FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 23, 2020

HACU statement on President-elect Biden’s nomination of Miguel Cardona for Education Secretary

San Antonio, Texas – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has released the following statement on the nomination by President-elect Joe Biden of Miguel Cardona, Ed.D., for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

As Connecticut’s first Latino commissioner of education, Miguel Cardona brings substantial knowledge of minority communities to this national leadership position. He has personally experienced poverty and was an English-language learner, adding to his understanding of the struggles of first-generation ELL students. He has spent two decades as a public-school educator and has extensive experience in the public education system as a classroom teacher, school principal, and senior school district administrator; in 2012, he was recognized Connecticut’s National Distinguished Principal. Under his leadership, Connecticut became the first state to require high schools to offer courses on Latino and Black studies.

“The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities commends President-elect Biden in his selection of Miguel Cardona as his nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “Dr. Cardona is a strong advocate of underrepresented students and from a state with six Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), we are confident he will be a champion for HSIs and the students and communities they serve.”

“HACU pledges its support to ensure his confirmation by the U.S. Senate when he is formally nominated,” added Flores.

About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout the U.S. The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Sacramento, California and Washington, D.C. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Additional information is available at www.hacu.net.