The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has officially announced the selection of its fourth cohort for the prestigious Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program, welcoming a dedicated group of higher education professionals ready to step into advanced institutional roles. A total of forty-two exceptional participants from colleges and universities across the country have been chosen to begin the rigorous professional development program this fall, marking another significant milestone in HACU’s ongoing mission to strengthen the leadership pipeline within American higher education.
Designed specifically to address the leadership needs of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) as well as the broader academic landscape, the six-month program aims to substantially increase the number, variety, and quality of talented professionals moving into senior leadership positions. As colleges and universities navigate an increasingly complex operational, financial, and regulatory environment, the demand for visionary, well-prepared administrators has never been more critical. The Enlace program directly addresses this need by equipping mid-level faculty and staff with the comprehensive skills, strategic insights, and professional networks required to lead effectively at the highest levels of academia.
Throughout the intensive six-month journey, members of the fourth cohort will engage in a robust curriculum covering vital aspects of contemporary campus administration. Participants will dive deep into academic and student affairs management, exploring best practices for fostering student success, improving retention rates, and supporting diverse student populations. In addition, the program will provide comprehensive instruction on regional institutional accreditation processes—a cornerstone of academic quality and institutional integrity—alongside critical higher education advocacy issues that impact policy, funding, and equity at both the state and federal levels.
A unique and highly valuable component of the Enlace program is the opportunity for participants to interact directly with a professional executive search firm. This engagement gives cohort members rare, behind-the-scenes insights into how executive recruitment works in higher education, helping them better understand what search committees look for, how to position their credentials effectively, and how to navigate the complex pathways of career advancement into senior administrative roles such as deans, vice presidents, and presidents.
The delivery model of the Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program combines the flexibility of online learning with the high-impact engagement of premier national convenings. The sessions will be delivered through a series of structured online meetings designed to foster continuous peer-to-peer learning and mentorship. These virtual gatherings will be complemented by key in-person sessions scheduled to take place at major national gatherings. The cohort will convene in November 2026 during HACU’s Annual Conference in Chula Vista, California, immersing themselves in a national network of HSI leaders and educators. Following the fall conference, participants will gather again in Washington, D.C., in April 2027 for the National Capitol Forum, where they will gain firsthand experience in higher education advocacy and policy discussions. The program will ultimately culminate in a formal graduation ceremony celebrating the achievements and readiness of the cohort.
The success and accessibility of the Enlace program are significantly bolstered by the generous support of external partners. HACU extended special thanks to Capital One and the Mellon Foundation for their vital support in providing grant funding and scholarships for select participants, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder promising educators from accessing these transformative leadership opportunities.
The forty-two outstanding professionals selected for the fourth cohort of the Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program, alongside their respective home institutions, represent a wide geographic footprint and a deep commitment to educational equity.
The participants include Cristhian Altamirano, Ph.D., from Hudson County Community College; Allen Anguiano from Northeast Lakeview College; Scott Blankenbaker from Riverland Community College; Karina Castillo from Oakton College; Claudia Corleto from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science; Claudia Delgado from Hudson County Community College; Jorge Dimas from Laredo College; David Estudiante from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Mayté Frías, Ph.D., from the University of California, Davis; and Anayeli Gómez-Navarro, Ed.D., from California State University, Bakersfield.
The cohort further includes Jonathon Gonzales from Northwest Vista College; María del Mar González-González, Ph.D., from Weber State University; Joel Gutierrez from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Moises Ibarra from Roseman University of Health Sciences; Raffi Manjikian from Hudson County Community College; Alan Manzueta from Bergen Community College; Silvia Marijuan, Ph.D., from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo; Selena Marroquin-Hardy from Central New Mexico Community College; Javier Melara from Imperial Valley College; and Heather Mena-Carias from Lehigh University.
Additional members of the fourth cohort comprise Ana Orellana from CT State Community College; Diana Ortiz Giron from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Ricardo Pacheco, Ed.D., from Dutchess Community College; Jose Padilla from California State University, East Bay; Sara Quinn, Ph.D., from Dominican University; Mayra Raxon from the University at Albany, SUNY; Alexa Riano from Hudson County Community College; Azanet Rodriguez from Aims Community College; Jeanette Rodriguez from Fullerton College; and Mariana Rodriguez from Laredo College.
Rounding out the impressive roster of selectees are Johanna Romero from the University of California, San Diego; April Rosas from Front Range Community College; Carlos Sepulveda from the University of Colorado, Boulder; Sarah Smyth from Bloomfield College of Montclair State University; Sarah Snyder, Ph.D., from Arizona Western College; Loretta Tafoya from Red Rocks Community College; Alyssa Trevino from Northwest Vista College; Rick Trevino, Ed.D., from the University of Southern California; Diana Valdez from Northeastern Illinois University; Newman Wong from Our Lady of the Lake University; Viviana Zambrano from Kean University; and Dubia Zaragoza from Arizona Western College.
Within this accomplished group, specific participants have been designated as scholarship recipients supported by program partners. Capital One scholarship recipients include Allen Anguiano, Scott Blankenbaker, Jonathon Gonzales, María del Mar González-González, Silvia Marijuan, Javier Melara, Jose Padilla, Mayra Raxon, Alexa Riano, Azanet Rodriguez, Jeanette Rodriguez, Sarah Snyder, Alyssa Trevino, Diana Valdez, and Dubia Zaragoza. Additionally, Claudia Delgado, Jorge Dimas, Mayté Frías, Joel Gutierrez, Ana Orellana, and Carlos Sepulveda have been recognized as scholarship recipients supported by the Mellon Foundation, reflecting a shared philanthropic commitment to fostering diverse and capable leadership across the nation’s colleges and universities.
