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Contact UsSeguimos Floreciendo: Advancing HSI Servingness through Best Practices and Innovation
Join us for the 3rd Annual Colorado HSI Summit at Pikes Peak State College, a statewide gathering focused on equity, connection, and student success. Taking place on October 2, this summit brings together educators, staff, and students from across Colorado to explore how Hispanic-Serving Institutions can better support Latino and Latinx communities.
The event will feature inspiring speakers, interactive sessions, and opportunities to exchange ideas and build lasting partnerships. Whether you’re part of an HSI or just starting your journey, this is the place to connect, learn, and grow.
Meet This Year's Keynote Speaker
Dr. Marcela G. Cuellar is a Professor and Chancellor’s Fellow in the School of Education at the University of California, Davis. Her research examines Latine students’ experiences and outcomes at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and emerging HSIs, campus climate, and community college baccalaureates. She is currently the AVANZA Faculty Fellow of Student Success Belonging in which she advises and supports UC Davis’ servingness efforts.
She is collaborating on several multicampus projects focused on educational equity and innovation, including the development of the HSI Research Colectiva, a multigenerational community of HSI researchers aiming to bridge, generate, and mobilize research about HSIs to inform policy decisions and improvements in practice. She also serves as a co-chair of the University of California HSI (UC-HSI) Advisory Board, a systemwide initiative aiming to strengthen the university’s ability to serve an increasingly diverse population as Hispanic-Serving Research Institutions (HSRIs). She earned an MA in Higher Education Leadership from the University of San Diego and a PhD in Education from UCLA.
Optional Pre-Summit Hike & Social
Join us before the Summit!
Thursday, October 1, 2026
HSI Summit attendees are invited to kick off the conference with a casual afternoon hike and social at Seven Bridges Trail in beautiful North Cheyenne Cañon Park. This optional gathering is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues, enjoy Colorado’s outdoors, and build relationships before the Summit begins.
Hike
12:00–4:00 p.m.
Location
Seven Bridges Trail (#622)
4415 Gold Camp Road
Colorado Springs, CO
Trail Details
- Moderate 3.7-mile round-trip hike
- Approximately 1,500 feet of elevation gain
- Shaded trail along North Cheyenne Creek
- Estimated hiking time: 2–3 hours
What to Bring
- Comfortable layered clothing
- Sturdy hiking or tennis shoes
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
*Dogs are welcome but must remain on a leash.
Parking
Trailhead parking is located at the end of North Cheyenne Canyon Road, just beyond the closed Gold Camp Road tunnel. Additional parking is available farther down the road if the main lot is full.
Please note that buses, RVs, and oversized vehicles are not permitted on North Cheyenne Canyon Road.
Learn More °®ÒºAƬ the Trail
Social
5:00–7:30 p.m.
Cerberus Brewing
702 W Colorado Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
Following the hike, join us for a casual social at Cerberus Brewing. The brewery is located on the way back into town from the trailhead, making it a convenient stop to continue connecting with fellow HSI Summit attendees.
Cerberus Brewing offers:
- Ample free parking behind the brewery
- Indoor and patio seating
- Great local brews
- Affordable and delicious food
Summit Agenda
Friday, October 2, 2026
Pikes Peak State College
5675 S Academy Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
8:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Check-in & Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Keynote
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Breakout Session 1
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Breakout Session 2
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch, Poster Session & Equity Champions Legacy Award
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Breakout Session 3
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Reception & Networking Event at
1604 S Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80905.
Breakout Sessions
“Uncovering Boulder County’s Latine History through Community-Engaged Research”
- Dr. Rebecca Chavez, Founder of Rooted Pathways Leadership.
- Dr. Nicki Gonzales, PhD. Vice Provost Professor, Regis University.
- Elisabeth Rios-Brooks, MPP. Cultural Resource Program Coordinator, Â Boulder County Parks & Open Space.
“Helping Latinx Students See Themselves as Scientists: Evidence-Based Practices that Foster Scientific Identity and Success in Science Courses”
- Dr. Karla Moreno, Biology Faculty, Lamar CC.
“Loteria for Servingness”
- Janae Knipp, Assistant Director of Bilingual Services, Pikes Place State College.
“Translanguaging by Design: Building Faculty Capacity at an HSI”
- Eric Lamb, M.A. Ed., Assistant Professor at Colorado Mountain College.
- Evan Shulte, M.A., Associate Dean of Bridge Programs, Colorado Mountain College.
“Seguimos Floreciendo: Cultivating Servingness Through Student-Centered Innovation”
- Junior Reina Toc, PhD. Director of Engaging Learner Assets & Career Experiences, Red Rocks Community College.
