform the field of where Latino and other post-traditional students enroll. It continues today with publications like our comprehensive profile of Latino students, which equip institutions to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students on their campuses. Practice: Excelencia brings attention to evidence-based practices that improve student success in higher education. Premier in this work is Examples of Excelencia , the only national, data-driven effort to recognize programs with evidence of effectiveness in increasing Latino student success amongst all served. Through Examples, we have built a community of practice that demonstrates how student-centered approaches can expand opportunity, increase positive outcomes, and create effective pathways to economic mobility. How We Do It Accelerating Latino student success is Excelencia’s mission, and confianza is how we do it. Excelencia was born from our commitment to change the narrative about Latino college students from a focus on deficit-oriented diagnoses and intractable achievement gaps to a focus on asset-based opportunities to accelerate Latino student success. We believe that what describes us does not divide us — unless we let it happen. We frame serving Latinos as an opportunity — not to exclude others, but to transform institutions in a way that can benefit all. Confianza embodies elements of trust, responsibility, and mutual respect. Through an ongoing process of communication, collaboration, and innovation, we act as a trusted partner, facilitator, and guide for colleges and universities considering how they strengthen their efforts to more intentionally SERVE Latino students. LEARN MORE Our Tactical Plan for Latino Student Success Latinos represent one of the fastest growing populations nationally and within higher education. Excelencia has developed a tactical plan to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students with the understanding that doing so ultimately serves our country: Design a national acceleration plan for Latino students in higher education Advocate publicly societal benefits for raising Latinos’ degree completion [Policy Agenda ] Track degree completion goals and measures of progress [Latino College Completion: U.S. ] Replicate and expand institutional practices that are working for Latino students [Examples of Excelencia ] Build a community of common cause [Excelencia in Action network ] Align and deliver educational support efforts to institutions [Technical Assistance Institutes ] Increase support and accountability for institutions intentionally serving Latino students [Seal of Excelencia ] Evolve efforts to support institutional transformation as a trusted intermediary

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

Excelencia's Policy Fellows come from trendsetting colleges and universities that have earned the Seal of Excelencia. They draw from their expertise at the campus level to engage Excelencia’s policy agenda at the national level. Excelencia Policy Fellows Excelencia in Education selected nine higher education professionals for our 2025 cohort of Policy Fellows. They represent trendsetting colleges and universities that have earned the Seal of Excelencia , a national certification for institutions that go beyond enrollment to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students as measured across key areas in data, practice, and leadership. For over 20 years, Excelencia has informed student-centered policies to ensure Latino, and all, students in higher education have access to a quality education to increase their success. As part of this work, we are increasing the voices of Latino leaders to inform higher education policy. Our third cohort of Policy Fellows are part of a community of practice and will draw from their campus-level expertise to explore national-level perspectives and engage with Excelencia’s national policy agenda . In the process, the Fellows will gain valuable insights into national higher education policy through a Latino lens, enhance their professional development in serving Latino, and all, students, contribute their voices to addressing critical issues, and promote data-driven policy development and implementation. 2025 Policy Fellows Nina Garcia Chief of Staff, California State University, Fullerton Rosalind Ong Dean for Performance Excellence, San Antonio College Moises Gutierrez Dean of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics, Long Beach City College Ricardo Pitones Assistant Director of Latinx Community Resource Center and HSI Student Initiatives, California State University, Fullerton Michelle Hasendonckx Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Success & Equity Initiatives, California State University Channel Islands Roberto Villegas-Gold Department Chair of Counseling, Phoenix College Tiburcio Lince Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Grand Valley State University Edna Martinez Associate Vice President, California State University, San Bernardino

