The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has announced seven honorees will be recognized for their contributions to improving opportunities for college students. The awards will be presented during HACU's 39th Annual Conference, taking place November 1-3, 2025, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado. As the nation's leading voice for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HACU has been instrumental in securing the support of federal, corporate and higher education communities for programs and initiatives advancing higher education. The Association's efforts range from the nationally recognized HACU National Internship Program providing college students real world professional experience, to its HACU Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo and Enlace Mid-level Leadership program which aim to prepare aspiring leaders to advance through the administrative ranks of higher education.
One honoree will be inducted into HACU's Hall of Champions, recognizing those who embody the mission of the Association through their exemplary efforts and contributions to higher education. Félix V. Matos Rodriguez, Ph.D., is the eighth chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY), which serves nearly 240,000 degree-seeking students across 26 New York City campuses with an operating budget of $4.1 billion. Matos Rodríguez has focused his tenure on championing student equity, building career opportunities for graduates and creating innovative academic offerings to build on CUNY's unrivaled role as an engine of economic mobility. An accomplished and award-winning historian who previously worked at three CUNY campuses, his appointment made him the first educator of color and the first Latino to lead the nation's largest urban university.
Honorees to be presented with HACU Awards of Excellence include Tito Guerrero, Ed.D., recipient of the Lifelong Leadership Award for lifelong service to higher education. Community College of Aurora will receive the Outstanding HACU-Member Institution Award in recognition of excellence in support of HACU's mission. GlobalEdu Consortium will be honored with the Exemplary International Partner Award in recognition of outstanding support of HACU's international mission. Dominion Energy will receive the Outstanding Private Sector Partner Award in recognition of excellence in support of HACU's mission. New Mexico Higher Education Department, Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez, will be presented with the Outstanding Public Sector Partner Award in recognition of excellence in support of HACU's mission. Virgilio Barrera will receive the Alicia Casanova Award in recognition of excellence in support of HACU's mission. A PDF of the HACU 2025 Awardees is available for download.
This announcement matters because it highlights the critical work being done to advance educational equity and opportunity for Hispanic students across the United States. By recognizing leaders like Chancellor Matos Rodríguez, who has broken barriers as the first Latino to lead CUNY, HACU underscores the importance of diverse leadership in higher education. The awards ceremony brings attention to successful partnerships between educational institutions, government agencies, and private sector organizations that collectively support Hispanic student success. These recognitions validate the effectiveness of programs like the HACU National Internship Program, which provides vital professional experience, and leadership development initiatives that prepare the next generation of higher education administrators.
The implications of these awards extend beyond ceremonial recognition, as they reinforce HACU's role as a catalyst for systemic change in higher education. By honoring institutions like Community College of Aurora and partners like Dominion Energy, HACU demonstrates how collaborative efforts across sectors can create meaningful pathways for student advancement. The international recognition of GlobalEdu Consortium highlights the growing importance of global partnerships in supporting Hispanic higher education. These awards serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging other institutions and individuals to contribute to HACU's mission of increasing Hispanic college access, retention, and graduation rates. Ultimately, this recognition helps sustain momentum for policies and programs that address educational disparities and promote economic mobility through higher education.
