Latine Leadership Webinar Feb. 20 | | |
Latine LGBTQ+ leaders bring deeply intersectional perspectives that shape leadership in higher education. Join us for a powerful conversation on identity, visibility, mentorship, and institutional responsibility.
Hosted by Daniel Lopez, Harold Washington College
Panelists include:
- Mario Rodriquez, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Andres Oroz, Wilbur Wright College
- Andres Cladera, William Paterson University
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Marcela Ramirez-Stapleton, Sacramento State University
February 20, 2026
2:00 PM ET | 1:00 PM CT | 11 AM PT
LGBTQ Leaders requires a Zoom account to register. In addition, if you or your employer are not a member of the organization, we ask a nominal fee and registration through Eventbrite.
This event is free to members, log in to the website with your credentials to get the Zoom registration link.
| | Luca E. Lewis, Ph.D. (he/him) is the Interim President of Ventura College, where he previously served as Vice President of Student Affairs and provides executive leadership focused on student success, institutional effectiveness, and equity-driven change. A nationally recognized higher education leader with more than two decades of experience, Dr. Lewis joined the LGBTQ Leaders board in March 2023 and was re-elected in October 2025. He has held senior leadership roles at community colleges in California and Washington, including Associate Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Services for the West Hills Community College District and Vice President for Student Services at Whatcom Community College. | | He is a scholar-practitioner and sought-after speaker on equity-minded leadership and institutional transformation, a contributing author to Higher Education Administration for Social Justice and Equity: Critical Perspectives for Leadership (Kezar & Posselt, eds.), and co-author, with Dr. Julia G. MaKinster, of Gender Inclusivity Standards and Expectations for Higher Education: A Comprehensive Assessment Tool for Growth and Advancement. In 2025, he co-facilitated a pre-conference workshop on Gender Expansive Leadership with Dr. MaKinster at the Leadership Institute. His earlier professional experience includes instructional and leadership roles with the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the University of Washington Tacoma, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Idaho. | | | 2026 Leadership Institute Announced | | The 2026 Leadership Institute will be held October 13-15 in Atlantic City, NJ. The University, one hour from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City, offers unique living and learning environments throughout southern New Jersey, including the 1,600 acre Galloway campus and Stockton University Atlantic City, where Institute programs will be held, just steps from the beach and the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk. Lodging will be held at the Tropicana. Learn more about LGBTQ Atlantic City. Watch our website for more information soon! | | Member Institution Highlight: Endicott College | | |
Founded in 1939 and based on the idea that higher education should combine theory with practice, Endicott College has grown from a graduating class of 20 in 1941, to 1,450 students graduating in 2020 with graduate-level certificates, associate, bachelor’s, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Interim President, Bryan Cain, was elected to the LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education Board of Directors in 2025. "Endicott College is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive community where all students feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our membership in LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education reflects our ongoing dedication to advancing equity, promoting belonging, and preparing graduates to lead with understanding in a diverse world."
We thank them for their commitment.
| | Here's an interesting project from an Endicott faculty member: the LGBTQ+ Equality Project, which uses data visualization and information design to examine how legislation and social climate shape LGBTQ+ lived experiences across U.S. states. Take a look. | |
Check out our website Resources page, which includes information and contacts for individuals and institutions facing anti-LGTBQ+ pressures. Now includes a new resource from PEN on campus free speech. See the page here. | | University of Michigan Spectrum Center is sponsoring a roundtable on February 25 (2:00 pm Central) of scholars and practitioners to discuss how to support and serve queer and trans students in U.S. higher education at this time of our nation's history. Panelists include Dr. Kris Renn, Dr. Antonio Duran (winner of our Emerging Leader Award 2025), and Dr. Kristopher Oliveira. Researchers, scholar-practitioners, and graduate students are encouraged to be a part of this important conversation. Find out more at University of Michigan Spectrum Center. Cosponsored by the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. | | Our leadership in higher education matters more than ever. We are the only national organization dedicated to developing LGBTQ+ leadership in higher education. Membership comes with discounts for many of our programs, such as the Virtual Mentoring Circles and the Leadership Institute, and some programs only open to members, such as our Fellowships. Don't wait, join or renew today. | | info@lgbtqpresidents.org | www.lgbtqleaders.net | | | | | |
