Laura Skandera Trombley is President of Southwestern University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Southwestern University Laura Skandera Trombley President Institution website: https://www.southwestern.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.southwestern.edu/about-southwestern/president-trombley/ Laura Skandera Trombley is President of Southwestern University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Excelencia’s institutional capacity recommendations compel policymakers to improve access to excellence by investing in institutions intentionally serving Latino, and all, students. < Back Excelencia’s Policy Agenda: Institutional Capacity Excelencia in Education June 2025 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Institutions serving a growing share of Latino students also serve students from many backgrounds and situations, and supporting the institution will increase the educational and economic success for all learners and their communities. To deliver excellent education, institutions must invest in programs and policies that enhance student access, completion, and workforce readiness. Excelencia in Education prioritizes: Sustaining and Scaling Key Investments: Continued and impactful investment in competitive federal funding programs for institutional capacity to retain critical progress in Latino student success at institutions that have historically been underfunded, and ensure long-term dedication and improvement in academic quality for all of their students. Investing in Quality Higher Education: Fair and representative investment by states and the federal government in institutions that educate a significant and growing share of Latino students and take responsibility for expanding their impact and building sustainable support systems for student success. How can policy help improve access to excellence by investing in institutions intentionally serving Latino, and all, students? Provide guaranteed funding to all HSIs who meet the eligibility requirements for Title V grants. Count every student instead of using full-time equivalent (FTE) to determine eligibility for funding, and significantly increase financial support to institutions serving high numbers of students with financial need. Improve information about federal investment in HSIs by increasing transparency around grant outcomes. Refocus and limit the allowable activities for Title III and V grants to better align with Latino student success. Featured Publications Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Daniel López is President of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Daniel López President Institution website: https://www.ccc.edu/washington/home/ Bio Page: https://www.ccc.edu/washington/menu/leadership/ Daniel López is President of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

This publication is an environmental scan of colleges and universities in Puerto Rico to understand their resilience and efforts to serve Latino, and all, students. < Back Higher Education in Puerto Rico: Conditions and Context Influencing Institutional Resilience Excelencia in Education May 2021 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Excelencia in Education conducted an environmental scan of Puerto Rico to better understand the community and context of higher education, as colleges and universities transform to better serve Latino, and all, students. This environmental scan identifies and includes a profile of the community overall, the socio-economic profile and educational pipeline, and the condition of institutions of higher education over the past several years. The context of colleges and universities to enroll, retain, and graduate Latino, and all, students can help to understand institutional resiliency during times of crises. This can help inform efforts to support institutions and students on the island, as well as other institutions on the U.S. mainland so they can better serve their Latino and all students during times of economic, political, and natural challenges. This publication is the first of a two-part study on transformation by colleges and universities to better serve their Latino, and all, students in Puerto Rico and will be in partnership with the Puerto Rico Endowment for the Humanities ( La Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades ). This publication was developed with the support of Ascendium Education Group. Learn more about Latino College Completion in Puerto Rico View the infographic on Higher Education in Puerto Rico: Conditions and Context Influencing Institutional Resilience Webinar - Higher Education in Puerto Rico: Conditions and Context Influencing Institutional Resilience - A Conversation with Puerto Rican Leaders After a challenging five years, what is the condition of higher education in Puerto Rico and what can institutions on the mainland learn as they address similar challenges? Presented in cooperation with Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades. Moderator : Deborah Santiago , Co-Founder & CEO Excelencia in Education Speakers : Margarita Benítez , Executive Director, Puerto Rico Endowment for the Humanities ( Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades) Hilda Colón Plumey , Educational Consultant José Caraballo-Cueto , Associate Professor University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Click Below to download the webinar slides (PDF). SLIDES-Webinar-Higher-Education-Puerto-Rico .pdf Download PDF • 1.70MB Click Below t o download the Net Migration: Puerto Rico 2011-2020 (PDF in Spanish only). *Provided by José Caraballo-Cueto Net-Migration-PR-2011-2020 .pdf Download PDF • 253KB Infographics to share Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

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.

