Three Cypress College Employees Accepted to Enlace Leadership Program
For Immediate Release
September 15, 2023
Contact: Marc Posner
(714) 484-7006
Cypress College is pleased to have three campus managers accepted into the inaugural cohort of the Enlace Leadership Program, a prestigious initiative of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities that includes 56 college leaders across the nation. HACU announced the selections this morning — and Cypress College’s three selections lead the way.
Accepted into the inaugural Enlace Leadership Program are three Cypress College managers: Gabriela De La Cruz, Juan Garcia, and José Sanchez. De La Cruz is responsible for the college’s financial aid program, Garcia heads the Veterans Resource Center, and Sanchez leads the college’s IT department.
“Cypress College is honored to lead all community colleges with three leaders selected for Enlace,” said JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., president of Cypress College. “We are proud to support these leadership opportunities for our employees in an effort to support the important diversity of our employees, and are thankful for the impactful work Gabby, Juan, and José do to support our students’ journeys. Their participation with HACU will further strengthen their leadership skills.”
The program begins this fall. Two California universities — Cal State Long Beach and UC San Diego — also had three leaders selected.
In its announcement, HACU described Enlace as:
The six-month leadership development program for mid-level college and university professionals is designed to increase the number, variety, and quality of Latino/a talent in leadership positions at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and in higher education overall.
Selectees will participate in programming covering academic and student affairs management, regional institutional accreditation, diversity, equity and inclusion, and higher education advocacy issues. Participants will also interact with a professional search firm.
Cypress College is one of 226 public community colleges designated by HACU as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). HACU was founded in 1986 and represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU. It is the only national association representing existing and emerging HSIs. The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C and Sacramento, California.
About Cypress College:
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.
Cypress College’s 15,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College provides a pathway for each of our students, offering 56 university-transfer majors, 174 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 98 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year, and a new winter intersession launches in December. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Eligible first-time students qualify for free tuition through Cypress College’s Charger Experience promise program. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.
Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 116-campus California Community College system. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.
Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22, and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.
—30—