Mi Voz, Mi Historia, y Mi Razón: Ensuring Every Student Finds an Open Door at Harold Washington College

Almost 40 years ago, I stumbled upon a community college that opened its doors and transformed my life. In 1987, I had just graduated from high school with very little guidance about how to enroll in college. All I knew was that I needed to take the ACT to be considered for admission and that I needed a Social Security number to attend college. Although I was an honors student and very engaged in high school, I could not share my undocumented status with high school teachers and counselors for fear of deportation for my family and me. Therefore, I assumed college was not an option for me. However, that all changed when I, by chance, walked into Harold Washington College (HWC).

Journey From Proud Alumnus to President

I quickly learned my immigrant, English-language learner, undocumented, and first-generation college student status was not the obstacle that I anticipated it to be. Within a few hours, I was enrolled, registered, and ready to begin my college journey. My advisor helped me map out my program coursework and develop specific transfer pathways for several four-year universities. A year and a half later, I transferred with an associate degree on a full ride, with no loss of credits, and went on to earn several degrees, ending with a Ph.D.

Today, thanks to a community of supporters, including family, faculty, and staff, and after many years of experience in higher education, I serve as a proud alumnus and president of Harold Washington College. Harold Washington College is one of the City Colleges of Chicago, located in the heart of the Chicago Loop, and is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Minority-Serving Institution (MSI). Latine and Black students comprise more than 70% of the total student population, which has a median age of 21. Additionally, Harold Washington College students often come from Chicago Public Schools, and nearly half are Pell eligible. Harold Washington College offers students access to key pathways, including associate degrees, certificates in liberal arts and sciences, and degrees and certificates in visual and performing arts. These pathways help them reach their educational and career goals, whether that means transferring to competitive four-year universities or entering the workforce directly.

Reaching 55 for All

Since my appointment in 2020, I have dedicated myself to ensuring every student has the same opportunities and support I had, with a focus on increasing enrollment, retention, and completion for our students and making Harold Washington College an employer of choice for faculty and staff in Chicago. From 2021 to 2025, we increased our enrollment by 10%, with just over half of our students enrolling full time. About a third of this year’s students were first-generation. Unlike many other colleges, our first-generation students tend to slightly outperform their peers on many outcomes, including retention and course success.

Read the full story in Medium by clicking here for visit: https://excelenciaineducation.medium.com/mi-voz-mi-historia-y-mi-raz%C3%B3n-ensuring-every-student-finds-an-open-door-at-harold-washington-85b121912485