Heather Wilson is President of The University of Texas at El Paso and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page The University of Texas at El Paso Heather Wilson President Institution website: https://www.utep.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.utep.edu/about/presidents-bio.html Heather Wilson is President of The University of Texas at El Paso and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a nationally recognized public research institution, is uniquely located where Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico converge that serves more than 24,000 students with 84% identifying as Hispanic.

David A. Tandberg is President of Adams State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Adams State University David A. Tandberg President Institution website: https://www.adams.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.adams.edu/president/ David A. Tandberg is President of Adams State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

** is President of CUNY Stella and Charles Guttman Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page CUNY Stella and Charles Guttman Community College ** President Institution website: https://guttman.cuny.edu/ Bio Page: https://guttman.cuny.edu/about/office-of-the-president/ **. is President of CUNY Stella and Charles Guttman Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

< Back to News Page Leaders Join Excelencia’s Board and Expand Capacity to Advance National Talent Feb 25, 2026 Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Excelencia in Education Elevates Leadership with New Higher Ed and Workforce Visionaries on Board WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 25, 2026) – Excelencia in Education, a national organization catalyzing institutional transformation for Latino, and all, student success in higher education, announced today that three distinguished visionaries in education, policy, and workforce development have joined its Board of Directors . Together with the full Board, they are elevating Excelencia’s leadership in helping colleges and universities embed student-centered, data-informed, continuous improvement into their strategies and practices — and prove their positive student impact to funders, accreditors, and communities. The new directors bring a powerful combination of experience and commitment to ensuring Latino, and all, students earn a quality college education, and to upholding higher education’s role as an engine of social mobility, workforce development, and economic vitality. They include an executive in a community college system innovating to facilitate access to excellence, a longstanding expert on education and workforce development, and a president who has led institutions transforming to intentionally serve their students in multiple states. Excelencia will leverage their perspectives to inform and drive the organization’s efforts to design, scale, and certify institutional solutions that produce measurable outcomes for Latino, and all, students. The new directors joining the Excelencia Board are: Verónica Herrero , Executive Vice Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago, and President, City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Verónica provides leadership for the City Colleges of Chicago district in the areas of strategy, institutional effectiveness, external affairs, advancement, and marketing and communications. Jane Oates , Senior Policy Advisor, WorkingNation Jane previously served as President of WorkingNation following a decades-long career as a thought leader in education and workforce. Cynthia Teniente-Matson , President, San José State University Cynthia’s leadership at San José State University has been marked by strategic growth, national recognition, and facilities initiatives, repositioning the university as a premier public urban research institution. Most recently, she served as president of a university in Texas. “ Excelencia continues to transform higher education for Latino, and all, students, growing excellence for America’s future,” said Massey Villarreal, Excelencia in Education Board Chair. “We are honored that the new and continuing board members are strengthening our impact, each bringing a proven commitment to producing meaningful results for students, institutions, and our nation’s workforce.” “The Directors on the Excelencia Board know first-hand that what works to intentionally serve Latino students in higher education can also work for others,” said Sarita E. Brown, Excelencia in Education Co-founder and President. “They are holding themselves accountable for delivering access and value that matters for the success of our students and country — and calling on others to do the same.” Meet the Excelencia in Education Board of Directors: EdExcelencia.org/about/our-people 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

