VCU hosts 'Encuentro Latino II: Latino Issues in Virginia Higher Education' planning workshop

By Mike Porter

Representatives from higher education, public schools, state agencies, nonprofit groups and community leaders participated in “Encuentro Latino II: Latino Issues in Virginia Higher Education,” a daylong planning workshop at Virginia Commonwealth University sponsored by the School of World Studies in VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences and the Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN).

“This is a wonderful opportunity for VCU to participate in this collaboration between institutions of higher learning and communities throughout the commonwealth,” said Robert D. Holsworth, Ph. D., dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences. “We are dedicated to making sure VCU remains a university of access to all Virginians,” Holsworth said.

Encuentro Latino II was held on May 8 to bring together a statewide network of Latino and Latino studies faculty and administrators. Participants explored ways to improve the quality of life for all Virginia residents.

“It’s important to learn about the challenges facing Virginia’s Latino community,” said M. Njeri Jackson, Ph.D., special assistant to the provost for diversity. “This meeting today is one example of the university’s commitment to cultural diversity.”

Participants also reflected on Virginia’s increasing diversity. Statistics shared at the workshop indicate the commonwealth’s Hispanic population tripled between 1990 and 2006. Hispanics make up 6 percent of Virginia’s population.

VALHEN is working to enhance recruitment and retention of Latino students, faculty and staff and to support more positive academic climates and outcomes. 

“The goal is to be able to have an organization to secure some funding to allow us to be able to support the students and do things for the community,” said Maricel Quintana-Baker, Ph.D., associate director for academic affairs for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Information collected through VALHEN’s database will help develop and support faculty and staff who are Latino or who work with Latino students and Latino issues. It also will support connections and collaborations between these groups, support recruitment and retention of Latino faculty, staff and students and promote partnerships that support a positive educational, academic and social climate for Latinos at Virginia’s colleges and universities. 

“We’ll now have a dedicated organization with infrastructure to bring together efforts from across the commonwealth to make that happen,” said R. McKenna Brown, Ph.D., director of the School of World Studies.

One of VALHEN’s next priorities is to finalize a new Web site to house the information and serve as a link for those interested in supporting Virginia’s Latino students, faculty and staff.