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| Ernest H. Moreno |
SYLMAR, March 12, 2007. Ernest H. Moreno, President of Los Angeles Mission College, has been named the 2006 winner of the Alfredo de los Santos Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education award. The yearly award is sponsored by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) in association with The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. It was presented to President Moreno at the annual convention of the group on March 11 in a ceremony in Costa Mesa.
The award is given to an outstanding administrator in the field of higher education who has demonstrated excellence in the profession. It is named in honor of Dr. Alfredo de los Santos, a leader, faculty member, mentor and champion of Hispanic causes in higher education.
The AAHHE is an organization dedicated to increasing the number of Hispanics attending and completing graduate programs in higher education. At present, only 2.8% of full-time faculty and administrators in higher education are Hispanic.
President Moreno garnered this award due to his efforts at the helm of two separate community colleges during the past year. In June of 2006, Moreno completed a 12-year tenure at the helm of East Los Angeles College. Thanks to his leadership, during that period ELAC enjoyed a dramatic increase in student population from 13,000 to approximately 30,000. Utilizing the philosophy of “reaching into the community” to bring education to those most in need, he spearheaded a movement which made that campus the educational center of the community.
In July, Moreno was asked by the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District to bring his experience, knowledge and skills to Los Angeles Mission College. He accepted the challenge of reinvigorating the LAMC campus. Within the past five months has been able to put into practice at his new school many of the same strategies that were so successful at ELAC.
Completing the first half year in office, Moreno noted that “Mission College is a rare jewel with an excellent faculty and staff. We have an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of those in our service area.” To that end, LAMC already has enjoyed an increase in enrollment and is moving ahead with efforts to create off-campus locations to bring education to those who cannot attend classes at the main campus.
In accepting the award, President Moreno noted that he was "accepting the award in the name of all of those who shared his vision of providing the best education possible for Hispanic students." He also said that he "was humbled to be included in such a distinguished list of winners from past years." He concluded that he "wants to see today's Hispanic students become the leaders of tomorrow."
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