The pipeline of future Hispanic community college leaders is now even more robust with 24 new Leadership Fellows achieving alumni status, bringing the program’s cumulative production to 287.
Launched in 2003, the National Community College Hispanic Council’s Leadership Fellows Program has sponsored 17 such annual classes, and is now affiliated with San Diego State University. A primary program goal aims to provide the nation’s community colleges with an increasing supply of potential leaders who meet rigorous standards of essential competencies identified by the American Association of Community Colleges while also addressing severe under-representation of Hispanics in top leadership positions.
The Leadership Fellows Program pipeline has become increasingly important as Hispanic enrollment continues to skyrocket on the campuses of higher education, now comprising 27 percent of community college students. Results indicate exceptional levels of program success: of the 61 current Latino community college presidents, 17 are alumni of the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program. On average, 30 alumni receive administrative promotions each year and many are headed for the executive office. Since 2017, program Fellows received promotions in 22 states, including seven vice chancellors; 17 presidents; 8 provost/vice presidents, 31 vice presidents; 30 deans and 21 directors, plus 39 other appointments. The program was named a finalist in the 2018 “Examples of Excelencia” showcase.
HISPANIC COUNCIL HONORS PROGRAM FOUNDER -Ted Martinez, Jr., Ph.D. is the program’s founder and champion. The child of Hispanic migrant farm workers, Martinez grasped the importance of education in his early life as his parents endeavored to build their work schedules around their children’s school opportunities. He was a beneficiary of mentoring by community college leaders who helped him develop leadership potential and complete his doctoral work before the age of 30. He is steadfast in his commitment to grooming future community college leaders through the Fellows program, which provides a mentoring component to help guide participants as they advance through the program and beyond.
In 2015 Martinez was recognized with the Dr. Alfredo de los Santos, Jr. Award for Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education by the Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, Inc. The National Community College Hispanic Council recently named the program “The Dr. Ted Martinez, Jr. NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program”.
Dr. Robert Vela, president of San Antonio College (Texas) is president of NCCHC. “We are so pleased to recognize and honor the important work and effort of Dr. Ted Martinez, Jr., as he established and nurtured this program of national importance. The NCCHC Board of Directors believes in the mission and integrity of developing leaders by providing rigorous curriculum and mentoring opportunities. We also believe that we best demonstrate our collective gratitude by naming our prestigious program in his honor.”
