Search Results

Vinicio J. López is President of Evergreen Valley College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Evergreen Valley College Vinicio J. López President Institution website: https://www.evc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.evc.edu/people/vinicio-lopez Vinicio J. López is President of Evergreen Valley College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Dianey Leal serves as Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships of Excelencia in Education. Dianey is responsible for managing relationships and programs that support Excelencia’s partnership initiatives to advance institutions’ journeys to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. < Back to Our People Page Dianey Leal Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships Excelencia in Education E-mail: dleal@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As the Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Dianey is responsible for managing relationships and programs that support Excelencia’s partnership initiatives to advance institutions’ journeys to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. She also contributes to Excelencia’s internal learning, evaluation, and strategy development that enhance collaborations with partners and expand the organization’s impact in fulfilling its mission. Past Experiences: Dianey is a proud daughter of Mexican immigrant farmworkers and first-generation, college-going graduate raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Dianey’s professional background spans higher education, nonprofit, and philanthropy sectors, providing her with a diverse perspective on advancing opportunities for students. Prior to joining Excelencia , she oversaw corporate and federally-funded partnerships and programs aimed at supporting students’ educational journeys, including career preparation. Dianey holds a B.A. in Political Science and English Writing and Rhetoric from St. Edward’s University, a M.A. in Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Chicano/Latino studies from Michigan State University. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? My personal and professional experiences have fueled my passion for bridging research and practice to improve educational opportunities of underrepresented students in higher education, whether through policy, advocacy, or evidence-based programs. This role with Excelencia gives me the opportunity to listen to, learn from, and work with colleges and universities across the nation in support of that goal. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia brings me a deep sense of purpose and hope. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the thoughtful decision-making process that Excelencia takes to support institutions at every stage of their journey. This kind of commitment reinforces my belief in the power of collective action, especially when intentionality is at the heart of our efforts. I am grateful to collaborate with a team of dedicated individuals who are mission-driven, kind, and passionate about intentionally SERVING Latino students.

Michael E. Spagna is President of Sonoma State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Sonoma State University Michael E. Spagna President Institution website: https://www.sonoma.edu/ Bio Page: https://president.sonoma.edu/about-president Michael E. Spagna is President of Sonoma State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Kenneth Lawson is President of Columbia Gorge Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Columbia Gorge Community College Kenneth Lawson President Institution website: https://www.cgcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.cgcc.edu/presidents-office Kenneth Lawson is President of Columbia Gorge Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

John M. Fuchko III is President of Dalton State College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Dalton State College John M. Fuchko III President Institution website: https://www.daltonstate.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.daltonstate.edu/news/john-fuchko-iii-invested-as-sixth-president-of-dalton-state-college/ John M. Fuchko III is President of Dalton State College and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2025-2028 Dalton State College (Dalton), located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in northwest Georgia, became the state’s first federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2018. Dalton serves over 5,100 students, with more than one third identifying as Hispanic.

Erika Beck is President of California State University-Northridge and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State University-Northridge Erika Beck President Institution website: https://www.csun.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.csun.edu/office-of-the-president/erika-d-beck-phd-biography Erika Beck is President of California State University-Northridge and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2023-2026 In Fall 2022, California State University (CSU) Northridge enrolled about 36,000 students, of whom 57% identified as Latinx, over 70% as first-generation college students, and 60% from historically underrepresented groups, representative of the Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley racial and economic diversity they serve. CSU Northridge’s top priority is to shape an inclusive future as an HSI by leveraging the Seal of Excelencia’s core components of data, practice, and leadership. CSU Northridge is contributing to the national movement of intentionally serving Latinx students while serving all as the lead in the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub, advancing CSUN’s institutional transformation and supporting HSIs CSU-wide and nationally.

