June 22, 2023

HACU announces speakers of the Ninth PreK-12/Higher Education Collaboration Symposium

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has announced the agenda and speakers of its Ninth PreK-12/Higher Education Collaboration Symposium taking place, Oct. 28, 2023, at the Hilton Chicago. The one-day pre-conference Symposium includes a Fireside Chat with HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores and Ted Alejandre, county superintendent of schools, San Bernardino City Unified School District.

Three panel sessions will focus on the following topics:

“Growing the Hispanic Educator Workforce,” with panelists Ligia Alberto, Ed.D., assistant professor of education at Felician University; Joshua Villalobos, dean of instructional programs El Paso Community College-Mission del Paso Campus; and Veronica Aguilar, vice president of recruitment, Teach for America. The panel will be moderated by Montserrat Garibay, deputy assistant secretary and director, Office of English Acquisition, U.S. Department of Education

"Creating a College-Bound Culture and Supporting Transitions to College," with panelists Asa Gordon, director of college and career readiness, East Aurora School District 131; Yudi Lewis, executive director of HSI initiatives Weber State University; and Nasha Torrez, J.D. dean of students the University of New Mexico. The panel will be moderated by HACU Governing Board Member Ted Alejandre, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, San Bernardino City Unified School District.

"Building Academic Alliances and Collaborative Partnerships," with panelists Cristina Alfaro Ph.D., associate vice president of international affairs and professor of multilingual and global education San Diego State University; Lisa Dallacqua, Ph.D., assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, assessment and grants East Aurora School District 131; and Mónica Ramos, Ed.D., associate director and adjunct professor DePaul University. The panel will be moderated by Patricia Trujillo, Ph.D., deputy cabinet secretary of New Mexico Higher Education Department.

In the afternoon, a session entitled "Advancing Educational Equity and Excellence for Hispanics," will feature Melody Gonzales, executive director of the White House Initiatives.

A downloadable flyer is available here.

The Ninth Annual PreK-12/Higher Education Collaboration Symposium is a pre-conference event of HACU’s 37th Annual Conference taking place in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 28-30, 2023.