Hear from Presidents' perspectives how they are leading higher education transformation to SERVE Latinos. Presidential Perspectives: The Seal of Excelencia Leading Higher Education Transformation for Student Success What does the Seal stand for among higher education leaders? Presidents and chancellors of the trendsetting colleges and universities certified with the Seal of Excelencia have taken responsibility for advancing Latino, and all, student success, and they are ensuring America’s future. Each looks beyond enrollment to establish and implement student-centered, data-informed strategies and practices that lead to continuous improvement in student success to degree completion and beyond. Intentionally Improving Student Outcomes Where does intentionality fit into Seal-certified institutions’ student success efforts? The Seal of Excelencia requires institutions to demonstrate continuous improvement in Latino, and all, student success through the intentional alignment of data, evidence-based practices, and leadership. This begins with knowing who they are serving, not serving, and intend to serve, and it ensures students succeed because of their institution — not despite it. " The requirement for being a Hispanic-Serving Institution is really just about enrollment, but that says nothing about success, nothing about intentionally serving those who historically have been underserved by higher education. Excelencia asks you to do more. We want to be surrounded by institutions that are committed to that success. " - Heather Wilson , President, The University of Texas at El Paso " The Seal of Excelencia has provided Long Beach City College with the framework for understanding how to be intentional in serving Latino students. We started to experiment with different types of strategies that we really saw create a new level of impact in our student success outcomes. Combining that with the framework for the Seal of Excelencia , it’s really allowed us to accelerate this work in terms of improving outcomes for Latino students. " - Mike Muñoz , Superintendent-President, Long Beach City College and President in Residence, Excelencia in Education Ensuring Our Country’s Future How does the Seal propel institutions, and the U.S., toward a brighter future? Seal of Excelencia certified institutions demonstrate positive impact on student outcomes before and beyond graduation — extending to career preparation and success. In growing Latino talent amongst all, they meet the U.S. economy’s need for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. " When we invest in Latino students, we're not just investing in our community. We're investing in the future of the region, which is also the future of California and the United States. " - Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval , President, Fresno State University Collaborating in Common Cause Why is working together in common cause important for Seal-certified institutions? The 45 trendsetting colleges and universities that have earned the Seal of Excelencia share a powerful commitment to Latino, and all, student success. As leaders in Excelencia’s community of practice, they work together to advance strategies and practices that strengthen individual and collective efforts. Though they represent a small percentage of all institutions, these colleges and universities disproportionately enroll and graduate Latino, and all, students — leading in degree completion across the nation. " I believe that our partnership and the work that we're doing with Excelencia helps elevate our faculty and our staff that are working diligently to implement and execute on those strategies. Being part of an ecosystem that is sharing data, looking at best practices, and developing new strategies makes us all better and stronger. " -Madeline Pumariega , President, Miami Dade College Serving All as a National Imperative What does it mean to accelerate Latino student success while increasing all student success? We must close gaps in degree attainment to meet our nation’s need for an educated citizenry and workforce. Seal-certified institutions understand that this work is not a zero-sum game. In making their campuses places where Latino students thrive, they strengthen their capacity to ensure all students thrive " We have an obligation to educate the entirety of the public… including, of course, Latinos. We firmly believe that intentional, deliberate interventions that improve the educational outcomes of Latinos also have secondary implications for all students in a very positive way. " - Juan Sánchez Muñoz , Chancellor, University of California, Merced An Ongoing Journey To Latino, and All, Student Success Why do institutional leaders begin and continue their journeys to and beyond Seal certification? The Seal provides a framework that sets institutions on the journey of transformation necessary to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. That means supporting institutions at the start of their journey toward Seal certification to evaluate their efforts, as well as ensuring those further along in their journey sustain progress and continue to deliver on their commitment to Latino, and all, student success. " Recertification was very meaningful to us at ASU because it confirmed that we are upholding our commitment to serve Latino students in all the ways that Excelencia has outlined for us. It also allowed us to evaluate our strengths and… continue to push on the agenda to advance and accelerate Latino higher education success. " -Nancy Gonzalez , Executive Vice President and University Provost, Arizona State University " Excelencia , and the two-year journey in particular, has really revved up our folks to look at data across the board. We're creating these wonderful personas that Excelencia has taught us to do, thinking about, what are the life circumstances of different students? And then tracing how we might meet with different academic programs to think about their reaction to what they could do to support those students. " -Nancy Cantor , President, Hunter College The Seal of Excelencia represents more than recognition. It is a catalyst for transformation that increases student success, a unifying call to meet our national goals, a driver of accountability and value in higher education, and a clear signal of positive impact and trust for students, families, and communities. Are you ready to join these higher education trailblazers and harness the power of the Seal on your campus? START YOUR JOURNEY

Roger W. Schultz is Superintendent/President of Mt. San Jacinto College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Mt. San Jacinto College Roger W. Schultz Superintendent/President Institution website: https://www.msjc.edu/ Bio Page: https://msjc.edu/presidentsoffice/ Roger W. Schultz is Superintendent/President of Mt. San Jacinto College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

