The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has announced that it will host an exclusive virtual fireside chat featuring Ambassador Ken Salazar, the distinguished author of Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America. The virtual event is scheduled to take place on October 15, 2026, at 2 p.m. CT, bringing together prominent academic leaders and members of the higher education community to discuss public service, representation, and the future of inclusive leadership in the United States.
HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores will join Ambassador Salazar for the in-depth conversation. The session will be moderated by Abel A. Chávez, President of Our Lady of the Lake University. The webinar aims to engage educators, administrators, and students from across the nation in a meaningful dialogue inspired by Salazar’s personal journey and his extensive career in public office.
Ambassador Salazar’s life story serves as a powerful backdrop for the discussion. Growing up on his family’s ranch in the remote San Luis Valley of Colorado, he achieved a historic milestone as the first member of his family to attend college. That educational milestone propelled him into a remarkable career in public service. Over the decades, Salazar has served in some of the highest offices in state and federal government, including as Colorado’s attorney general, a U.S. senator, secretary of the interior, and most recently as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico.
In his book, Borderlands, Salazar reflects upon these decades of public service, offering readers an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs of navigating the American political landscape while making a passionate, well-reasoned case for a stronger, more inclusive nation. The virtual fireside chat will draw heavily from the themes of the book, examining how personal background, family values, and higher education intersect to shape effective public servants and community leaders.
Organizers note that the conversation will delve into several critical areas impacting higher education and international relations today. Among the primary topics on the agenda are the profound influence of family and education on public service, and the vital role that institutions of higher education play in identifying, nurturing, and developing the next generation of leaders. The panel will pay particular attention to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and how these colleges and universities can actively prepare their diverse student bodies for impactful leadership roles in civic, economic, and political arenas.
In addition to domestic leadership development, the discussion will broaden to address contemporary geopolitical and cultural dynamics. Panelists will explore strategies for bridging widening political and cultural divides within the United States, strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the U.S. and Mexico, and expanding opportunities for binational collaboration in higher education, scientific research, and workforce development. These subjects are especially pertinent to HSIs and institutions situated in border regions, where cross-border partnerships are a daily reality and an economic necessity.
A key highlight of the upcoming webinar will be a special presentation by Ambassador Salazar regarding a new educational initiative associated with his book. Salazar will share details on how academic institutions can integrate Borderlands into their curricula and campus programs through "One Book, More Voices." This new effort, supported by the Borderlands New North American Alliance Fund, is designed to provide matching copies of the book for classrooms, university libraries, and specialized student programs, making the text accessible to a wider audience of learners.
The virtual event is tailored specifically for the higher education community and is open to all HACU-member institutions and organizational partners. University and college presidents, provosts, faculty members, and academic staff—particularly those teaching and researching in fields such as political science, history, Chicano and Latino studies, Southwest studies, international relations, and public policy—are strongly encouraged to attend. Furthermore, academic leaders are invited to share information about the event with their students, encouraging active participation from emerging scholars who represent the future of the nation’s workforce and civic leadership.
Registration for the virtual fireside chat is currently open. Members of the HACU community and interested educational partners can secure their participation by visiting the official registration page hosted on Zoom.
