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.

Sue Andrzejewski is Interim President of California State University-Channel Islands and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State University-Channel Islands Sue Andrzejewski Interim President Institution website: https://www.csuci.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.csuci.edu/president/campus-leadership/presidents-bio.htm Sue Andrzejewski is Interim President of California State University-Channel Islands and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI), Ventura County's sole four-year public institution, serves nearly 5,000 undergraduates, with 62% identifying as Latino.

This brief highlights resilience efforts at 5 Puerto Rican Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) amid economic disruptions, demographic shifts, and natural disasters. < Back Institutional Resilience in Puerto Rico: A First Look at Efforts by Puerto Rican HSIs Excelencia in Education February 2023 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Over the last five years, Puerto Rico has faced fiscal and economic disruptions, demographic shifts, hurricanes and earthquakes, governance challenges, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While most of these conditions are not new to Puerto Rico, the intersection of all these challenges created a nexus for institutional resilience and efforts. This brief is the second phase of a multi-tiered project–the first of which was an environmental scan of conditions and context of the population, K-12 educational pipeline, higher education, and workforce in Puerto Rico that Excelencia published in 2021. While this brief is not meant to be exhaustive of the experiences of institutions and students in Puerto Rico, it is indicative in a broader sense of institutional resilience and transformation to meet their mission and goals to serve their communities with a quality education. Excelencia in Education engaged five Puerto Rican HSIs in a series of interviews to learn more about their efforts in resilience in the last five years: Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Gurabo University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras University of Puerto Rico-Utuado Findings These five HSIs are adapting to compounding challenges in their current context. From the interviews with these institutions, Excelencia identified key efforts that demonstrate these institutions’ resilience: Sustaining institutional management. Leadership at these five institutions described the restructuring strategies they implemented to sustain their institution. Some of these strategies included making staffing changes, consolidating their student services and academic programs, streamlining degree requirements, and seeking external funding. Managing enrollment plans and expectations. To address enrollment challenges, these HSIs have enhanced and adapted their recruitment strategies to more intentionally recruit students to their institution. These strategies included expanding program offerings to students in the mainland, holding Open Houses, placing emphasis on robust academic programs, and utilizing new outreach mediums such as social media to reach more students. Supporting students by meeting their basic needs and providing wraparound services. To retain their students, these institutions aimed at holistically serving their students by meeting students' basic needs. Institutions provided access to meals, additional financial support, mental health services and counseling, and intentional outreach throughout their students’ trajectory. Preparing students for graduation and post-completion. Institutional leadership at these institutions emphasized the importance of connecting their graduating students to Puerto Rico’s workforce through dedicated career development opportunities for students, internship experiences, job fairs, and opportunities for research experience and continuing on their education at the graduate level. This publication was developed with the generous support of the Ascendium Education Group. Special thanks to Margarita Benítez, Senior Associate, and Hilda Colón Plumey, Professional Educational Consultant who were integral parts of this analysis and led the interviews with institutional leaders and administrators. Suggested Citation: Santiago, D., Labandera, E., Arroyo, C. (February 2023). Institutional Resilience in Puerto Rico: A First Look at Efforts by Puerto Rican HSIs. Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Learn more about Latino College Completion in Puerto Rico Read our an environmental scan of colleges and universities in Puerto Rico in Higher Education in Puerto Rico: Conditions and Context Influencing Institutional Resilience WEBINAR: Institutional Resilience in Puerto Rico: A First Look at Efforts by Puerto Rican HSIs Given the changing conditions and context of higher education in the U.S. in recent years, HSIs have had to adapt and sustain to continue to enroll, retain, and graduate their Latino, and all, students. In particular, Puerto Rico has faced fiscal and economic disruptions, demographic shifts, natural phenomena, governance challenges, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Hear from Institutional leaders from HSIs in Puerto Rico and the mainland as they share their perspectives and leadership efforts of how they intentionally serve their Latino students even during challenging times. Infographics to share Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Sarita E. Brown is Co-Founder and President of Excelencia in Education, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating Latino success in higher education by linking research, policy, and practice to serve Latino students. < Back to Our People Page Sarita E. Brown President Excelencia in Education Email: sbrown@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD BIO Sarita E. Brown is Co-founder & President of Excelencia in Education, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating Latino success in higher education by linking research, policy, and practice to serve Latino, and all, students. A recognized leader and advocate for equity in higher education, she began her career at the University of Texas at Austin, where she built a national model for increasing the number of students of color in graduate education and in the academy. Once in Washington, DC, Sarita served in leadership roles in higher education associations, at American University and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute. She was appointed as the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans during the Clinton Administration. As Excelencia’s President, Sarita is responsible for the vision and governance of the organization, working with the Board of Directors to communicate with stakeholders and identify forward-thinking partners, funders and investors to support Excelencia’s mission. With over 30 years of experience catalyzing and supporting higher educational institutions and leaders to address equity, she applies her skills and energies to expanding Excelencia in Action (E-Action), Excelencia’s national network of college and university leaders who have committed to making their institutions learning environments where Latino, and all, students thrive.

