Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) announced their inaugural 12 Career and Leadership Development Institute Fellows. Two inaugural fellows were announced from Houston Community College (HCC). Advising Manager Alejandro Campos-Guerrero and HCC Student Success Dean Martin Perez were selected.
The fellows have been selected to participate in a year-long institute to promote Hispanic representation in higher education leadership. TACHE accepted nominations from Texas college and university administrators who submitted nominations of up-and-coming Hispanic leaders.
The curriculum was designed by current and past TACHE State Board members who also serve as leaders of colleges and universities in Texas.
There are four topic areas that participants will focus on during the one-day pre-conference institute and additional topic areas will be delivered via webinar throughout the academic year.
“This is an exciting time for TACHE,” said Dr. Elizabeth Palacios, TACHE’s immediate Past-President. “We feel that it is our responsibility to develop future leaders who can come to our institute and receive philosophical and applicable research on how to further their careers in higher education.”
According to the 2017 American College President Study, 73 percent of college leaders are White. The study was commissioned by the American Council on Education. TACHE’s mission is dedicated to the improvement of educational and employment opportunities for Chicanos in higher education.
The following are the founding institutions who will send representatives to participate in the Career and Leadership Development Institute: Del Mar College, Houston Community College, Lee College, Lone Star College, Tarrant County College, University of Houston, University of Houston-Victoria, University of Incarnate Word, and University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.
The 12 fellows selected for the inaugural cohort are:
• David Barrera, Jr – Del Mar College
• Alejandra Campos-Guerrero – Houston Community College
• Kalra DeCuir – University of Houston-Victoria
• Karla Duran – University of Incarnate Word
• Ovidio Galvan – Lone Star College
• Marissa Moreno – Lee College
• Hope Pacheco – University of Houston
• Martin Perez – Houston Community College • Cassandra Rincones – Lone Star College
• Jose Saldivar – University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley
• Esmeralda Valdez – University of Houston • Venancio Ybarra, Jr. – Tarrant County College “TACHE is well positioned to assist our community with leadership development by connecting rising talent with experts in the field,” said Dr. Magdalena de la Teja, a TACHE past president.
The faculty who will lead the institute are:
• Mr. Mario K. Castillo, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel – Lone Star College
• Dr. Magdalena de la Teja, Retired Vice President – Tarrant County College
• Dr. Audre Levy, American Community College Trustee Search Consultant
• Dr. Mayra Olivares-Urueta, Vice President – Tarrant County College
• Dr. Liz Palacios, Dean for Student Development – Baylor University
• Dr. Mariela Rodriguez, Professor – UT-San Antonio
• Mr. Daniel Villanueva, Jr., Associate Vice President – UH-Downtown Daniel Villanueva,
TACHE President-Elect, announced that the inaugural cohort would be named after Linda Contreras-Bullock, a long-time member and former president. Contreras-Bullock was a dedicated administrator at the University of Houston—Clear Lake, championing diversity and Latino success throughout her career. She retired in 2017.
“I was shocked and honored that the State Board found it necessary to honor me with the naming rights of the inaugural institute. I plan to engage with each participate and I’m committed to advocating for their placement in higher positions,” said Contreras-Bullock.
TACHE is hosting the 45th annual conference Feb. 19 – 22, 2020 at the Houston Marriott Sugar Land Hotel. Registration for the convention, along with information about breakout sessions and poster presentations, can be found online at tache.org.
“The conference is coming together well and we have some dynamic keynote speakers joining us as we celebrate 45 years of continued success,” said Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, TACHE President.
