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, "Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Forging Transformational Leaders to Uplift Democracy and Prosperity," 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.
The recognition of these honorees matters because it highlights the critical work being done to advance educational equity and opportunity for Hispanic students across multiple sectors. HACU's role as the leading advocate for Hispanic-Serving Institutions makes these awards significant indicators of progress in higher education diversity and inclusion efforts. The inclusion of Chancellor Matos Rodríguez in the Hall of Champions carries particular importance as it acknowledges both his leadership at CUNY and the symbolic significance of his historic appointment as the first Latino to lead the nation's largest urban university system. This recognition reinforces the growing influence of Latino leadership in American higher education administration.
The diverse range of honorees—from individual educators to community colleges, international consortia, private corporations, and government agencies—demonstrates the multifaceted approach required to support Hispanic higher education success. Each award category represents a different dimension of the collaborative effort needed to create meaningful change in educational outcomes. The timing of these awards during HACU's annual conference, which focuses on transformational leadership and democracy, connects individual recognition to broader systemic goals of educational equity and social mobility. These honors serve not only to celebrate past achievements but also to inspire continued commitment to HACU's mission across all sectors of society.
