The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has announced seven honorees who will be recognized for their contributions to improving opportunities for college students. The awards will be presented during HACU’s 39th Annual Conference, themed “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Forging Transformational Leaders to Uplift Democracy and Prosperity,” scheduled for November 1-3, 2025, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado.
As the leading voice for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HACU has been instrumental in securing support from federal, corporate, and higher education communities for programs advancing higher education. The association’s efforts range from the nationally recognized HACU National Internship Program, which provides students with real-world professional experience, to its HACU Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo and Enlace Mid-level Leadership program, which prepare aspiring leaders for advancement through administrative ranks in higher education.
One honoree will be inducted into HACU’s Hall of Champions, recognizing individuals who embody the association’s mission through exemplary efforts and contributions. Félix V. Matos Rodriguez, Ph.D., the eighth chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY), will be inducted. CUNY 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 enhance CUNY’s role as an engine of economic mobility. An accomplished 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.
Additionally, HACU will present Awards of Excellence to several honorees. Tito Guerrero, Ed.D., will receive the Lifelong Leadership Award for lifelong service to higher education. The Community College of Aurora will receive the Outstanding HACU-Member Institution Award for excellence in support of HACU’s mission. The GlobalEdu Consortium will receive the Exemplary International Partner Award for outstanding support of HACU’s international mission. Dominion Energy will receive the Outstanding Private Sector Partner Award, and the New Mexico Higher Education Department, represented by Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez, will receive the Outstanding Public Sector Partner Award. Virgilio Barrera will receive the Alicia Casanova Award for excellence in support of HACU’s mission.
These recognitions highlight the collective efforts to advance Hispanic higher education success, underscoring the importance of partnerships and leadership in creating opportunities for students. The conference will serve as a platform for forging transformational leaders to uplift democracy and prosperity.
