HACU visits Los Angeles to host HACU on the Road: Destination Higher Education Success

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities visited Los Angeles, California, on Sept. 15, 2026, for HACU on the Road: Destination Higher Education Success. The event brought together higher education leaders from across California to discuss collaboration, advocacy and partnership opportunities.

The event, hosted by Los Angeles Community College District at East Los Angeles College, included welcome remarks from Chancellor Alberto J. Román, Ph.D.

During the luncheon, HACU and LACCD leaders held a fireside chat on strengthening support and advocacy for California's HSIs. The conversation explored how institutions and systems can build a unified agenda, strengthen advocacy at the state and federal levels, and ensure the needs of HSIs and their students are heard by policymakers.

The fireside chat featured LACCD Chancellor Román; East Los Angeles College President Monte E. Perez, Ph.D.; San Bernardino Community College District Associate Vice Chancellor of Government Relations, Strategic Communications, and Grants Angel Rodriguez; and HACU Executive Vice President for Programs and Operations David Ortiz, Ph.D. The fireside chat and Q&A session with the audience were moderated by Loyola Marymount University professor Fernando J. Guerra, Ph.D.

The HACU presentation spotlighted the Association's ongoing state and federal legislative advocacy, programs and services, student-focused initiatives and institutional resources while exploring opportunities to deepen collaboration among California colleges and universities. Awards were presented to state Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes and Assemblymember Mike Fong for their partnership in advancing SB 1255 legislation for a state-level Hispanic-Serving Institution designation.

HACU on the Road is an initiative designed to promote national and international dialogue about the state of Hispanic higher education among chancellors, presidents of colleges and universities, superintendents of Hispanic-Serving School Districts, corporate leaders, and other supporters of Hispanic higher education.