HSI Community Council
History
On January 14, 2021, President Denise Trauth, PhD. charged the Texas State Seal of Excelencia Work Group to submit an application for the Seal of Excelencia. Drs. Victoria Black and Toni Moreno coordinated the work of the Work Group and led a three-month process to identify university-wide Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) initiatives that supported Latino student success.
On June 10, 2021, Drs. Moreno and Black presented the Work Group’s findings used for submission of the Seal of Excelencia application to the President’s Cabinet, which included a recommendation to establish a permanent HSI advisory group. The HSI advisory group was recommended to help elevate, promote, and reinforce the work initiated by the Work Group and the importance of Texas State’s on-going commitment to Latino Student success. Dr. Trauth approved this recommendation.
Original Charge
The purpose of the Council is to serve as Texas State’s advisory board for HSI initiatives and facilitate implementation of these initiatives. Priorities for the HSI Community Council include:
- Develop, implement, and maintain a process to gather institutional data related to policies, practices, and efforts that support Hispanic/Latino student success.
- Enhance HSI visibility and presence online, highlighting the benefits and purpose of the HSI designation.
- Facilitate development, implementation, and assessment of programs, practices, events (such as HSI week), and policies that positively impact Hispanic/Latino student, faculty, and staff success.
- Pursue the Seal of Excelencia designation.
HSI Community Council Members
Dr. Bob Vasquez, Assistant Dean, Applied Arts, Chair
Dr. Gloria Martinez, Director, Center for Diversity and Gender Studies, Vice Chair
Miguel Arellano Arriaga, Coordinator, CARE Center
Dr. Tania Betancourt, Director, NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly
Dr. Ana Baer Carillo, Professor, Theatre & Dance
Dr. Victoria Black, Assistant Vice President, Division of Student Success
Dr. Claude Bonazzo-Romaguera, Director, Latina/o Studies
Dr. Carolyn Chang, Director, Title III Generación STEM
Dr. Merritt Drewery, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Sciences
Dr. Li Feng, Professor, Finance and Economics
Hana Fuller, Director, Project Maestros
Evy Gonzales, Director, Strategic Research Initiatives, Research and Sponsored Programs
LaTonya Henry, Coordinator, Student Engagement and Support
Dr. Cynthia Hernandez, Vice President, Student Success
Elias Martinez, Assistant Vice President, University Marketing
Dr. Melissa Martinez, Professor, Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology
Maritza Martinez, Associate Director, Alumni Engagement
Dr. Toni Moreno, Assistant Professor, Social Work
Gary Ray, Associate Vice President, Enrollment Management and Marketing
Damian Rodriguez, Clinical Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, Health Professions
Dr. Jesse Silva, Associate Director, Student Involvement and Engagement
Michelle Sotolongo, Coordinator, TXST Monarch Center for Immigrant Students
Dr. Marc Turner, Assistant Vice President, Institutional Research
Charge (FY 2024)
The Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Community Council serves as Texas State University’s advisory board for HSI initiatives. The Council works to enhance HSI visibility and awareness of the federal HSI designation. Combining the goal of becoming an R1-level university with a student-centered mission and tradition, the HSI Community Council develops ways for Texas State to serve all students and succeed as the nation’s premier HSI-R1.
Aligned with the Run to R1 Presidential Pillar, the Council seeks to increase the number and strength of grant applications for HSI funding opportunities and expand access to graduate programs. In support of the Elevating Student Success Presidential Pillar, the Council assists with identifying opportunities to strengthen institutional and academic programs, facilities, and services to expand educational opportunities and increase academic success and degree completion at TXST.