“What Does It Mean to Serve? Testimonios from Colorado HSI Leaders”
- Dr. Anataly Uribe, Director of Alumni and Partnerships at Moonshot, CU Denver.
“Listening First: Designing Student-Centered Multilingual Programs Through Student Voice”
- Ana M. Vega, MS. Manager of Access and Equity Initiatives, Colorado Mountain College.
“Proactive Funding Strategies in the Defunding Era”
- Dr. Jessica Castillo, Grants Development Director, Pikes Peak State College.
“Cultivating Campus Culture”
- Israel Rodriguez, Coordinator of Residence & Student Life, Lamar Community College.
“Significance of Art during the Chicana/o/x Movement in Colorado”
- Maria Cordova, BA. Community Coordinator for Hey Neighbor.
“Join the Bilingual Communication Coalition for Higher Education!”
- Janae Knipp, Assistant Director of Bilingual Services, Pikes Place State College.
“From Reflection to Action: Using Ignatian Pedagogy to Build Networks of Servingness Across Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions”
- Junior Reina Toc, PhD. Director of Engaging Learner Assets & Career Experiences, Red Rocks Community College.
“Advancement of Latinas in Academic Leadership: Experiences and Challenges of Latinas Serving in Senior-Level Positions in Community Colleges.”
- Dr. Wendy Lubin, Academic Dean at Red Rocks Community College
“Writing & Implementing Grants for Transformative Change”
- Marjorie Schreiber, MLIS. Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives, Colorado Mountain College.
“Capitalizing on Culture: Latino Members of Congress and Higher Education Policy”
- Dr. Florencio U. Aranda III, Vice President for Community and Global Impact, Adams State University.
“Language Access for Multilingual Students”
- Janae Knipp, Assistant Director of Bilingual Services, Pikes Place State College.
“Designing for Belonging: Building an Adult High School Diploma Program Through the Lens of HSI Servingness”
- Junior Reina Toc, PhD. Director of Engaging Learner Assets & Career Experiences, Red Rocks Community College.
Support our mission
Become a Sponsor°®ÒºAƬ the Consortium
Launched in late 2022, the Colorado HSI Consortium aims to provide a collaborative community of HSIs (current and emerging) and strengthen our organizational capacity to intentionally serve Latinx/e students.
The purpose is to provide a collaborative community of HSIs that strengthens our organizational capacity to intentionally serve Latinx and Hispanic students. The consortium supports this mission through professional development, networking opportunities, and resource sharing. It also fosters collaboration to seek federal and foundation funding and encourages strong community partnerships.
In addition, the group works to inform policymakers and other stakeholders about HSI-related issues. It advocates for enhanced funding, new initiatives, programs, and services. The consortium also stays informed on laws, regulations, policies, and trends related to HSI designation and support. These goals and objectives were developed and implemented by the steering committee. Notable work from the University of Arizona and the Arizona HSI Consortium helped guide this vision.
The inception of the Colorado HSI Consortium began with the gracious participation of Dra. Marla Franco. She served as a keynote speaker at the Higher Education Diversity Summit: Learning Critically into HSI and MSI Servingness in the spring of 2022.
After the summit, Dra. Franco had a meaningful conversation with Dr. Del Real and Dr. Montoya about the idea of forming a Colorado HSI Consortium. Her guidance helped plant the seed that would grow into this statewide effort.
Dr. Montoya later demonstrated his leadership by launching an HSI tour across Colorado during Latinx Heritage Month. This initiative reflected his strong commitment and vision.
We are also deeply grateful to Dra. Marla Franco and the Arizona HSI Consortium team, whose work served as a blueprint for shaping the Colorado HSI Consortium.
On November 15, 2022, a significant milestone was reached as the inaugural meeting of the Colorado HSI Consortium took place. This momentous occasion gathered Presidents, Chancellors, senior staff, faculty members, and esteemed HSI leaders from current and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across Colorado. The primary purpose of this gathering was to assess their level of interest and unwavering commitment to collectively fostering a future where Colorado stands as a state dedicated to serving the Latinx community.
On May 2, 2023, we marked another significant step forward as we hosted our first steering committee meeting, with a remarkable turnout of 30 dedicated individuals. The core focus of this meeting was to facilitate introductions and establish our main goals and bylaws.
On July 18, 2023, we embraced the opportunity to connect in person at Red Rocks Community College during our first summer retreat. Guided by the expertise of Dra. Angela Marquez, we honed in on finalizing our goals and objectives, working towards establishing a robust State Servingess Framework.