In 2003, I was an interim director at a large community college system when my supervisor, a Latina, informed me that she was supporting my participation in the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) Fellowship program. I did not know what the program was about, and I remember not understanding why she had asked me since I was not sure I wanted to pursue other positions. Actually, I loved what I was doing at the time, but I decided to apply anyway. I was selected as a Fellow, and that experience helped me imagine a different future of opportunities. I became more self-aware and reflective, improved my leadership skills and capacities, and gained the confidence I needed to be a competitive candidate. And thus began my journey to senior leadership positions, culminating with my appointment as Chancellor of the system where I worked. Like mine, there are many stories of success for Latinos and Latinas who have been Fellows.

A Mission to Prepare and Support Latino Community College Leaders

Established almost 40 years ago, NCCHC’s mission includes preparing and supporting Hispanic leaders in America’s community colleges, which will ultimately benefit our students. One of its first ventures was to offer a leadership development program designed for community college educators whose career interests focus on assuming administrative positions with increasing levels of responsibility, with the ultimate goal of becoming executive leaders of a community college campus or system.

Dr. Ted Martinez, Jr., a retired college president, is the visionary leader who created the program. He says that the motivation to establish the Leadership Fellows Program came from his own personal journey to becoming a community college president, after having been rejected for this position because many Boards were not ready to trust Latinos in the role. Dr. Martinez understood that technical skills, competence in a field, and academic preparation alone were not enough for Hispanic administrators to be competitive in national searches. He knew that mid-level administrators needed a program that would develop their capacities and connect them with a network of colegas, a mentor, and successful Latinos in leadership positions.

An article co-authored by Cristina Padilla, MA, and Dr. Martinez entitled “The Community College Presidency Demystified: Creating a Pipeline of Latino Leaders,” published in the Journal of Transformative Leadership & Policy Studies in 2020, identified five key values of the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program: creating transformational leadership, demystifying the presidency, confirming identity, creating a familia, and fostering change agents.

The objectives of the program include:

1. Developing leadership competencies required of aspiring leaders, including strategic thinking, reflective practice, communication, and developing social capital.

2. Understanding the National Research and Policy on Latino Student Success and the issues facing Hispanic students in community colleges.

3. Understanding the student success agenda: challenges and opportunities.

4. Understanding institutional change requirements for 21st Century colleges and related change management theory and practices.

5. Identifying one’s own leadership capabilities and professional development needs, and creating a plan to achieve desired career goals.

The structure of the year-long program includes two residential seminars that Fellows are required to attend, mentoring, and participation in the annual NCCHC Leadership Symposium. The seminars provide an opportunity to learn from national speakers who are engaged in institutional transformation work and are focused on the success of Latino students. In addition, current and retired Latino/a chancellors, presidents, and vice presidents present culturally relevant topics and speak candidly about their own journeys. Each Fellow is assigned a mentor who is a current or retired senior leader at a community college.

A Catalyst for Change: Successful Leadership Trajectories

Since 2003, more than 350 individuals have completed the program. Of those, 159 NCCHC have secured promotions to higher-level positions, including chancellors, presidents, vice chancellors, vice presidents, provosts, deans, and directors.

Dr. Mike Muñoz, President of Long Beach City College in California and NCCHC Board Chair, was an Associate Dean of Student Services when he was selected as a Fellow. President Muñoz has stated that “being an NCCHC Fellow was truly a transformative experience. First-generation college students become first-generation professionals. Through the program, I was able to hone my leadership skills through a culturally affirming experience. The guidance, support, and mentorship that I received from the program was the catalyst for me to become the president of Long Beach City College.”

Dr. Veronica Garcia, President of Northeast Lakeview College in San Antonio, TX, was a Director of Enrollment Services and said, “The lifelong mentors and friendships I’ve cultivated through NCCHC have been my guiding lights on the path to the presidency. Access to leaders who share their successes, failures, and lessons learned and genuinely care about your journey is priceless. All fellows should embrace every opportunity to learn and grow- be a vessel and absorb all the knowledge and wisdom they can.”

Dr. Kelly Fletes, a current Fellow and Dean of Student Services at Monterey Peninsula College in California, says, “As a first-generation Latina professional, one of the significant challenges is believing that I am capable of succeeding or having the confidence to embark--saltar con confianza-- into leadership opportunities that I never knew were possible for me. Navigating the internal conflict of self-doubt - “imposter syndrome” - is exacerbated in predominantly non-Latinx workplaces. Moreover, seeing one’s cultural perspective as an asset is crucial. I realized that the key to my success and the folks I lead is to find supportive communities, mentorship opportunities and professional associations like I found within NCCHC and COLEGAS. As an NCCHC fellow, I joined a community of Latino/a/e who understood my experience as a first-generation professional where we are constantly learning how to navigate such complex systems. The network supported my professional development, public speaking skills, confidence, and most importantly gave me a sense of belonging and pride. Dr. Harper-Marinick and other fellows provided the blueprint and within months of becoming a fellow I successfully interviewed and became a finalist for an executive-level position at a California Community College. Regardless of the outcome, the experience provided me with a deep understanding of community, resilience, and emphasized the importance of owning my Latina super-power which has become a source of strength and inspiration in my leadership.”

About the author

As Executive Director of the program, Dr. Harper-Marinick is a leader in higher education and a strong advocate for equitable access to opportunity through education. She is a Senior Fellow with the Aspen Institute, Chair of the Board of UnidosUS, and Past Chair of the Board of Excelencia in Education.