This brief expands knowledge on Texas Latino students while providing higher education institutions and policymakers with information to help more Latinos graduate. < Back Framing, Not Blaming: Improving Latino College Transfer in Texas Deborah A. Santiago ; Eyra A. Pérez ; Noé C. Ortiz November 2017 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication Executive Summary SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Framing, Not Blaming: Improving Latino College Transfer in Texas expands knowledge about Latino, and all, students in Texas while providing higher education institutions and policymakers across the country with actionable information to help more students graduate. Stakeholders in Texas have diverse strategies to improve the pathways to college completion. However, too often discussion on transfer pathways focus on segments and stakeholders to blame for breaks in the pathway. The purpose of this brief is twofold: 1) to reframe the options to improve college pathways from blame to shared ownership and action, and, 2) to support discussions translating effective institutional practices into policy strategies that can improve the transfer pathway for Latino and other post-traditional students in Texas. Core to this project and brief is new analysis of current transfer processes, practices and policies in the state and at the following Texas institutional pairs: Alamo Colleges and The University of Texas at San Antonio Austin Community College and Texas State University El Paso Community College and The University of Texas at El Paso Houston Community College and the University of Houston The following areas between and within institutions are where state policy may improve Latino student transfer and success: transferability of credits , data sharing , access to financial aid , and, faculty involvement . The project and brief were supported by the Greater Texas Foundation to apply the findings from an earlier national project to the development of policy approaches to improve Latino student transfer and success. Hear directly from stakeholders including: Jacob Fraire , President & CEO, Texas Association of Community Colleges Donna Ekal , Associate Provost, University of Texas at El Paso Francisco Solis , Dean of Performance Excellence, San Antonio College Virginia Fraire , Vice President of Student Services, Austin Community College Garrett Groves , Economic Opportunity Program Director, Center for Public Policy Priorities Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce Out of gallery

Cynthia Teniente-Matson is the President for San José State University, and Excelencia in Education's Board Member. < Back to Our People Page Cynthia Teniente-Matson President San José State University Cynthia Teniente-Matson serves as President of San José State University, one of 48 institutions that has earned the Seal of Excelencia for striving to go beyond enrollment to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. Teniente-Matson’s leadership at SJSU has been marked by strategic growth, national recognition, and facilities initiatives, repositioning the University as a premier public urban research institution. Prior to leading SJSU, she was president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, where her tenure included developing research initiatives, cybersecurity programs, and economic development initiatives, and earning Seal of Excelencia certification. In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership’s 2020 US-Japan Public Intellectual.

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.

Rafael Ramírez-Rivera is President of Inter American University of Puerto Rico and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Inter American University of Puerto Rico Rafael Ramírez-Rivera President Institution website: https://www.arecibo.inter.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.inter.edu/en/news/confirman-al-doctor-rafael-ramirez-rivera-como-nuevo-presidente-de-la-universidad-interamericana/ Rafael Ramírez-Rivera is President of Inter American University of Puerto Rico and part of Excelencia in Action network.

