Media Advisory: University, State Leaders Will Discuss How Hispanic-Serving Institutions Impact Latino Student Success in Arizona

March 24, 2021

Media Advisory: University, State Leaders Will Discuss How Hispanic-Serving Institutions Impact Latino Student Success in Arizona

What: University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins and other leaders will discuss the impact of Arizona's Hispanic-Serving Institutions on Latino student success.
When: Thursday, March 25, 8:30-10 a.m.
Where: Register via Zoom.

A virtual discussion co-hosted by the University of Arizona will examine the ways Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the state have impacted Latino student success and advancement over the last 25 years.

The event, "Arizona Briefing on 25 years of HSIs: Accelerating Latino Student Success in Higher Education," is presented by Excelencia in Education, an organization that aims to advance Latino student achievement. Arizona State University is also a co-host of the event.

The discussion is part of "25 Years of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (#HSIs)," a national research project examining the impact of HSIs. Last year marked the 25th anniversary that HSIs were funded through federal legislation. Other briefings have been held for California, Florida, New York and Texas.

HSIs are defined by the U.S. Department of Education as institutions with undergraduate full-time student enrollment that is 25% or more Hispanic. UArizona received HSI status in 2018, becoming the first four-year institution in Arizona to receive the designation. The university was given Excelencia in Education's Seal of Excelencia the following year.

Thursday's event will feature a panel of Arizona leaders and experts, including University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins; Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education; and Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO Excelencia in Education. Sen. Mark Kelly will attend as a special guest.

The other panelists are:

Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University
Steven Gonzales, interim chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges
Paul Luna, president of the Helios Foundation
Melissa Trujillo, co-founder and executive director of the Be A Leader Foundation
Lisa Urias, president and CEO of Urias Communication
Lee Lambert, chancellor of Pima Community College

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Media contact:
Nancy Montoya
HSI Initiatives
520-248-1050
nancymontoya@arizona.edu

The University of Arizona, a land-grant university with two independently accredited medical schools, is one of the nation's top 40 public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. Established in 1885, the university is widely recognized as a student-centric university and has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. The university ranked in the top 20 in 2019 in research expenditures among all public universities, according to the National Science Foundation, and is a leading Research 1 institution with $734 million in annual research expenditures. The university advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships as a member of the Association of American Universities, the 65 leading public and private research universities in the U.S. It benefits the state with an estimated economic impact of $4.1 billion annually. For the latest on the University of Arizona response to the novel coronavirus, visit the university's COVID-19 webpage.