Cal State San Bernardino was well represented at the annual conference of the Hispanic Association for Colleges and Universities in San Diego when President Tomás D. Morales attended with about 40 CSUSB students.

Morales, who was one of the conference speakers, makes it a point to encourage and bring students to attend the HACU gathering, which he calls a life-changing and unforgettable experience.

The HACU conference, which took place in October, provides an exceptional opportunity for students to build their professional network as more than 500 students from various colleges and universities across the country are expected to attend. The conference gives students an opportunity to secure internships and full-time employment by networking with hundreds of potential employers.

The national conference also offers attending students an international platform to share their voice regarding the educational disparities influencing Hispanic and Latinx students. Students may apply their knowledge attained from participating in workshops and scholarly discussions to create change in their own lives and their local communities.

In preparation for this year’s conference, the CSUSB Career Center developed an intensive two-day CSUSB HACU Preconference for about students. The program created a learning environment for students to revamp their resumes, utilize LinkedIn and acquire effective networking and interviewing strategies. The center awarded 40 students the “Student Track Scholarship,” which is funded by Associated Students Inc. and Academic Affairs. The Career Center’s staff and campus partners worked to prepare students with the necessary tools and resources to maximize their conference experience.

The CSUSB HACU Preconference was organized and coordinated by CSUSB Career Center’s director, Denise Gianoussopoulos, and interim assistant director, Sarai Maldonado. The entire Career Center staff supported the program along with campus departments. The Career Center received support that included Alex Cassadas, Human Resources; Bryant Fairley, Community Engagement; Carol Dixon, Special Events & Guest Services; Elizabeth Perez, Workability; Jesse Felix, Associated Student Inc.; Shannon Stratton, Recreation & Wellness; and Valentina Felix, Information and Decision Sciences.

For more information, contact the CSUSB Office of Strategic Communication to (909) 537-5007 and visit  news.csusb.edu.