Search Results

Excelencia’s community understands and addresses contemporary higher education issues uses a Latino lens. Read the latest perspectives on policies and practices impacting Latino student success from across the Excelencia network. Excelencia's Perspectives < Return to the Research and Policy Page Applying a Latino lens to higher education policy and practice Excelencia’s community understands and addresses contemporary higher education issues using a Latino lens. Read the latest perspectives on policies and practices impacting Latino, and all, student success from across the Excelencia network. For more insight into Latino student success trends in higher education, visit Excelencia’s Medium page. Excelencia's Medium post highlights trendsetting institutions that are taking responsibility for graduates' long-term educational and career success — and the high-impact practices they're implementing to do so. By embedding career-aligned learning experiences throughout Latino, and all, students' journeys, colleges and universities that have earned the Intentionally Thriving Institution certification through the Seal of Excelencia framework are ensuring students graduate with meaningful skills, professional experience, and confidence in their next steps. From Classroom to Career: Embedding Workforce Readiness into Academic Pathways By: Alexia Carrillo Villalobos, Emily Labandera, & Deborah A. Santiago, Excelencia in Education Read Now | May 28, 2026 · 5 min read HSIs play a critical role in providing access to a quality education for Latino, and all, students and meeting our national need for a highly educated citizenry and workforce. After canceling $229 million in HSI funding in 2025, the current administration is contradicting that role by signaling its intent to redistribute funds Congress appropriated for HSIs in 2026 — making it harder for them to compete for the resources they need. Read Excelencia Co-founder and CEO Deborah Santiago's analysis on the current state of HSI funding. Title V: Developing HSIs Funding in 2026 By: Deborah A. Santiago, CEO, Excelencia in Education Read Now | April 28, 2026 · 7 min read With colleges and universities at the center of national conversations about what economic mobility and prosperity look like for our country, Excelencia is bringing together higher education leaders of institutions delivering positive impact for students, families, and communities for our new series on Medium, Voces y Excelencia: Leadership in Action. Read our kick-off piece and stay tuned for additional pieces to hear from Leaders at institutions in our E-Action network. Voces y Excelencia : Leadership in Action By: Excelencia in Education Read Now | Jan 26, 2026 · 3 min read In recent weeks, we’ve seen the current administration refuse to defend and, later, seek to end funding for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) grant programs, arguing that they are racially discriminatory. Read Excelencia's latest case for HSIs and learn more about how these programs constitute a strategic, competitive, capacity-building investment in institutions that disproportionately educate America’s fastest-growing student population and why supporting them is a strategic investment in our democracy. The Case for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Opportunity Meeting Talent By: Deborah A. Santiago, CEO, Excelencia in Education Read Now | Sep 15, 2025 · 4 min read America’s Economic Future: Latinos and the Institutions that Serve Them By: Lily Cuellarsola, Excelencia in Education Latinos, one of the fastest-growing and youngest U.S. demographics, are uniquely positioned to shape America’s future. This post explores Latinos’ rapid population growth, rising college enrollment, the challenges of the demographic cliff, and strategies to invest in their success amongst all served to meet workforce needs and secure our nation’s economic future. Read Now | Jan 8, 2025 · 7 min read Latino Students are Key to Our Nation’s Prosperity By: Lily Cuellarsola & Cassandra Arroyo, Excelencia in Education Accelerating Latino degree attainment while all groups increase is key to our nation’s prosperity. Latinos, now making up about one in five Americans, represent the growing majority of college students today and face unique circumstances that institutions must address to support their success. This analysis explores the Latino student profile, how they pay for college, their degree attainment, their workforce participation, and the institutions uniquely positioned to serve them. Read Now | Jun 5, 2024 · 8 min read Funding America’s Future: Larger Endowments Could Help HSIs Further Accelerate Latino Student Success By: Sami R. Nour, Excelencia in Education Endowments are important resources that provide institutions with opportunities to invest in students and programs. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are less likely to have an endowment compared to other colleges and universities. For HSIs that do have an endowment, their funds tend to be smaller than those at other institutions. Our new analysis explores endowments at HSIs and what it means for investing in students. Read Now | Jun 13, 2023 · 9 min read The number of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) is increasing again. By: Deborah Santiago, Emily Labandera, & Sami R. Nour, Excelencia in Education This year, 571 colleges and universities meet the enrollment definition of a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) — up from 559 last year, when the number decreased for the first time in two decades due to enrollment declines, institutional closings, and consolidation brought on by the pandemic. Our new analysis explores how and why the number of HSIs is growing again. Read Now | Mar 30, 2023 · 6 min read Beyond an HSI Designation: Exploring Strategic Practices for Grant Participation By: Cassandra Arroyo & Deborah Santiago, Excelencia in Education The competitive nature of HSI federal funding has increased the importance for HSIs to plan effectively for grant competitions and utilize funds sustainably. This analysis explores strategic practices from six HSIs for participating in Title V grant competitions and moving beyond an HSI designation to intentionally serve Latino and other low-income students. Read Now | Mar 23, 2023 · 6 min read Resilience: Surviving, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding in Times of Trouble By: Rafael Ramírez Rivera, Acting President Inter American University of Puerto Rico Rafael Ramírez Rivera, Acting President of Inter American University of Puerto Rico, shares his definition of institutional resilience and lessons that U.S. mainland institutions can learn from Puerto Rican universities when it comes to surviving, stabilizing, and rebuilding in times of trouble in the wake of Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Fiona, an unprecedented series of earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Read Now | Mar 21, 2023 · 6 min read Institutional Resilience in Puerto Rico By: Sami R. Nour, Deborah Santiago, Emily Labandera, & Cassandra Arroyo, Excelencia in Education This new analysis examines the island’s universities as accelerators of economic mobility for Latino students and their communities, demonstrating how Puerto Rican institutions offer a better return on investment in higher education for low-income students than can be achieved almost anywhere else in the U.S. Read Now | Mar 2, 2023 · 9 min read