A Call to Action: Supporting Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Over the past few months, the constitutionality of HSIs has been challenged and there have been mixed messages from all branches of the federal government as to higher education’s ability to serve all students, including Latino students. As Excelencia in Education continues our commitment to meet our mission with clarity and purpose in serving Latino, and all, students with intentionality, we see three primary areas that require being informed to compel action: 1 Constitutional overreach: The Administration submitted its FY2026 budget request in May that level funds HSI programs, and both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees did the same as recently as last week. However, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) also announced last week that it would withhold Congressionally authorized and appropriated funds to institutions that had effectively competed for resources to provide a quality education. To be clear, the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) programs are still Constitutional and legal. Determining the Constitutionality of Congressional legislation is the responsibility of the Judicial branch, not the Executive branch. To stop funding and consider redistribution of Congressionally appropriated funds represents significant overreach from the Executive branch without regard to Congressional intent and due process for the hundreds of institutions and millions of students negatively impacted. 2 All means all: While some believe a focus on race and ethnicity divides us as a society, Excelencia in Education believes that acknowledging racial and ethnic trends describes our society in constructive ways. The use of data to identify factors affecting the success of specific student populations establishes a base of information from which to develop more effective policies, invest limited public resources, engage diverse stakeholders, and inform institutional transformation to more intentionally serve the evolving profiles of all students. As the fastest-growing segment of the college-going population, Latino students embody a post-traditional experience, navigating multiple pathways through higher education while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. Institutional efforts that evolve to support their success advances higher education in ways that can benefit all students. However, to know if we are actually serving all, we need to disaggregate data; if we see gaps in access or attainment, we need to address these gaps to ensure access to opportunity and accountability for outcomes truly represents all students. 3 HSIs fulfill a national need for an educated citizenry and workforce: The HSI programs fulfill a clear federal responsibility articulated in the Higher Education Act to expand opportunities for students across the country. Further, the amount of federal funds allotted for competitive HSI grants are small relative to the transformational work invested for innovation that improve educational outcomes for all enrolled students, regardless of race. HSIs operate with fewer resources yet serve the fastest-growing segment of the college-age population. Supporting HSIs is therefore a strategic investment in America’s competitiveness, democracy, and shared prosperity . Ending HSI support would not erase racial disparities; it would ignore them and weaken the nation’s ability to develop the educated workforce and informed citizenry it needs. Call to Action Serving Latino, and all, students remains our shared goal to keep our country strong. Today’s challenges are happening on our watch and we must take action to ensure our students have access to the quality education they deserve to strengthen their families, communities, and country. Contact your Congressional representative and let them know how this action is directly affecting your community, students, and families. If you don’t know who your representative is, look it up here . You can also call (202) 224-3121 to reach any congressional office. Share the positive impact HSI funds have made and be explicit of what will change without funds with the media, your constituents, and with Excelencia so that we can all bring attention to the value provided with the limited federal investment made in your institution to provide access to a quality education. If you don’t know if there is an HSI in your area, review the HSI list here. Inform and encourage your supporters, including community leaders, business partners, alumni, students, and others who also believe every student deserves equal opportunity to a quality education to reach out to their representatives on behalf of you and other institutions to put a voice to what will be lost if support of HSI funding is withdrawn. Your network of supporters has seen the impact your institutions have on students and the community. Excelencia Taking Action To support our community of common cause, Excelencia will also take action and continue to: Develop an agenda that includes new approaches to policy and practice that advances opportunity for Latinos and all. Articulate the value of intentionally serving Latino, and all, students to ensure equal opportunity and strengthen our communities, workforce and our country. Make the case about the importance of HSIs with data and promote the value add of limited federal resources in ensuring opportunity meets the talent in our communities. Promote the value of institutions that have earned the Seal of Excelencia . These are institutions taking responsibility and holding themselves accountable to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students to improve their access, persistence, degree attainment, and link to the workforce using data, practice, and leadership. Collaborate with other national organizations to offer resources and support to our communities. Inform philanthropy and funders of the current and evolving impact of federal decisions on the network and community and mobilize opportunities for financial support. Learn More About HSIs The Case for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Opportunity Meeting Talent By: Deborah A. Santiago, CEO, Excelencia in Education In recent weeks, we’ve seen the current administration refuse to defend and, later, seek to end funding for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) grant programs, arguing that they are racially discriminatory. Read Excelencia's latest case for HSIs and learn more about how these programs constitute a strategic, competitive, capacity-building investment in institutions that disproportionately educate America’s fastest-growing student population and why supporting them is a strategic investment in our democracy. Read Now | Sep 15, 2025 · 4 min read

Janine Davidson is President of Metropolitan State University of Denver and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Metropolitan State University of Denver Janine Davidson President Institution website: https://www.msudenver.edu/ Bio Page: https://msudenver.edu/president/biography/ Janine Davidson is President of Metropolitan State University of Denver and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2023-2026 Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) is a public comprehensive university offering a relevant, rigorous and innovative education in the heart of downtown Denver. The university serves 17,000 students of all ages and backgrounds with more than 90 majors and 10 graduate programs. MSU Denver, the most diverse institution in the state, serves 15,682 undergraduates, of which 95% are from Colorado and 54% are students of color, including 36% Latinx.