< Back to News Page Excelencia in Education Releases National Analysis Demonstrating that America’s Future Benefits from Latino College Completion Jul 21, 2026 Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Seal of Excelencia Certified Institutions are Leading the Way by Intentionally Closing Gaps WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 2026) — Excelencia in Education released a national analysis today that shows degree attainment gaps between Latino and all adults persist, despite a decade of progress. Accelerating Latino college completion, while increasing completion for all, is needed to close gaps and is essential to America’s future. Closing gaps is possible. Colleges and universities that have earned the Seal of Excelencia are closing gaps by becoming places where Latino, and all, students thrive . Latino College Completion: United States 2026 reveals that about 30% of Latino adults have earned an associate degree or higher, compared to about 50% of all adults. This gap persists even though the proportion of Latinos with an associate degree or higher grew by eight percentage points in the last 10 years. Latinos are representative of the post-traditional student majority in college today. They are more likely to be younger, lower-income, first-generation college-goers, work more than 30 hours per week while enrolled, and navigate affordability challenges. The young, fast-growing Latino population also plays a vital role in our civic leadership and economy. For example, in 2023, Latino GDP reached $4.1 trillion — accounting for nearly one-third of U.S. GDP growth. Latinos are also projected to account for over 90% of new workers by 2031. With 75% of jobs expected to require postsecondary education or training in the coming decades, colleges and universities that change their efforts to more intentionally serve this post-traditional population are pivotal to closing the completion gap and serving all students better. “Latinos are already strengthening our economy and our communities,” said Deborah Santiago, Excelencia in Education Co-founder and CEO. “The imperative now is to accelerate Latino college completion, while all students increase, by investing in higher education institutions, strategies, and policies proven to ensure more Latinos earn degrees and support their success beyond graduation.” The analysis points to an immediate, actionable opportunity to accelerate Latino college completion, while all continue to increase , to close gaps. For example, there is a large gap in the share of students not earning degrees. At two-year institutions, there is a 10 percentage-point gap between Latino and White students “still or no longer enrolled” (55% vs. 45%). At four-year institutions, there is a 13 percentage-point gap between Latino and White students “still or no longer enrolled” (35% vs. 22%). Colleges and universities that have earned the Seal of Excelencia for continuous improvement in student success are leading the charge to accelerate Latino college completion while serving all students. Seal-certified institutions represent fewer than 1% of institutions nationwide, yet graduate 17% of Latino, and 7% of all, students in the nation. Analysis shows the nation’s top three institutions graduating Latino students prepared for leadership and the workforce are Seal-certified: 1) Florida International University, 2) Miami Dade College, and 3) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Students with credits who have not completed degrees can be re-engaged through intentional institutional strategies and policy interventions. Seal-certified institutions invest in evidence-based practices accelerating degree completion for Latinos while increasing for all. Some of these practices include guided pathways, transfer support, financial aid counseling, credit recovery, and re-entry initiatives for those who have stopped out. State and federal policy investments that can reinforce institutional supports include continuing competitive federal funding programs for institutional capacity and supporting institutions that educate a significant share of Latino students. Latino College Completion: United States 2026 represents the most up-to-date information available on Latinos’ enrollment and graduation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as examples of evidence-based programs improving student success. Excelencia releases the analysis with the support and public leadership of 22 Seal-certified institutions. Access the full analysis: EdExcelencia.org/latino-college-completion 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

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.

The Excelencia Fellowship Program engages leaders from Seal of Excelencia certified institutions in the E-Action network that have demonstrated data-informed, student-centered, continuous improvement to ensure their students thrive. The Excelencia Fellowship Program The Excelencia Fellowship Program engages leaders from Seal of Excelencia certified institutions in the Excelencia in Action (E-Action) network that have demonstrated data-informed, student-centered, continuous improvement to ensure their students thrive. These institutions nominate campus leaders who exemplify their commitment to intentionally serving Latino, and all, students. In turn, Excelencia puts a select few on a path to serve on the frontline of higher education transformation through the program. Fellows participate in programming that deepens their understanding of federal higher education policy and national strategy and leverages the Seal of Excelencia framework so they can strengthen institutional effectiveness and build a strong community of practice. In the three years since the program began, several leaders have been promoted and at least one Fellow has become the president of an institution. Excelencia selected 12 higher education leaders for our 2026 cohort of Fellows, increasing their voices to inform policy and practice 2026 Excelencia Fellows Claudia Aguilar Interim Chief Innovation Officer, Long Beach City College Yvania Garcia-Pusateri Director, Diversity Initiatives and Resource Centers, California State University, Fullerton Victor Munoz Director of First Year Experience, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College April Aultman Becker Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Sul Ross State University Alam Hasson Vice Provost, California State University, Fresno Maira Rodriguez Director of Virtual Support, Pima Community College Gilbert V. Castillo, Jr. Dean for Performance Excellence, San Antonio College Julia Heck Associate Vice President for Student Life and Support Programs and Dean of Students, California State University Channel Islands Luis Duarte Executive Director of the Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) Program, University of Illinois Chicago Patricia López Associate Professor and Chair, California State University, Fresno Marla Franco Special Advisor, Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives, University of Arizona Deanna Merino Contino Associate Vice President, Student Life, University of Nevada, Las Vegas