Guadalupe Acosta serves as the Digital Manager of Excelencia in Education. Guadalupe manages Excelencia's digital communications, including the website, presence in social media platforms, as well as online campaigns. < Back to Our People Page Guadalupe Acosta Digital Manager Excelencia in Education Email: gacosta@EdExcelencia.org Current Position: Guadalupe Acosta serves as the Digital Manager of Excelencia in Education, managing Excelencia ’s digital communications, including the website, presence in social media platforms, as well as online campaigns. Past Experiences: Guadalupe comes to Excelencia with over 4 years of digital and print marketing experience that included work in the public transportation sector bringing awareness to the many benefits of public services. Guadalupe received her B.S. in Paralegal Studies and Spanish and a minor in General Business from Texas A&M University at Commerce. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? As a first-generation high school and university Latina graduate, I know the importance of organizations like Excelencia and the level of impact it can have on Latino student success in higher education. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am, professionally, if it wasn’t for key organizations, programs, and mentors that helped me along the way navigate the education system and overcome the constant challenges. Personally, I couldn’t think of a better service than playing a part in helping accelerate Latino student success in higher education to grow the talent for America’s future workforce and civil society. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia has been the highlight of my professional career. The level of passion and commitment for a common cause is seen everyday with everything that is done, no matter the role and how big or small the task is. I am proud to be part of a very talented team where we all work as one.

Massey Villarreal is Chief Executive Officer & President of Precision Task Group, Inc., and Excelencia in Education's Board Member. < Back to Our People Page Massey Villarreal Chief Executive Officer & President Precision Task Group, Inc. Massey Villarreal is Chief Executive Officer & President of Precision Task Group, Inc. He is a respected business leader and a long-time advocate for the Latino community and higher education. Villarreal is immediate past chairman of the Texas Association of Business (TAB) and serves on the Texas Association of Community College Business Advisory Council, the WWII Museum, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) National Council. He was the first person to serve as chairman of a local, state, and national Hispanic chamber, including the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He has also served on the Texas State University System Board of Regents.

Andreia Nebel is President of Clarkson College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Clarkson College Andreia Nebel President Institution website: https://www.clarksoncollege.edu/ Bio Page: https://directory.clarksoncollege.edu/Andreia-Nebel Andreia Nebel is President of Clarkson College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers 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. About A Transformative Leader in Higher 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. DISCOVER OUR STORY What We Do Excelencia meets the opportunity of accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education with a portfolio linking leadership, data, and evidence-based practices in partnership with colleges and universities across the country. We build momentum for institutional efforts that will improve Latinos’ higher educational achievement amongst all served at a national scale by: Leading a community of common cause made up of professionals committed to intentionally serving Latino, and all, students. Informing change agents with data-driven analysis that compels action to improve the educational achievement of Latinos. Promoting education policies and institutional practices that advance Latinos, and all, students' academic achievement. LEARN MORE The Excelencia Team Excelencia’s team is why Excelencia works. Our leadership and staff are dedicated to accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education and advancing our families, communities, and nation. MEET OUR PEOPLE Support Excelencia in Education When you invest in Excelencia , you support our work to empower more Latino, and all, students to graduate and strengthen our country’s civic leadership and workforce. SUPPORT OUR MISSION

