September 17, 2024
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has appointed a member institution president, a member institution staff, and a HACU staff member to EPA’s first Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU-MSIs) Advisory Council.
Fresno State President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, Ph.D., will serve for a two-year term as the council’s vice chair. Also appointed to the council is The University of New Mexico’ s Director of the Southwest Environmental Finance Center Heather Himmelberger, and HACU’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Relations Lena T. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
(L-R Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, Ph.D., Lena T. Rodriguez, Ph.D., Heather Himmelberger)
The 20-member council will provide the EPA advice and recommendations on leveraging HBCU-MSIs to help diversify and nurture the agency’s next generation workforce of environmental leaders, ensuring these institutions have the resources and support to thrive. The council is part of an effort to advance equitable economic and educational opportunities for all Americans while protecting human health and the environment.
Other council efforts will focus on workforce development and workforce planning of mission-critical positions, outreach encouraging more science, policy, and research programs at HBCUs and MSIs, promoting an awareness of EPA programs and existing agency tools, and technical assistance, and outreach eliminating barriers to grant and procurement funding.
Click here to read the EPA release.