News Summary

Vanguard University celebrated the successful completion of its Leadership and Latina/o Identity course, attended by 37 Latino students. President Michael Beals emphasized the importance of Latino representation in leadership roles, projecting a Latino president in the near future. The event included the new director of the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership and discussions about the impact of the program on students’ personal and professional growth. Plans are underway to expand the curriculum to further enhance Latino leadership at the university.

Vanguard University Celebrates Latino Leadership Course Completion

California – Vanguard University recently celebrated the completion of its Leadership and Latina/o Identity course, with 37 first-year and transfer Latino students successfully finishing the six-week program. During the completion ceremony, Vanguard University President Michael Beals emphasized the significance of Latino representation in leadership roles, predicting that the university’s next president will likely be Latino or Latina within the next two presidential terms. This announcement comes as approximately 47% of Vanguard’s student body identifies as Latino, marking the largest demographic group at the university.

In his remarks, Beals noted that, historically, Vanguard has had ten university presidents since its inception in 1920, consisting of nine men and one woman, all of whom are white. His predictions align closely with national trends, where about a quarter of first-generation college students are Latino, highlighting the growing importance of Latino leaders in higher education.

At the ceremony, Celina Canales was introduced as the new director of the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership, reinforcing the university’s commitment to fostering Latino leadership. Canales expressed the personal impact that Dr. Jesse Miranda, the center’s namesake, has had on her career and values. Members of Miranda’s family attended the event, further emphasizing the community’s connection to the center’s mission.

Each of the students who graduated from the Leadership and Latina/o Identity program received gifts, including crew-neck sweatshirts and laptop sleeves, symbolizing their achievement and dedication to their leadership journey. Benito De La Rosa, one of the students, offered insight into leadership’s importance, particularly focusing on the concept of self-leadership. Emiliano Sosa, a third-year student and alumnus of the Jesse Miranda Center, shared his experiences regarding how the program transformed his personal and professional development, indicating its significant role in empowering students for future leadership roles.

The keynote speaker at the completion ceremony was Dr. Michael Jimenez, an associate professor at Vanguard, who highlighted the value of programs like this in supporting the growth of Latino leaders. Canales noted plans to expand the Leadership and Latina/o Identity program, aspiring to integrate credit-bearing courses that align with leadership development throughout students’ collegiate experiences. The current program is voluntary and offers chapel credit but does not provide academic credit.

This fall, students engaged in a curriculum covering vital topics including cultural identity, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, integrity, mentorship, goal setting, and legacy building. Canales’s vision for the future includes the development of a structured leadership curriculum that addresses various leadership types as students progress through their college years. Through these initiatives, Canales aims to ensure that Latino students graduate from Vanguard feeling confident and adequately prepared for leadership roles, emphasizing the need for them to feel “right-sized” within professional contexts.

The completion ceremony not only recognized the achievements of the students but also underscored Vanguard University’s ongoing commitment to enhancing Latino leadership and representation in higher education. With a significant portion of its student body identifying as Latino, the university is taking vital steps to create an inclusive and supportive environment that fosters leadership among its diverse student population.

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Additional Resources

• Los Angeles Times: Vanguard University Trains Next Generation of Latina Leaders
• AL DÍA News: Latina Role Model
• Christianity Today: Christian Colleges Continue Enrollment Growth
• Newport Beach Independent: Immigrant Mother Inspires Successful Latina Business Owner
• Wikipedia: Latino and Latina Americans
• Google Search: Latino leadership in education
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Leadership
• Google Scholar: Leadership programs for Latino students
• Google News: Vanguard University Latino Leadership

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