John Keenan is President of Salem State University and a President for Latino Student Success. < Back to E-Action Main Page Salem State University John Keenan President Institution website: https://www.salemstate.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.salemstate.edu/salem-state-difference/presidents-office/john-d-keenan-biography John Keenan is President of Salem State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Alexia Carrillo Villalobos serves as a Policy & Research Analyst of Excelencia in Education. Alexia informs Excelencia’s policy and practice efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education by conducting research related to Latinos in higher education. < Back to Our People Page Alexia Carrillo Villalobos Policy & Research Analyst Excelencia in Education Email: acarrillovillalobos@edexcelencia.org Current Position: As a Policy & Research Analyst, Alexia informs Excelencia’s policy and practice efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education by conducting research related to Latinos in higher education. Alexia also supports work on institutional transformation through the Seal of Excelencia , and the policy agenda’s current four core priorities: affordability, institutional capacity, retention and transfer, and workforce preparation. Past Experiences: Alexia’s passion for higher education policy was motivated by her personal background as a first-generation college student. She previously worked as a Research Assistant with the Johns Hopkins Poverty & Inequality Research Lab (PIRL) and the Education Policy Initiative (EPI) at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy - University of Michigan where she supported a qualitative research study aimed at reducing inequality in access to higher education. She was also a Summer Scholar at the Postsecondary National Policy Institute with a particular emphasis on accessibility and affordability for underrepresented student populations. She received her AA in Sociology and Social Behavioral Sciences from Santa Rosa Junior College, her BA in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside, and her Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? I decided to join Excelencia because of their commitment and dedication to accelerating Latino student success in higher education. I wanted to bring my experiences and be a part of the leadership that can transform higher education at the national level. By combining research and policy, I look forward to uplifting student voices and identifying areas that serve Latinos, and all students more intentionally. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia is an inspiring, collaborative, and empowering experience. As a collective, we believe in Excelencia’s mission and commitment to intentionally serve the Latino community. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and work alongside professionals who are just as passionate as I am in supporting students to, through, and beyond their journey in higher education.

Jesse Peters is President of Western Oregon University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Western Oregon University Jesse Peters President Institution website: https://wou.edu/ Bio Page: https://wou.edu/president/?_q=President%27s%20Office Jesse Peters is President of Western Oregon University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Luke Wood is President of California State University-Sacramento and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State University-Sacramento Luke Wood President Institution website: https://www.csus.edu/ Bio Page: http://www.csus.edu/president/ Luke Wood is President of California State University-Sacramento and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Recertified Institution: 2023-2026 California State University Sacramento (Sacramento State) serves over 28,000 undergraduate students, 39% of whom are Latino. An anchor university, Sacramento State has seen enrollment of full-time and part-time Latino students increase by 34% and 66%, respectively, from 2015-2023.

Carine Feyten is Chancellor and President of Texas Woman's University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Texas Woman's University Carine Feyten Chancellor and President Institution website: https://twu.edu/ Bio Page: https://twu.edu/chancellor/about-chancellor-feyten/ Carine Feyten is Chancellor and President of Texas Woman's University and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2023-2026 Texas Woman’s University (TWU), the nation’s first woman-focused university system, enrolls 10,150 undergraduate students, of whom 34% are Latino students and 56% are Pell Grant recipients. TWU’s academic and student life missions together is the overarching vision of a university experience that develops the whole person. Built on the cornerstones of experiential learning and leadership development, TWU aims to graduate thriving individuals who have a strong sense of community, health, prosperity, and purpose.

Russell Lowery-Hart is Chancellor of Austin Community College District and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Austin Community College District Russell Lowery-Hart Chancellor Institution website: https://www.austincc.edu/ Bio Page: https://offices.austincc.edu/chancellor/biography/ R ussell Lowery-Hart is Chancellor of Austin Community College District and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 Austin Community College District (ACC) is a public two-year college serving the Austin, Texas region. ACC is one of the largest HSIs in the country and serving the fastest-growing demographic in the Central Texas region, where education is a key lever for economic and social mobility.

Olivia Glad serves as Administration Manager, Institutional Programs of Excelencia in Education. Olivia supports the IP team in the planning, execution, and documentation of activities and resources related to Excelencia’s evidence-based practices portfolio. < Back to Our People Page Olivia Glad Administration Manager, Institutional Programs Excelencia in Education Email: oglad@edexcelencia.org Current Position: Olivia supports the Institutional Programs team in the planning, execution, and documentation of activities and resources related to Excelencia’s evidence-based practices portfolio. Olivia works closely with the team to engage constituents, refine processes and protocols, and track outcomes so the team can deliver on organizational goals. Past Experiences: Olivia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and an interdisciplinary minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in May 2021 from Furman University. During her time as a student, she engaged in coursework which ignited her passion for understanding the complex interplay between gender and ethnicity. Olivia was later appointed the inaugural Post-Baccalaureate Fellow within Furman’s Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program, where she supported the scaling of the program through educational outreach, mentorship, and collaboration between the university and local community-based organizations. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? I am committed to bridging the gaps between academic knowledge and real-world activism, with the goal of fostering positive change for all students in higher education. At Excelencia , we advocate for a multifaceted approach that combines education, initiatives, and community engagement to address the needs of Latino students, with the objective to more intentionally serve all students. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? As an organization, we are devoted to supporting and uplifting the individuals and programs that are devoted to seeing Latino students thrive academically, socially, and culturally. I am glad to spend each day surrounded by agents of change with an immense commitment to serving Latino students.