HACU announces five new members of its Governing Board

SAN ANTONIO - The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has announced five new Governing Board members. The appointments were confirmed on October 31, 2026, in Chula Vista, California. HACU Governing Board members serve two-year terms and may be re-elected for a second term.

Harold Washington College President Daniel López will serve as the new chair of HACU's Governing Board. López brings more than 30 years of Illinois higher education experience. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield, a master's degree from Loyola University Chicago, and a doctorate from Illinois State University.

Manhattanville University President Frank D. Sánchez has been named vice chair, and University of California, Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz has been named Immediate Past Chair.

"HACU's Governing Board members are essential to the success of our mission, and we owe a great deal to their dedication and commitment to ensuring the Association's work is accomplished," said Interim President and CEO David A. Ortiz. "We extend our deepest gratitude to those members ending their roles on the board, and welcome new members who will be key to providing the guidance and direction necessary to serve our member institutions and their students."

Newly appointed include Governing Board members are Lamont Repollet, Ed.D., Valerio Ferme, Ph.D., Britt Rios-Ellis, Ph.D., Diana Rodriguez, Ed.D., and Gregory Smith, who will serve their first two-year terms.

Lamont Repollet, Ed.D., is president of Kean University with over 30 years of experience spanning public and private pre-K to post-secondary education. During his tenure, Kean earned a Carnegie R2 designation and launched programs strengthening workforce pipelines, created dual-degree pathways, and expanded global exchange opportunities. Prior to his presidency, he served as New Jersey's Commissioner of Education, overseeing 2,493 schools and a $12.3 billion education budget. He has also served as a public-school superintendent, principal, teacher, and coach. Repollet earned a bachelor's from The College of New Jersey, a master's from Kean University, and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.

Valerio Ferme, Ph.D., is president of New Mexico State University System, leading the state's comprehensive research, land-grant university excelling in teaching, research, and public service. He previously served as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, as well as dean of the college of arts and sciences at the University of Cincinnati. A firm believer in student success, Ferme supported numerous access and retention investments on behalf of students at UC. During his tenure as provost, the colleges more than doubled hires of underrepresented faculty; the provost's office launched a post-doctoral program to attract diverse, prospective faculty candidates; provided permanent professional funds for employee resource groups; created a provost faculty fellow program; and addressed salary minima for advising staff and adjunct faculty. A native of Italy holding dual citizenship, Ferme earned bachelor's at Brown University, a master's from Indiana University and a doctorate from UC Berkeley, where he was awarded Fulbright and Chancellor's Fellowships.

Britt Rios-Ellis, Ph.D., is president of California State University, Stanislaus, a bilingual and bicultural educational and community health expert with more than 35 years of experience. She most recently served as executive vice president of academic affairs and provost at Oakland University in Michigan. She previously held leadership roles at Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State Long Beach, was founding dean of Cal State Monterey Bay's college of health sciences and human services, and co-founded its master of science physician assistant program. Rios-Ellis was a professor of health sciences at Cal State Long Beach, the founding director of the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training, and the community-based Centro Salud es Cultura. She earned a bachelor's, master's and doctorate from the University of Oregon.

Diana Rodriguez, Ed.D., is chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District, serving about 30,000 students annually through Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College in Southern California's Inland Empire. The district prepares students for university transfer and careers in firefighting, nursing, and skilled trades, and operates KVCR Public Media, the NPR and PBS station for the region. A first-generation college graduate, Rodriguez advocates for students' access to food, housing, and other basic needs, as well as college affordability. She worked with California Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes and fellow education leaders to help secure passage of SB 1255 (2026), making the state the first to establish its own HSI designation alongside federal recognition. She serves as president-elect of the California Community Colleges CEO Board and previously served on HACU's Commission on International Education. She has more than 30 years of higher education experience, including five years as president of San Bernardino Valley College. Rodriguez earned bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University, San Bernardino, and a doctorate from National University.

Gregory Smith is chancellor of San Diego Community College District, which serves approximately 90,000 students through its four colleges. Smith has over 20 years of public sector service, including in the U.S. Department of Labor, where he enforced Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action regulations. A first-generation college graduate, Smith started his collegiate education at Cerro Coso Community College in California and holds bachelor's degrees in Political Science and English Literature from Arizona State University and a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

HACU extends its sincere thanks to members completing their terms and their contributions during their service to HACU's Governing Board:

Ted Alejandre, superintendent of San Bernadino County of Schools
Mordecai Brownlee, Ed.D., president of the Community College of Aurora
Mike Flores, Ph.D., chancellor of Alamo Colleges District
Gary May, Ph.D., president of University of California, Davis
Christopher Reber, Ph.D., president of Hudson County Community College
Abel Antonio Chávez, Ph.D., president of Our Lady of the Lake University