FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2014
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities announces new chair and Governing Board Members 2014-15
San Antonio, Texas - - The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has announced that the new chair of its Governing Board will be Tomás D. Morales, Ph.D., and confirmed four other officers and two new members to its Board.
"I am more than pleased that Tomás Morales has been elected as chair of HACU's Governing Board,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio. R. Flores. “As a longtime advocate for Hispanic higher education success and supporter of HACU's mission, Dr. Morales is an excellent choice to help guide the association into a year of new challenges and opportunities. His leadership skills and broad higher education experience will be invaluable for HACU’s advocacy efforts and for the institutions and students we represent."
Tomás D. Morales has been a member of HACU’s Governing Board during his 
presidency at California State University, San Bernardino and in his previous position as president of the College of Staten Island, The City University of New York (CUNY). Having served as an educator and leader in higher education for more than 37 years, he is one of the few who have held senior administrative positions at the three largest public university systems in the nation: The California State University, The State University of New York, and The City University of New York.
HACU Governing Board officers:
- Chair - Tomás D. Morales, Ph.D., president of California State University, San Bernardino.
- Vice chair - Rita Cepeda, Ed.D., chancellor of San José/Evergreen Community College District.
- Secretary - William V. Flores, Ph.D., president of University of Houston, Downtown.
- Treasurer - Rev. Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale, president of St. Thomas University.
- Past chair - Jorge Ivan Vélez-Arocho, Ph.D., president of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico.
New Board Members:
“We are equally pleased to welcome to HACU’s Governing Board, Joseph Castro and Mike Flores, two CEOs of Hispanic-Serving Institutions who have been actively involved with HACU,” said Flores. “Their insights will be invaluable to HACU’s Governing Board.”
Joseph I. Castro, Ph.D., was appointed as the eighth president of California State University, 
Fresno in 2013. Castro joined Fresno State after holding several leadership positions at University of California campuses, most recently serving as vice chancellor, student academic affairs at University of California, San Francisco. During his 23-year career, Castro served in leadership positions within the University of California system at Berkeley, Davis, Merced and Santa Barbara campuses and at the Office of the President.
Mike Flores, Ph.D., became Palo Alto College’s sixth president in 2012. A native Texan, 
Flores has spent 19 years in higher education and has held three vice president positions at the College. He currently serves as a Achieving the Dream Data Coach and has served as a fellow with the American Council on Education, HACU, and conducted postgraduate study at the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management. Flores has presented nationally at numerous higher education conferences regarding student engagement, evaluation and performance excellence.
HACU Governing Board members who recently completed their terms include: J. Michael Ortiz, president of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and Dennis A. Ahlburg, president of Trinity University.
Board members serve three-year terms with the opportunity to be re-elected to a second term. A complete listing of current board members can be found online at HACU’s website.
About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents more than 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain. For more information, visit www.hacu.net.
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Contact: Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia / Executive Director of Communications and Marketing / Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities / Phone: (210) 576-3206.