Morgan Phillips is President of Gateway Technical College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Gateway Technical College Morgan Phillips President Institution website: https://www.gtc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.gtc.edu/about-gateway/college-leadership Morgan Phillips is President of Gateway Technical College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

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

Adriana Rodriguez serves as Chief Operating Officer & Vice President for Institutional Programs of Excelencia in Education. Adriana works closely with the CEO, focusing on optimizing processes, managing resources, and ensuring efficient execution of business strategies. < Back to Our People Page Adriana Rodriguez Chief Operating Officer & Vice President for Institutional Programs Excelencia in Education Email: arodriguez@EdExcelencia.org Current Position: Adriana Rodriguez serves as Excelencia in Education’s Chief Operating Officer & Vice President for Institutional Programs. As the COO she works closely with the CEO, focusing on optimizing processes, managing resources, and ensuring efficient execution of business strategies. In her role as Vice President, she sets the strategic direction of the Institutional Practices portfolio. This involves supporting a dedicated team in the execution of programming for Examples of Excelencia and the Growing What Works (GWW) Database. Past Experiences: Adriana has 20 years of experience in non-profit education sector. During her 17 years of service at the Maya Angelou Schools in Washington, D.C., she worked in the areas of data infrastructure, office operations, continuous improvement practices, and school accountability policy. These focus areas had a secondary education lens, but she also worked on post-secondary pathways for six of those years by designing and managing college access and success services for the schools’ seniors and alumni. She was a tireless advocate among school leaders and city officials to ensure the inclusion of alternative youth populations in policy decisions. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? My career has focused on equitable access to education and employment opportunities for older youth and young adults, especially those most marginalized by educational systems. Excelencia provides an opportunity to bring a Latino lens to my work and to address issues at a national level and with higher education partners committed to student-thriving environments. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? I show up every day for Excelencia because of its mission and clear pathway to achieve it. I enjoy being part of a diverse and talented staff that works hard to achieve our goals. I appreciate the collaboration with all of our wonderful programs and institutions to transform higher education to more intentionally serve Latino and all post-traditional students.

Tonya Smith-Jackson is Chancellor of Rutgers University-Newark and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Rutgers University-Newark Tonya Smith-Jackson Chancellor Institution website: https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/office-chancellor/meet-chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson is Chancellor of Rutgers University-Newark and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2025-2028 Rutgers University-Newark (Rutgers-Newark) is an urban public research university, a Hispanic-Serving Institution as well as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving and Minority-Serving Institution. It serves nearly 8,000 students, with 35% identifying as Hispanic.

Pam Y. Eddinger is President of Bunker Hill Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Bunker Hill Community College Pam Y. Eddinger President Institution website: https://www.bhcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.bhcc.edu/about/officeofthepresident/ Pam Y. Eddinger is President of Bunker Hill Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Jana Schwartz is President of Paradise Valley Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Paradise Valley Community College Jana Schwartz President Institution website: https://www.paradisevalley.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.paradisevalley.edu/leadership/dr-jana-schwartz Jana Schwartz is President of Paradise Valley Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Federal financial aid is key to higher education access and success for many students, including most Latinos, but current realities challenge its effectiveness. < Back Using a Latino Lens to Reimagine Aid Design and Delivery Deborah A. Santiago March 2013 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication Executive Summary SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Federal financial aid is critical to student access and success in postsecondary education for many students, including most Latinos. However, current realities are challenging the effectiveness of federal financial aid policy today. This white paper uses a Latino lens to articulate challenges and opportunities for financial aid policy using both public data and input by students, institutional partners, and other stakeholders. The Latino lens is not intended to exclude consideration of other groups. Instead it offers a contemporary lens to more accurately see America’s student population and provides a fresh perspective on financial aid policy using the profile of this young and growing population as the baseline, rather than the footnote, to define the post-traditional student. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Mike Muñoz is Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Long Beach City College Mike Muñoz Superintendent-President Institution website: https://www.lbcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.lbcc.edu/office-president Mike Muñoz is Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Recertified Institution: 2023-2026 Long Beach City College (LBCC) is the fourth-largest community college in California, serving nearly 24,000 undergraduate students. In 2023, over half (56%) of their students served were Latino, compared to 36% in 2010.

