Roadrunners to attend Hispanic leadership conference

OCTOBER 23, 2020 — The president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has this year challenged each member institution to sponsor five or more students to attend its ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute. And UTSA has done just that.

HACU’s president, Antonio R. Flores, said that more than 500 undergraduates from across the country are being offered this opportunity—virtually this year—to develop their skills as future leaders. The leadership institute is scheduled for October 25-28, during HACU’s annual conference.

“The HACU experience in leadership development…is an invaluable lesson, and students come back energized.”

“As a longstanding member of HACU, UTSA wants to take full advantage of the wonderful opportunities that the association offers to our students,” said Elvira Leal, assistant vice president for community relations, who spearheaded the challenge to select five UTSA students for the event. “We know that the HACU experience in leadership development and networking with students and leaders from across the country is an invaluable lesson, and students come back energized.”

UTSA’s sponsored students come from various university areas: the Dreamers Resource Center, Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice, Career Center, Community Relations and the La Raza Faculty and Administrators Association. The five attendees are:

• Anisia Allmond, a junior studying global affairs;
• Digna Diaz, a sophomore studying communication;
• Kayla Garcia, a freshman studying politics and law;
• Valeria Quintero, a junior studying political science; and
• Allison Zarate Rodriguez, a freshman studying cybersecurity and Mexican American studies.

Students will participate in a series of virtual events that include 16 professional development programs, several networking panels and opportunities to engage with HACU partners from federal and corporate sectors. 

“I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to attend HACU’s leadership institute,” Quintero said. “I look forward to enhancing my career development skills and meeting other students, exhibitors and presenters.” 

Upon their return, the students who will participate in the institute have agreed to present on lessons learned and key takeaways from the conference.