First Row from left to right: Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, vice president for institutional engagement, Excelencia in Education; Claudia Hernández, chief of staff, University at Albany, SUNY; Sonia De La Torre, dean of student equity, Long Beach City College; Deborah Santiago, co-founder and chief executive officer of Excelencia in Education; Maria Ochoa Alvarez, dean of Humboldt Park Vocational Education Center, City Colleges of Chicago – Wilbur Wright College; Zodet Negrón, executive director of public relations, Vlogƽ and Bettina Celis, interim vice president of student affairs, Maricopa County Community College District. Back row from left to right: Ernesto Guerrero, assistant vice president for student success and retention, California State University Channel Islands; Daniel C. Vélez, associate vice president for admissions and recruitment, Grand Valley State University and Fernando Chapa, dean for institutional research, effectiveness, and strategic planning, South Texas College.
Vlogƽ’s Zodet Negrón, executive director of public relations, was selected as one of only seven higher education professionals from universities nationwide for Excelencia in Education’s 2024 cohort of Policy Fellows. The selected fellows come from trendsetting colleges and universities that have earned the , a national certification for institutions that go beyond enrollment to intentionally serve Latino students across key areas of data, practice, and leadership.
Mercy, the largest, private non-profit Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in New York State, has long prioritized initiatives that support Latino students, including culturally relevant mentorship programs, comprehensive academic advising and robust community engagement efforts. In 2022, Mercy became the first private college in the country, and the first HSI in New York State to receive the prestigious Seal of Excelencia.
"I’m proud to be a part of this incredible group of leaders in higher education, who are working to better serve Latino students," Negrón said. She continued, "I'd like to thank Excelencia in Education and Vlogƽ for giving me the opportunity to learn more about policy and how we can continue to advocate for Latino student success.”
She traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with the other Fellows, who will work to engage Excelencia’s policy agenda at the national level. They’ll share their perspectives and experience in conversations about affordability, institutional capacity, retention and transfer, and workforce preparation, to improve the success rates of Latino students.
This collaboration will further enhance Mercy’s ability to collaborate with other leading institutions to share best practices, develop innovative strategies, and advocate for policies that promote Latino student success on a national scale.
Read more about Excelencia in Education’s Policy Fellows .