HACU welcomes new governing board leadership

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) welcomed new leadership to preside over the Governing Board of the nation’s leading voice for the higher education needs of the country’s largest ethnic population.

At the HACU 19^th Annual Conference this month, Silvia Zapico, Provost, Valencia Community College, Osceola Campus, was unanimously elected chair of the HACU Governing Board, joined by a new roster of Governing Board officers and three new board members to represent the leadership of the Hispanic higher education community.

“HACU welcomes Dr. Zapico’s proven leadership and outstanding record of achievement to its board,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.  “Dr. Zapico’s vision, wisdom and experience will serve HACU well in the year ahead.”

The following were also elected to serve with Zapico as Governing Board officers for 2005-2006: President of the University of the Sacred Heart, Jose Jaime Rivera as vice chair; California State University, Fullerton, President Milton Gordon as secretary; and Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College, City University of New York, President Dolores Fernández as treasurer. As past board chair, Alexander González, President of California State University, Sacramento, remains a member of the board’s Executive Committee.

Also selected unanimously during HACU’s 19^th Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, were five new Governing Board members for 2005-2006: Rev. Franklyn Casale, President of St. Thomas University (Florida); Rumaldo Juarez, President of Texas A&M University, Kingsville;  Arturo Lara López, Rector of Universidad de Guanajuato;  Jorge Vélez Arocho, Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez;  and Cyrus Salazar, Hispanic Employment Program Manager of the National Institutes of Health and chair of the Board for the HACU Alumni Association.

As HACU’s Governing Board Chair, Zapico will guide the board of an association that represents nearly 450 colleges and universities that collectively serve more than two-thirds of all U.S. Hispanic students in higher education. HACU’s international membership includes leading universities located throughout Latin America and Spain.

“I am excited to be the chair of HACU’s Governing Board for the 2005-2006 term.  HACU is an exceptional organization that helps so many students succeed in their college careers, and I look forward to helping the organization continue to fulfill its mission of championing Hispanic higher education success,” said Dr. Zapico.

As head of the Osceola Campus, Dr. Zapico presides over one of the four campuses of the Valencia Community College system.

Rivera, Tomas A. Arciniega, President Emeritus, California State University at Bakersfield; Tessa Martinez Pollack, President, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas); and Maria C. Sheehan, Superintendent/President, College of the Desert (California) were re-elected for second terms.  Other continuing HACU Governing Board members are: Louis Caldera, President, University of New Mexico, Main Campus; Roy Flores, Chancellor, Pima County Community College District; Modesto Maidique, President, Florida International University; Antonio Perez, President, Borough of Manhattan Community College (City University of New York); and Salme Steinberg, President, Northeastern Illinois University .

###