Cypress College is pleased to have three campus managers accepted into the inaugural cohort of the Enlace Leadership Program, a prestigious initiative of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities that includes 56 college leaders across the nation. HACU made announced the selections this morning — and Cypress College’s three selections leads the way.
Accepted into the inaugural Enlace Leadership Program are three Cypress College managers: Gabriela De La Cruz, Juan Garcia, and José Sanchez. De La Cruz is responsible for the college’s financial aid program, Garcia heads the Veterans Resource Center, and Sanchez leads the college’s IT department.
“Cypress College is honored to lead all community colleges with three leaders selected for Enlace,” said JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., president of Cypress College. “We are proud to support these leadership opportunities for our employees in an effort to support the important diversity of our employees, and are thankful for the impactful work Gabby, Juan, and José do to support our students’ journeys. Their participation with HACU will further strengthen their leadership skills.”
The program begins this fall. Two California universities — Cal State Long Beach and UC San Diego — also had three leaders selected.
The six-month leadership development program for mid-level college and university professionals is designed to increase the number, variety, and quality of Latino/a talent in leadership positions at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and in higher education overall.
Selectees will participate in programming covering academic and student affairs management, regional institutional accreditation, diversity, equity and inclusion, and higher education advocacy issues. Participants will also interact with a professional search firm.
Cypress College is one of 226 public community colleges designated by HACU as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). HACU was founded in 1986 and represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU. It is the only national association representing existing and emerging HSIs. The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C and Sacramento, California.