Houston Community College (HCC) Chancellor Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E., has been named to a key leadership group organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase the Hispanic community’s access to USDA education and employment programs.
The USDA-HACU Leadership Group advises USDA on matters related to partnerships between USDA and Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). The group comprising USDA and HACU executives aims to help Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) and Hispanic-Serving School Districts learn about USDA programs and services.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the new members on Nov. 29.
“USDA is committed to centering Latino voices and experiences to provide equitable access to programming,” Vilsack said. “Our partnership with HACU through this leadership group is crucial to providing leadership and strategic direction for USDA’s work with Hispanic-Serving Institutions.”
Maldonado said the leadership group’s mission speaks to his “personal aspirations as an educator.”
“It is an honor to be a part of this distinguished group of leaders,” he said. “As we work together, we will open new programs, services and opportunities to this important segment of our population. I look forward to joining the effort to improve the lives of people.”
Established last year, the group consists of an equal number of USDA representatives and presidents from HSIs, which are defined as institutions that have an undergraduate full-time equivalent of at least 25 percent Hispanic students.
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