The Hispanic Association of Colleges and University will honor Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás D. Morales with its President’s Award for Excellence in recognition of his outstanding service to Hispanic higher education success, at the association’s conference in October.

Morales will be recognized with nine other honorees, two of whom will be inducted into HACU’s Hall of Champions, during the annual conference.

'HACU is honored to highlight those individuals, institutions and organizations that have played a crucial role in Hispanic higher education,” said Antonio R. Flores, HACU president and CEO. “The presentation of awards provides an opportunity, not only to highlight the contributions of individuals, but also to inspire students and up-and-coming leaders attending our conference.”

This year’s theme “30 Years of Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success' will be Oct. 8-10, 2016, at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, in San Antonio, Texas.

“I am honored to receive this recognition from HACU. To be included with such a distinguished group of trailblazers dedicated to improving and advancing higher education for Latinos is truly humbling,” Morales said. “This recognition also reinforces that, with all that we as Latinos have accomplished in education, we still have many hurdles to clear.”

Morales, who currently serves as HACU chairman, was recently named one of 2016’s “101 Most Influential Latinos” by Latino Leaders Magazine. He also chairs the TIAA Hispanic Advisory Board, and has served as chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

As CSUSB president, Morales has focused on increasing student retention and graduation rates. He was instrumental in the introduction of the Coyote First STEP (Student Transition Enhancement Program), an initiative to increase college readiness and graduation rates for incoming first-year students.

Under Morales’ leadership, CSUSB works with school districts in San Bernardino and Riverside counties to increase high school graduation rates and college readiness. He and other educational and business partners lead the Southern California Initiative for Education and Prosperity, a collaborative consortium – consisting of two universities, 11 community colleges and 67 school districts, along with county and business leaders – to increase baccalaureate degree attainment. The consortium is past recipient of the governor’s $5 million Innovation in Higher Education grant.

During his more than 40-year career in higher education, Morales is one of the few U.S. higher education administrators who has held senior administrative positions at the three largest public university systems in the nation: The California State University, The State University of New York, and The City University of New York.

Before coming to CSUSB, Morales served as president of the College of Staten Island, The City University of New York (CUNY). Prior to that he served in various capacities at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, including provost and vice president for academic affairs, vice president for student affairs and professor of education. He holds a B.A. in history from SUNY, New Paltz, and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in educational administration and policy studies from SUNY, Albany.

The other honorees are:

  • HACU Hall of Champions Inductee – Max Castillo, president emeritus, University of Houston-Downtown and a founding board member of HACU while president at San Antonio College;
  • HACU Hall of Champions Inductee – Ruben Hinojosa, U.S. congressman, who has elevated Hispanic-Serving Institutions to a position of prominence in higher education;
  • The HACU Lifelong Leadership Award – Sharon Hahs, president, Northeastern Illinois University, in recognition of lifelong leadership and advocacy for Hispanic higher education success;
  • The Special Award for Exemplary Leadership – Ricardo Romo, president, The University of Texas at San Antonio in recognition of his career in advancing educational access and success for Hispanic students;
  • The Exemplary Policy/Advocacy Leadership Award – Joseph Crowley, U.S. congressman in recognition of exemplary leadership and support of HACU’s policy issues;
  • The Outstanding HACU HSI-Member – St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas I recognition of excellence in support of HACU’s mission;

The Outstanding HACU Associate Member Institution – The University of Central Florida in recognition of excellence in support of HACU’s mission;

  • The Outstanding HACU Public Sector Partner – The National Credit Union Administration for outstanding leadership and support of HACU’s mission from federal partner; and
  • The Outstanding HACU Private Sector Partner – American Student Assistance for outstanding leadership and support of HACU’s mission from corporate partner.

The conference agenda and registration information is available online at www.hacu.net. Onsite registration will be available.

About HACU The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents more than 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain. The association’s headquarters are located in San Antonio, Texas, with offices in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, California. HACU, the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Information is available at www.hacu.net.

About California State University, San Bernardino

California State University, San Bernardino is a preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in Inland Southern California. Opened in 1965 and set at the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, the university serves more than 20,000 students each year and graduates about 4,000 students annually. CSUSB reflects the dynamic diversity of the region and has the most diverse student population of any university in the Inland Empire, and it has the second highest African American and Hispanic enrollments of all public universities in California. Eighty percent of those who graduate are the first in their families to do so.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.