On March 24, 2025, the University of South Carolina Latino and Hispanic Faculty Caucus and SC Centro Latino co-hosted an inaugural summit, Advancing the Higher Education Pathway in the Southeast for Hispanics and Latinos. This groundbreaking event brought together scholars, students, and leaders from across the state and region to address the needs and experiences of Latino and Hispanic communities within higher education. More than two years in the making, the event featured key speakers including:

• Michael D. Amiridis, Ph.D., President, University of South Carolina
• Irma Becerra, Ph.D., President, Marymount University
• Antonio R. Flores, Ph.D., President and CEO, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
• Christian Barrientos, Ph.D., Associate Director for College Preparation and Outreach, Clemson University
• Rebecca Lara, Fulbright Fellow in Clemson Student Affairs Master’s Program
• Ramón Galiñanes Jr., Ph.D., Director of Undergraduate Research and Post-Graduate Fellowships, Wofford College
• Vice Provost and Dean Lara Lomicka, Ph.D., Vice Provost of Undergraduate Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, University of South Carolina
• Vice President and Dean Scott Verzyl, Ph.D., Vice President of Enrollment Management and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, University of South Carolina

Lenny Sánchez, Ph.D., a key organizer, emphasized the importance of visibility and collaboration.

"We’ve been engaging in conversations with administration across many years," Sánchez said.

He highlighted the need to support the university's goals while addressing the experiences of students, faculty and staff. The summit was a testament to the power of coming together and leveraging resources across institutional borders.

Araceli Hernández-Laroche is a fellow organizer and director of the South Carolina Centro Latino (El Centro), based at USC Upstate. She echoed Sánchez’s sentiments.

"El Centro, South Carolina, wants to be the center of pushing our community forward," she said.

Hernández-Laroche stressed the importance of highlighting Latino and Hispanic talent within the university and beyond. She shared her initial intimidation in meeting the Latino Faculty Caucus but was ultimately inspired by their collaborative spirit.

 

A Significant Impact

Raymond Torres, Ph.D., reflected on the significance of the summit, particularly the support from USC President Michael D. Amiridis.

"President Amiridis engaged with all of the speakers and guests at the summit. His one-on-one conversations and the giving of his time meant a lot to me personally," says Torres.  

Torres noted that President Amiridis's involvement motivated the organizers to work even harder to make the summit a success. The summit's impact was evident in the diverse representation of attendees.

Sánchez remarked, "It was a wonderful surprise to see that there were more than 10 universities represented at this event, including multiple USC campuses, as well as business leaders, state organization leaders, community organization leaders and government officials.

 

Highlights of the Day

Torres shared that having the opportunity to connect faces with the numbers of the registrants was one of the event highlights for him.

“We knew that the registration was around 100 people, but actually seeing who was attending and speaking with many of these participants made me feel like we are on the right path," says Torres.

Sánchez added that the responses to the guest survey have affirmed the success of the event. Many people are already asking when we are hosting another event. They shared participants found the sessions engaging and hoped for even more time for conversation at future events.

Hernández-Laroche expressed her gratitude for the dedication and investment from so many people.

"The level of care and investment that the keynote speakers, who are incredibly busy, showed was inspiring,” says Hernández-Laroche. “After her keynote, President Becerra signaled to me to keep going with audience questions, and President Antonio Flores shared such a calm, hopeful message for our time."

 

An Inspiring Message

Marymount College President, Irma Becerra, Ph.D., shared an inspiring message during her keynote address. She emphasized that 70 percent of Latino students are first-generation college students. She shared that cost and necessity of supporting their families are the two most cited reasons that Latino students choose not to pursue higher education. This provides unique challenges for institutions seeking to support these students during their time at university.

Becerra herself was a first-generation student. She immigrated from Cuba and saw education as the key to opportunity in the United States. After studying electrical engineering, she worked for Florida Power and Light as one of the youngest to oversee the electrical grid. After becoming a corporate trainer, she fell in love with adult education.

“I saw education as a beacon of hope,” says Becerra. “I knew I could overcome my challenges if I embraced perseverance.”

Soon, Becerra was the first women to receive a doctorate degree in engineering at Florida International University. After missing out on a dream opportunity, she began working in a NASA funded center and founded her own research lab.

“I encourage you to explore all opportunities that come your way, even if they are different than you expected,” says Becerra. “Perseverance and persistence are necessary. You must prepare, prepare, prepare and persist, persist, persist.”

At Marymount University, Becerra has been incredibly successful. She’s led her university to numerous designations from U.S. News and World Report, as well as Carnegie Research.

Her message to participants resonated and led to a wonderful question and answer period where she shared generously.

 

Looking Ahead

The summit concluded with an action planning session, inviting attendees to think about the future. Sánchez emphasized the need to stay connected and leverage the expertise and goals of individuals across different sectors. Hernández-Laroche expressed her hope for the summit to inspire other states and university systems to collaborate and build momentum.

Torres envisioned a self-sustaining annual or biannual gathering of Latino and Hispanic scholars, including students, staff and faculty.

"We see opportunities far beyond this inaugural meeting," he said. The organizers are committed to continuing the dialogue and expanding the impact of the summit.

The summit was a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility, collaboration and support. As the organizers reflect on the success of the event, they look forward to building on this momentum and creating lasting change within higher education.