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 Iowa. Latino College Completion - Iowa 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) 26% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 44% Of White adults Fast Facts Iowa had the 36th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 11% K-12 Population 7% Total Population 2-Year Graduation Rate 31% Latino Students 43% White Students Median Age 23 Latinos 41 White 4-Year Graduation Rate 59% Latino Students 73% White Students Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions , Hispanics' graduation rate was 12%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Iowa. At four-year institutions , Hispanics' graduation rate was 14%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Iowa. 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 Iowa, 2021-2022 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 University of Iowa Public, 4-year or above 21,198 1,811 9% 2 Iowa State University Public, 4-year or above 25,537 1,790 7% 3 Des Moines Area Community College Public, 2-year 10,175 852 8% 4 Western Iowa Tech Community College Public, 2-year 2,657 587 22% 5 Kirkwood Community College Public, 2-year 7,778 548 7% Top Institutions Awarding Associate Degrees to Hispanics in Iowa, 2020-2021 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 Des Moines Area Community College Public, 2-year 1,996 125 6% 2 Kirkwood Community College Public, 2-year 1,625 110 7% 3 Eastern Iowa Community College District Public, 2-year 835 94 11% 4 Western Iowa Tech Community College Public, 2-year 417 59 14% 5 Iowa Central Community College Public, 2-year 732 48 7% Top Institutions Awarding Bachelor Degrees to Hispanics in Iowa, 2020-2021 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 University of Iowa Public, 4-year or above 5,283 408 8% 2 Iowa State University Public, 4-year or above 6,405 345 5% 3 University of Northern Iowa Public, 4-year or above 2,227 92 4% 4 Upper Iowa University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 933 74 8% 5 Drake University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 628 49 8% 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.

Susana Rivera-Mills is President of Aurora University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Aurora University Susana Rivera-Mills President Institution website: https://aurora.edu/index.html Bio Page: https://aurora.edu/president/leadership/susana-rivera-mills.html S usana Rivera-Mills is President of Aurora University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers has increased. To reach the Latino degree attainment goal by 2030, the U.S. 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. Latino College Completion: United States Does Latino college completion vary by location? Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers continues. To reach the Latino degree attainment goal by 2030, the U.S. 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. Degree Attainment for Latino Students, 2021 Filter by State/Location: Select State Click a state below to see the state's full fact sheet and learn more about degree attainment for Latino students. National Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 52% 65% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic California Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 58% 70% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic Alabama Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 58% 68% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic Colorado Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 44% 59% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic Alaska Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 29% 39% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic Connecticut Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 61% 75% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic Arizona Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 55% 59% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic Delaware Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 51% 68% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic Arkansas Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 49% 58% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic District of Columbia Graduation rate at 4-year institutions 76% 84% vs Hispanic White non-Hispanic 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 6 Public Leadership Leaders of these institutions and systems are choosing to join Excelencia’s national leadership effort and serve as funding partners for Latino College Completion U.S. and our Ensuring America’s Future campaign:

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 Connecticut. Latino College Completion - Connecticut 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) 28% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 55% Of White adults Fast Facts Connecticut had the 18th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 25% K-12 Population 18% Total Population 2-Year Graduation Rate 11% Latino Students 19% White Students Median Age 30 Latinos 48 White 4-Year Graduation Rate 61% Latino Students 75% White Students Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions , Hispanics' graduation rate was 8%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Connecticut. At four-year institutions , Hispanics' graduation rate was 14%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Connecticut. 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 Connecticut, 2021-2022 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 University of Connecticut Public, 4-year or above 18,362 2,650 14% 2 Gateway Community College Public, 2-year 5,194 1,574 30% 3 Norwalk Community College Public, 2-year 3,557 1,530 43% 4 Naugatuck Valley Community College Public, 2-year 4,297 1,392 32% 5 Central Connecticut State University Public, 4-year or above 7,616 1,299 17% Top Institutions Awarding Associate Degrees to Hispanics in Connecticut, 2020-2021 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 Norwalk Community College Public, 2-year 542 169 31% 2 Naugatuck Valley Community College Public, 2-year 604 136 23% 3 Gateway Community College Public, 2-year 566 135 24% 4 Housatonic Community College Public, 2-year 357 130 36% 5 Manchester Community College Public, 2-year 591 104 18% Top Institutions Awarding Bachelor Degrees to Hispanics in Connecticut, 2020-2021 Rank Institutions Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic 1 University of Connecticut Public, 4-year or above 5,433 632 12% 2 Central Connecticut State University Public, 4-year or above 1,838 273 15% 3 Southern Connecticut State University Public, 4-year or above 1,613 202 13% 4 Western Connecticut State University Public, 4-year or above 1,035 196 19% 5 Quinnipiac University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 1,787 175 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.