NASPA Escaleras Institute Cohort Includes Foundation Associate Director

With the growing population of Latinx/a/o students entering colleges and universities, NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Escaleras Institute is dedicated to addressing the underrepresentation of Latinx/a/o higher education professionals, particularly those at the senior level who can serve as role models and mentors.

NASPA, a member-centered association supporting a diverse and passionate network of 15,000 professionals and 1,200 institutions across the globe, invited 75 Latinx/a/o professionals to participate, including Foundation for California Community Colleges ' own Mario Alejandro Rodriguez , Associate Director of California LAW. Mario and the cohort of professionals convened in October at California State University, Fullerton to explore current research, pathways to administrative leadership, and challenges and opportunities in leading colleges and universities as Latinx/a/o educators. 

For much of Mario’s professional career, he has been a steadfast pursuer of opportunities to collaborate with Latinx/a/o higher education professionals to help advance representation in higher education leadership. Mario has worked in higher education in five states – California, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Maryland – and abroad to create programs, services, and employer resource groups as well as bring BIPOC ad LGBTQ+ alumni together. 

The professional development opportunity to be part of the NASPA Escaleras cohort gave Mario the chance to:

• Be exposed to and have the opportunity to collaborate with Latinx/a/o chief executives and senior student affairs officers 
• Incorporate core competencies, knowledge, skills, experiences, and abilities that are relevant to those looking to assume Vice President for Student Affairs or President positions in the future 
• Explore higher education career pathways and develop an action plan as a Latinx/a/o Student Affairs professional 
• Apply culturally relevant leadership skills that leverage the strengths of Latinx/a/o culture and honors Latinx/a/o heritage 
• Network with a cohort of Latinx/a/o higher education professionals who are dedicated to leading in a vibrant, diverse, global, and socially-just higher education environment
• Recognize professional organization service opportunities which advance Latinx/a/o Student Affairs community development

After this experience and now working at the Foundation, Mario plans to continue increasing outreach efforts to support programs like California LAW, building a diversity pipeline into law, and assisting other professionals of color in their careers to reduce the gap in Latinx leadership roles.

Learn more about the NASPA Escaleras Institute

Learn more about California LAW