Trendsetting colleges and universities across the country are on the journey to more intentionally SERVE Latino students in partnership with Excelencia in Education. The Journey to Intentionally Serve Latino, and All, Students Trendsetting colleges and universities across the country are on the journey to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students in partnership with Excelencia in Education. By identifying opportunities to do things differently and investing in transformation on their campuses, they are becoming places where Latino, and all, students thrive. As a trusted partner, facilitator, and guide, Excelencia meets institutions where they are on their journeys to increase Latino, and all, student success with intentionality and impact. We leverage over 20 years of experience listening to, learning from, and working with colleges and universities to empower those in our network to expand awareness of who they serve, conduct analysis of what works, and take action that ensures their students are served well. Outcomes from the Journey Excelencia sees colleges and universities through the milestones of the journey to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. Specifically, we support institutions to: Advance a mindset and culture among campus leadership of increasing institutional capacity to more intentionally SERVE Latino, and all, students. Improve enrollment, retention, and completion rates for Latino, and all, students. Improve data collection methods to better analyze students’ current and future needs. Galvanize systemic change efforts across institutions by cultivating champions that enhance intentionality in serving Latino, and all, students within institutions and broadly. Build sustaining relationships within and across institutions, as part of Excelencia’s approach to creating a community of common cause. Support institutional strategic planning by increasing understanding of the Seal of Excelencia framework , which integrates essential components of data, practice, and leadership. Institutions on the Journey Excelencia in Action national network represents more than 141 higher education leaders committed to making their institutions learning environments where Latino, and all, students thrive. This network represents only 5% of colleges and universities yet enrolls 26% and graduates 29% of all Latino students nationwide. Affiliation with the network affirms commitment to increasing Latino, and all, student success, and institutions have unique opportunities to go further by participating in Excelencia’s collaborative learning and support. PARTNER WITH EXCELENCIA Evidence-Based Practices on the Journey For 21 years, Excelencia has brought attention to noteworthy efforts to increase Latino, and all, student success in higher education, inspiring educators, community leaders, funders, and policymakers to bring to scale evidence-based practices. Essential to this work is Examples of Excelencia , the only national, data-driven effort to identify programs with evidence of effectiveness in increasing Latino student success amongst all served. Institutions on the journey have the opportunity to share programs on their campus with evidence of effectiveness in serving Latino, and all, students. We equip program leaders to measure their impact with our Examples of Excelencia Program Profile Submission Guide , and support opportunities to learn about and connect with programs recognized by Excelencia . Click here to explore what works for student success and to connect with the leaders of evidence-based programs. SHARE YOUR IMPACT Resources on the Journey Excelencia’s robust capacity building strategy informs institutional efforts to advance awareness, analysis, and action — important steps on the journey to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. Intentionally serving students begins with self-assessment, which Excelencia facilitates through the Seal Serving Institutional Transformation Assessment (SSITA) , a tool and cohort-based experience for institutions to assess who they serve with a Latino lens. From there, Excelencia’s Capacity Building Institutes offer curated content and community building that support institutional teams as they learn, share, and implement strategies to align student success efforts across data, practice, and leadership. EXPLORE TA OPPORTUNITIES

Justin Lonon is Chancellor of Dallas College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Dallas College Justin Lonon Chancellor Institution website: https://www.dallascollege.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.dallascollege.edu/employee-directory/admin/jlonon/ Justin Lonon is Chancellor of Dallas College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Luis Pedraja is President of Quinsigamond Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Quinsigamond Community College Luis Pedraja President Institution website: https://www.qcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.qcc.edu/about-qcc/presidents-office Luis Pedraja is President of Quinsigamond Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Ricardo Solis is President of South Texas College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page South Texas College Ricardo Solis President Institution website: https://www.southtexascollege.edu/ Bio Page: https://admin.southtexascollege.edu/president/ Ricardo Solis is President of South Texas College and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 STC, an open-access institution, serves a predominantly Hispanic population (95%) in a region of Texas where 32% lack a high school diploma and poverty rates are nearly 32%, making education a critical driver of opportunity. STC serves more than 27,000 students of which 94% identify as Latino.

Elizabeth Davis serves as the Director of Finance of Excelencia in Education. Elizabeth reinforces and strengthens the financial infrastructure of Excelencia. < Back to Our People Page Elizabeth Davis Director of Finance Excelencia in Education Email: edavis@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As the Director of Finance, Elizabeth plays a critical role in reinforcing and strengthening the financial infrastructure for Excelencia in Education. Elizabeth is responsible for timely and accurate financial reporting and analysis for Excelencia’s budget and provides critical inputs to strategic and business planning. Past Experiences: Prior to Excelencia , Elizabeth worked in higher education holding various roles, most recently ensuring divisional financial targets were met and strategic planning supported. Additionally, Elizabeth has experience working with non-profit organizations focused on higher education success. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? Excelencia in Education’s mission to accelerate Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement drives me to support the organization. To be able to work for an organization that is committed to education and student advancement as much as Excelencia , brings me great joy and satisfaction. I enjoy being part of this organization and contributing to its growth and achievements - which ultimately benefits students. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? At Excelencia we work in a mission driven and extensively collaborative environment with a focus on meaningful impact on higher education.

Cultivating Confianza: Excelencia in Education’s Trust-Based Approach to Latino Student Success lays out our roadmap for how we can work together to intentionally SERVE Latino students, while serving all, at this crucial time. Cultivating Confianza: Excelencia in Education’s Trust-Based Approach to Latino Student Success Released: September 2021 Excelencia in Education has served as a reputable research organization and noted change agent in higher education. With a steadfast commitment to accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success, Excelencia works with institutions and education leaders to take a holistic, intentional approach to serving Latino, and all, students. In that time, Excelencia has cultivated a national reputation for not only identifying and lifting up what works, but for doing so with a unique, trust-based approach that ensures change is transformative and sustainable. Cultivating Confianza: Excelencia in Education’s Trust-Based Approach to Latino Student Success tells the story of how Excelencia does this work - and how the next chapter of the organization will leverage these learnings to increase support for Latino, and all, students and those who serve them. Part storytelling, part roadmap, and a call-to-action, Cultivating Confianza provides a unique look at how a successful organization operates, learns, and grows with humility and service to students and their institutions. There is a clear and necessary role for all of us to play in supporting Latino, and all, students over the next decade. Cultivating Confianza outlines how Excelencia will continue carrying out its dynamic leadership role in this endeavor. DOWNLOAD