This brief highlights the strategic practices of six Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) that have participated in federal HSI STEM and Title V grant programs. < Back Beyond an HSI Designation: Exploring Strategic Practices for HSI Grant Participation Excelencia in Education March 2023 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Since 1995, the federal government has allocated funds to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to help build their institutional capacity to better serve their Latino students amongst all. However, these federal grant programs have become increasingly competitive. As a result, HSIs must strategically adapt their practices to plan effectively for grant competitions and utilize funds in a sustainable manner that supplements existing institutional practices that facilitate Latino, and all, student success. Excelencia in Education engaged six HSIs that had received federal funding in the last six years (2017-2022) in a series of interviews to learn more about their strategic practices in HSI STEM and Title V grant participation: California State University-Long Beach California State University-Sacramento University of New Mexico-Taos Texas A&M University-Kingsville Dominican University Hartnell College Findings From the interviews with these institutions, Excelencia identified key strategies that demonstrate these HSIs’ adaptive practices for HSI STEM and Title V grant participation and their institutional commitment to their Latino students amongst all: Creating the capacity to apply for HSI grants. Leadership at these six institutions described their strategies for applying for federal funding despite a limited or nonexistent central office or personnel dedicated to HSI initiatives. Their efforts for preparing for grant competitions included (1) holding internal mini-grant competitions, (2) contracting with external grant writers, or (3) bringing in cross-campus support to prepare their grant applications. Implementing and sustaining grant-funded programs. HSI grants are one of many tools that can be leveraged to develop an institution’s capacity to better serve their students. HSI grants are designed to supplement rather than supplant current institutional efforts, which means that institutions must utilize this funding in combination with existing resources. To gain buy-in from the necessary programs or offices, these institutions integrated key stakeholders into the grant application and implementation process. Institutions also slowly transitioned grant funded costs into the budget of campus programs and offices to ensure that the programs and positions could be sustained at the end of the grant period. Conceptualizing and advancing an organizational commitment to serving Latino students. Leadership across all six HSIs described how their institution is conceptualizing what it means to be an HSI, where they currently are with their work, and what they need to do to better serve their Latino students amongst all. These HSIs are: (1) utilizing evidence-based practices from external HSI organizations to identify their next steps to advance their institutional capacity to serve, (2) leveraging HSI funding to improve their capacity to implement and sustain student-centered efforts and outcomes, and (3) creating a cross-campus network of offices and departments committed to developing practices that intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. Suggested Citation: Arroyo, C. & Santiago, D. (March 2023). Beyond an HSI Designation: Exploring Strategic Practices for HSI Grant Participation . Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Read our report on the impact of 20 years of federal funding on student success and the development of HSIs in From Capacity to Success: HSIs, Title V, and Latino Students. Read our Medium posts on the potential of a guaranteed federal grant programs for HSIs to build their capacity for applying to competitive federal grant programs. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Richard Carvajal is President of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt Richard Carvajal President Institution website: https://www.humboldt.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.humboldt.edu/president Richard Carvajal is President of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2025-2028 California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt is the northernmost California State University institution. Humboldt fosters an inclusive, equitable community and intentionally serving the 28% of students that identify as Latino students, creating conditions of success for the more than 6,000 students enrolled.

Thomas A. Parham is President of California State University, Dominguez Hills and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State University, Dominguez Hills Thomas A. Parham President Institution website: https://www.csudh.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.csudh.edu/president/presidents-bio/ Thomas A. Parham is President of California State University, Dominguez Hills and part of Excelencia in Action network.

This historical timeline graphic shows the origin of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), including legislation and milestones from the mid-1980s to 2014. < Back HSI Origin Timeline Excelencia in Education September 2014 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Infographic PNG-HSI Origin Timeline SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Origins Timeline – This graphic shows the origin of HSIs, including legislation and milestones from the mid-1980s to 2014. Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education. (2014). Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Title V Funding Timeline . Washington, DC: Excelencia in Education. Download infographic png and pdf below. (Please allow a few seconds for loading of interactive infographic.) Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Latinos will need to earn 6.2 million degrees by 2030 to reach the U.S. degree attainment goal. Learn about Latino College Completion in Kansas. Latino College Completion - Kansas Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers continues. However, different patterns emerge within each state or location. To reach the Latino degree attainment goal by 2030, states can close the degree completion gap by accelerating Latino completion while increasing for all students and scale up programs and initiatives that work for Latino, and all, students. To find out more, scroll below. DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2021) 23% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 47% Of White adults Fast Facts Kansas had the 27th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 19% K-12 Population 13% Total Population 2-Year Graduation Rate 37% Latino Students 43% White Students Median Age 25 Latinos 41 White 4-Year Graduation Rate 46% Latino Students 62% White Students Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions , Hispanics' graduation rate was 6%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Kansas. At four-year institutions , Hispanics' graduation rate was 16%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Kansas. BACK TO MAIN LCC PAGE Top Institutions To find out more about the top institutions enrolling, and awarding associate and bachelor degrees to Hispanics by using the tabs below to navigate the information. Click on the tabs below to explore. ENROLLING ASSOCIATES DEGREES BACHELORS DEGREE Top Institutions Enrolling (Hispanic Undergraduates) in Kansas, 2021-2022 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 University of Kansas Public, 4-year or above 18,427 1,719 9% 2 Johnson County Community College Public, 2-year 10,583 1,465 14% 3 Wichita State University Public, 4-year or above 10,466 1,456 14% 4 Kansas State University Public, 4-year or above 15,372 1,235 8% 5 Butler Community College Public, 2-year 6,129 941 15% Top Institutions Awarding Associate Degrees to Hispanics in Kansas, 2020-2021 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 Johnson County Community College Public, 2-year 1,685 197 12% 2 Garden City Community College Public, 2-year 267 121 45% 3 Butler Community College Public, 2-year 1,081 117 11% 4 Seward County Community College Public, 2-year 196 109 56% 5 Hutchinson Community College Public, 2-year 772 79 10% Top Institutions Awarding Bachelor Degrees to Hispanics in Kansas, 2020-2021 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 University of Kansas Public, 4-year or above 4,184 379 9% 2 Wichita State University Public, 4-year or above 2,479 305 12% 3 Kansas State University Public, 4-year or above 3,634 246 7% 4 Fort Hays State University Public, 4-year or above 3,171 179 6% 5 Washburn University Public, 4-year or above 829 86 10% Examples of What Works for Latino, And All, Students Looking to know what works or connect with evidence-based programs recognized by Excelencia ? 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 your Latino, and all, students. Click here to contact us . Sources Excelencia in Education. (2020). Ensuring America’s Future: Benchmarking Latino College Completion to 2030. Excelencia in Education. Washington, D.C. U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Excelencia in Education Analysis using the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2021 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey and Institutional Characteristics Survey.