This factsheet provides an overview of the Latina population and college enrollment and educational attainment of Latinas at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). < Back Latinas at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Excelencia in Education March 2023 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Fact Sheet SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview The Latino population in the United States has grown significantly over the last decade, and Latina representation has grown more quickly than Latinos. This factsheet provides an overview of the Latina population, as well as the college enrollment and educational attainment of Latinas at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) — a critical set of institutions enrolling and graduating Latinos, and other post-traditional students, in the U.S. Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education. (March 2023). Latinas at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Infographics to share Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Deborah A. Santiago is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Excelencia in Education, America's premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education. < Back to Our People Page Deborah A. Santiago Chief Executive Officer Excelencia in Education Email: dsantiago@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD BIO Deborah A. Santiago is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Excelencia in Education, America's premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education. As an innovator, thought leader, and educational visionary, she has led research and advanced evidence-based practices and strategies for more than 20 years. She has held leadership positions with education organizations around the country, including the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans and the Los Angeles Alliance for Student Achievement. She co-founded Excelencia in Education in 2004 to inform policy, compel action, and collaborate with those ready to accelerate student success with an unapologetic Latino lens. Among her many contributions, Deborah has addressed federal legislative issues in higher education at the Congressional Research Service and informed program and policy implementation at the U.S. Department of Education. She also improved awareness and education opportunities for Latinos with federal agencies as the Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. Among Deborah’s community efforts, she has provided program design and implementation for dropout prevention and parental engagement for the ASPIRA Association and translated data for community engagement at the Los Angeles Alliance for Student Achievement. As CEO, Deborah leads Excelencia’s programming and engagement efforts, including expanding and leveraging community-informed research in improving educational opportunities for students, working directly with education leaders, and informing campus practices as well as state and federal policies. Driven by a deep desire to advance asset based, student-centered understanding of the needs and opportunities for the Latino community, Deborah is a sought-after speaker about Hispanic Serving Institutions, college affordability, and equity in higher education. Her work has been cited in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. She serves on the Advisory Board of TheDream.US . and the technical panel for the Carnegie Classification led by the American Council on Education.

Mary Ann Villarreal 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 Mary Ann Villarreal President Institution website: https://www.csudh.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.csudh.edu/president/presidents-bio/ Mary Ann Villarreal is President of California State University, Dominguez Hills and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Jose Gomez is President of Pasadena City College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Pasadena City College Jose Gomez President Institution website: https://pasadena.edu/ Bio Page: https://pasadena.edu/about/president/biography.php Jose Gomez is President of Pasadena City College 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.

Reetika Dhawan is President of Arizona Western College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Arizona Western College Reetika Dhawan President Institution website: https://www.azwestern.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.azwestern.edu/about/office-of-the-president/biography Reetika Dhawan is President of Arizona Western College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

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

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.