Excelencia’s retention and transfer recommendations compel policymakers to strengthen policies that support access to excellence through a variety of educational pathways. < Back Excelencia’s Policy Agenda: Retention and Transfer Excelencia in Education June 2025 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Latino students fit a post-traditional learner profile and are more likely to take multiple paths through higher education, often balancing work, family, and financial responsibilities. Students’ decisions to pause or change institutions are typically driven by life circumstances, not academic ability. Policy must support seamless transitions and degree completion. Excelencia in Education prioritizes: Strengthening Transfer Pathways: Expanding credit transfer agreements and articulation policies that ensure students don’t lose time or credits when transitioning between institutions. Supporting Proactive Student Support Systems: Encouraging institutions to adopt advising, coaching, and financial aid structures that recognize the realities of Latino students and provide tailored support to keep them on track. How can policymakers support access to excellence through a variety of education pathways? Make transfer efforts an allowable activity for Higher Education Act Title V, Part A, (Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program) grants. Update federal data to more accurately capture Latino students’ pathways and how federal funding impacts Latino student success. Strengthen partnerships between higher education institutions and high school districts for high-quality dual enrollment programs. Provide financial incentives to institutions to retain Latino students on their path to graduation. Featured Publications Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Examples of Excelencia is the only national, data-driven effort to identify, aggregate, and promote evidence-based practices increasing Latino student success in higher education. Examples of Excelencia Examples of Excelencia is the only national, data-driven effort to identify, aggregate, and promote evidence-based practices increasing Latino, and all, student success in higher education. These programs exemplify what is possible when leaders and practitioners intentionally serve students on their journey to and through college. Since 2005, Excelencia has received over 2,500 program submissions, recognized over 400 programs for their impact, and raised and awarded over $2.2 million to programs making a positive difference for students across the country. Submit Your Program for Examples of Excelencia Share your program’s story of advancing Latino, and all, student success, and register for upcoming capacity-building events. LEARN MORE Programs That Work for Students in Higher Education Click here to download the 2025 Examples of Excelencia program profiles. LEARN MORE Explore our recognition process Discover how we leverage our access to a national platform to promote what works for Latino, and all, students LEARN MORE 2025 Examples of Excelencia Announced Excelencia recognizes four outstanding evidence-based programs increasing Latino student success amongst all served. LEARN MORE Looking to connect with evidence-based programs recognized by Excelencia ? Tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll provide you with a curated list of programs making an impact on student success based on the state, academic level, or issue area of your interest. Contact us . 2025 Examples of Excelencia Announced After a rigorous review process, four programs are recognized as national exemplars of evidence-based practices that improve student success in higher education. Learn about the 2025 Examples: General Motors Automotive Service Education Program (GM ASEP) , Cerritos College - Norwalk, CA (Associate Level) ÁNDALE Latino Research Training Program , California State University, Long Beach - Long Beach, CA (Baccalaureate Level) Crossing Latinidades Humanities Research Initiative , University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago, IL (Graduate Level) Avanza RGV , Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) - Mercedes, TX (CBO Level) Expand Your Knowledge about Examples of Excelencia What works to improve the success of Latino, and all, students in higher education? Examples of Excelencia is the only national data-driven effort to recognize programs at the associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and community-based organization levels with evidence of effectiveness in accelerating Latino student success, amongst all students. How can evidence-based programs increase student success? Excelencia seeks to broaden the scope of knowledge surrounding effective practices for Latino, and all, students and bring attention to the noteworthy work that may be overlooked by traditional best-practices models. Evidence-based practices use data and storytelling to show student success in ways unique to each program— demonstrating what intentionally serving Latino, and all, students looks like at institutions and community-based organizations across the country. How can I find programs having a positive impact on student success? Explore Advancing What Works to Intentionally Serve Latino Students: Opportunities for Action - 2024 , a compilation of 35 programs recognized through Examples of Excelencia that emphasize cultural responsiveness and take asset-based approaches to intentionally SERVE Latinos and other post-traditional students across five key areas. Looking for more evidence-based programs? We can help! Contact us by email or complete this short form to connect with us. How does Excelencia find programs intentionally SERVING Latino, and all, students? Annually, Excelencia seeks out programs for Examples of Excelencia through a rigorous review of profile submissions that look at intentionality and positive impact in serving Latino, and all, students in higher education. The process launches with a national call for nominations and culminates in a public celebration of recognized programs at Celebración de Excelencia. To learn more about the process, visit our Examples of Excelencia submission portal . How do I get started with Examples of Excelencia ? Ready to share your program’s story with a national audience for the 2026 Examples of Excelencia ? Reach out to the Institutional Practices team today to learn more about capacity-building opportunities for practitioners.

