The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and Our Lady of the Lake University recently hosted a landmark panel discussion titled “The Road to 40 Years: A Conversation,” marking a significant milestone in the four-decade journey of higher education advocacy. Held on October 7, 2026, at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, the event served as a foundational pillar in HACU’s yearlong celebration of its upcoming 40th anniversary, bringing together prominent educational leaders, institutional pioneers, and community stakeholders to reflect on a remarkable legacy of empowerment, equity, and academic excellence for Hispanic students across the nation and beyond.
The high-profile panel featured an esteemed lineup of higher education luminaries who have dedicated their careers to supporting and advancing HACU’s overarching mission. The participants included HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores; Alamo Colleges District Chancellor and immediate past chair of the HACU Governing Board Mike Flores; Blandina “Bambi” Cárdenas, former president of the University of Texas-Pan American; and Ana “Cha” Guzman, president emerita of Palo Alto College. The discussion was expertly guided by Our Lady of the Lake University President Abel A. Chávez, who served as the moderator for the afternoon, steering the conversation through decades of institutional evolution, legislative advocacy, and community impact.
The gathering of these distinguished leaders provided a rare opportunity to bridge the past, present, and future of Hispanic-Higher Education. The conversation successfully brought together key figures who have not only witnessed the growth of the association over the past four decades but have actively shaped its trajectory through unwavering dedication and strategic vision. Panelists engaged in a deep-dive reflection on the association’s rich history, its monumental accomplishments, and its tireless advocacy efforts on behalf of minority-serving institutions. Furthermore, the dialogue seamlessly transitioned into an urgent and forward-looking examination of current challenges, systemic hurdles, and future opportunities facing Hispanic-Serving Institutions and the millions of students they serve in an increasingly complex educational landscape.
The choice of Our Lady of the Lake University as the venue for this historic anniversary conversation carried profound symbolic weight, returning the association to its very birthplace. HACU was originally founded in 1986 during a momentous meeting convened at OLLU in San Antonio, starting with a courageous coalition of just 18 charter member institutions. What began as a modest gathering of visionary educators in South Texas has grown exponentially over the past four decades into an influential international organization. Today, the association has expanded its footprint to include member institutions not only across the United States but also stretching into Latin America and Spain, continually advocating for the recognition, funding, and support of Hispanic-Serving Institutions and the diverse student populations they champion. As the event concluded, attendees and panelists alike looked forward to the official commemoration of the 40th anniversary, carrying forward the torch of educational equity that was first lit on the OLLU campus forty years ago.