San Antonio demonstrates how a community can partner across sectors and institutions to remove financial aid as a barrier for students to access higher education. < Back The Impact of Financial Aid on Student College Access and Success: The San Antonio Experience Noé C. Ortiz ; Eyra A. Pérez March 2014 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview The success of the financial aid initiative is founded on the premise that the truest impact occurs when the greater community owns and develops solutions to issues that impede student progress. Co-authored by two community leaders, Noé Ortiz and Eyra Pérez, the San Antonio experience demonstrates how a community can partner across different sectors and institutions to remove financial aid as a barrier for students to access postsecondary education. The San Antonio case study shares successes, challenges and lessons learned in creating and implementing three strategic components: 1. Student Aid Saturdays San Antonio 2. Financial Aid Curriculum for High School Students 3. Financial Aid Council of San Antonio San Antonio’s growth, diversity, and leadership in strengthening the opportunity for success of its community, provides a useful case study for other communities throughout the United States. In this context, we draw three lessons relevant to communities across America: Partnership development was, and continues to be, a key factor—and challenge—in successful efforts. It is critical to determine how to most effectively empower Latino students and their families to navigate the complex financial aid system in a community context. A robust data collection system is needed to quantify a community’s needs, verify what works, and translate best efforts into best results. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Joey Marin serves as Executive Assistant & Board Liaison of Excelencia in Education. Joey supports the CEO across organizational efforts and assists the Executive Team with the management and tracking of projects throughout Excelencia’s portfolios. < Back to Our People Page Joey Marin Executive Assistant & Board Liaison Excelencia in Education Email: jmarin@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As Executive Assistant & Board Liaison, Joey directly supports the CEO across organizational efforts and assists the Executive Team with the management and tracking of projects throughout Excelencia’s portfolios. Joey coordinates scheduling for the President and the CEO, supports organizational culture by facilitating internal communication between executives and staff, and maintains contact with external collaborators. Past Experiences: Joey joined Excelencia with a wide range of private and public sector experience, providing administrative support to organizations both small and large. Most recently, he served as Senior Clerk at the Student & Teacher Integrated Center for Health Sciences (STICHES), a U.S. Department of Education Title V grant project at Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus. While there, he provided wraparound services to pre-nursing and pre-health sciences students during their first two years of college. A first-generation post-traditional college student, Joey received his associate’s degree in Political Science from Miami Dade College and his bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a minor in Anthropology and Sociology, from Florida International University. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? As someone who transferred from a community college to a public university while working full-time, I am personally motivated to help increase the engagement of Latino students in higher education and ensure their pathway toward robust professional careers. Excelencia’s commitment to accelerating Latino student success beyond typical metrics, such as full-time college enrollment or financial aid status, sees the whole of our community while also recognizing the distinct needs of all students. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Excelencia is constantly working with institutional and community-based leaders to listen, learn, and help develop ways to more intentionally serve Latino students. It is a privilege to work with such a diverse, professional, and innovative team that is so passionately invested in supporting students throughout their academic journeys.

Hector Balderas is President of Northern New Mexico College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Northern New Mexico College Hector Balderas President Institution website: https://nnmc.edu/ Bio Page: https://nnmc.edu/about/leadership/office-of-the-president/index.html Hector Balderas is President of Northern New Mexico College and part of Excelencia in Action network.