Through Examples of Excelencia, Excelencia in Education recognizes evidence-based programs increasing Latino, and all, student success and thus facilitating access to excellence. Growing What Works Learn What Works for Student Success Through Examples of Excelencia , Excelencia in Education recognizes evidence-based programs increasing Latino, and all, student success and thus facilitating access to excellence. These programs can inform and guide more intentional and student-centered efforts at institutions across the country. Explore Advancing What Works to Intentionally Serve Latino Students: Opportunities for Action - 2024, a compilation of 35 nationally recognized programs that take asset-based and student-centered approaches to intentionally SERVE Latinos and other post-traditional students across five key areas. LEARN MORE Are you looking for more examples of what works? Our team can provide you a curated list of programs, based on your interests, that are making an impact on Latino, and all, student success in higher education. Contact us by email or complete this short form to connect with us.

A one-of-a-kind ceramic, Excelencia’s Tree of Life encapsulates our organization’s history and mission. Excelencia's Tree of Life As Excelencia in Education’s first 10 years of service came to a close in 2014, Co-founders Sarita Brown and Deborah Santiago considered a meaningful way to mark the organization’s growth into a recognized leader accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education. They commissioned San Antonio-based artist Verónica Castillo Salas, a third-generation sculptor and award-winning ceramicist, to create a work of art that reflected our mission and invoked our community, culture, and roots. The result was Excelencia’s Tree of Life, now on display in our office in Washington, D.C. The sculpture is similar to the artist’s Tree of Life created for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino’s debut exhibition in 2022. Learn more about the significance and symbolism of the artwork below. Significance A one-of-a-kind ceramic, Excelencia’s Tree of Life encapsulates our organization’s history and mission. The sculpture is a depiction of a large, healthy tree, with Excelencia’s co-founders at its base holding a heart, representing our passion for education. Along its branches, literal blossoms appear interspersed with Latino and Latina college graduates and professionals — blossoms Excelencia seeks to grow by serving our mission — who contribute their talents and energies to their communities and country. Through this artwork, we communicate our unfaltering belief in what can be accomplished by planting a seed and nourishing it to grow through support, collaboration, and hard work. Since its installation, Excelencia’s Tree of Life has become a focal point embodying Excelencia’s mission and impact. Taking selfies and group pictures with it is now a tradition for collaborators who travel to the organization’s D.C. office. Like those who gravitate toward Excelencia’s Tree of Life, our founders, staff, Board, and supporters remain committed to linking leadership, data, and practice to accelerate Latino student success while increasing all student success and ensure America’s future with the talents of the Latino community. Symbolism In creating Excelencia’s Tree of Life, Verónica Castillo Salas was inspired by the world’s oldest and largest tree, El Árbol del Tule, in her parents’ homeland of Mexico. Castillo shared insights into the symbolism of the work: Giant trees, like El Árbol del Tule , are a testimony of history. In the past, our ancestors would put memorials on this tree. It was a ‘tree of life’ because it symbolized lives and generations of strength and longevity. This giant tree began as a seed once. It was planted, and that related to Excelencia’s story; the dreams of these two women, who planted with passion and love a seed about education to help young Latinos. They planted this dream. They embraced it, and it grew. I read the materials Excelencia publishes and saw how many Latinos have entered the professional ranks and succeeded at the highest levels, so I wanted to visualize that they become lawyers and doctors and architects... When these students benefit and move on, they too will plant seeds and keep growing and spreading life in the future. I hope they never forget the seed where they came from and how Excelencia helped them.