In 2022, Sam Houston State University received the federal designation of Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), making the university eligible for up to $10 million in additional funding from the U.S. Department of Education to enhance educational opportunities for students.
In support of this goal, Marcus Gutierrez and Daniela Mirabal participated in the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) conference in February. TACHE is a professional association committed to the improvement of educational and employment opportunities for Chicanos in higher education. Gutierrez and Mirabal, both graduate students at the College of Education (COE) and full-time employees of SHSU, received support from SHSU’s Division of Student Affairs to attend TACHE for the first time. This support not only enabled them to engage and network with Hispanic higher education professionals but gave them the opportunity to bring back valuable insights for their own careers.
Gabriela Silvestre, the advisor for the Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration program, also serves as the current president of TACHE and encouraged both to attend the conference. Silvestre understands the importance of the representation of Hispanic professionals in higher education.
Silvestre said, “Regardless of where people attend conferences, regional or national, it’s important to experience them because what you learn is vital.”
