FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2024

HACU appoints inaugural senior VP for Chicago Regional Office and director of Western Regional Office

SAN ANTONIO – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has announced a new regional office in Chicago, Illinois, and the appointment of Reyes Gonzalez, Ed.D., as the senior vice president for state policy and government relations. Gonzalez will lead HACU’s new Chicago Regional Office and oversee regional state government relations activities.

HACU recently appointed Noemí Luján Pérez as the director of state government relations at the Sacramento office. She will oversee HACU’s legislative agenda on state government issues in the five western states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. 

“HACU’s regional offices are crucial to advancing policy and legislation at the state level to expand the reach of our advocacy work for Hispanic-Serving Institutions,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “This new office in Chicago is an indication of the expanding population and importance of Hispanics in the Midwest, which now has 34 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and 26 Emerging HSIs in Illinois alone.”

Gonzalez has over 30 years of experience in K-12, community colleges, and four-year universities, including 17 years at City Colleges of Chicago, Mount Mary University and most recently serving as president at St. Augustine College. Gonzales earned a bachelor’s from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a master’s from De Paul University, and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

Pérez has over 27 years of experience in policy and public affairs. Her previous experience includes service with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Foundation, City of Los Angeles, Microsoft Corp., and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Perez earned a bachelor’s and master’s from the University of Southern California.

Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the Chicago location will be HACU’s third office. The Association also has offices in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, California.

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. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).

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Media Contact: Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia