''Excelencia'' in Education, also referred to as ''Excelencia'', is an American
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
founded in 2004 by Sarita E. Brown and Deborah A. Santiago. It is classified as a Research Institute and Public Policy Analysis group focused on Educational Institutions. Excelencia’s stated mission is to “accelerate Latino student success in higher education.” ''Excelencia's'' research is conducted to gather information on the relationship between Latino students and their programs, and is published through
Education Resources Information Center
The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) is an online digital library of education research and information. ERIC is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the United States Department of Education.
Description
The missio ...
(ERIC), and educational journals, such as ''Insight into Diversity'' and ''Diverse: Issues in Higher Education''. Excelencia regularly recognizes programs and institutions that support the Latino community through higher education. Excelencia publishes an annual list of
Hispanic Serving Institutions and emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions.
History
Brown and Santiago founded ''Excelencia'' in Education in Washington D.C. Brown is a national education policy advisor and former Executive Director of the
. Santiago is a higher education policy and data specialist and former Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. ''Excelencia'' is funded through a variety of grants, contracts, events, and gifts; in 2019, ''Excelencia'' received funding from the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), a merging of the William H. Gates Foundation and the Gates Learning Foundation, is an American private foundation founded by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. Based in Seattle, Washington, it was ...
,
Andrew Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation of New York City in the United States, simply known as Mellon Foundation, is a private foundation with five core areas of interest, and endowed with wealth accumulated by Andrew Mellon of the Mellon family of Pitts ...
, Ascendium Education Group, and
MacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott (''née'' Tuttle, formerly Bezos; April 7, 1970) is an American novelist and philanthropist. As of September 2022, she has a net worth of US$33.4 billion, owing to a 4% stake in Amazon, the company founded by her ex-husband Je ...
Seal of Excelencia
Since 2019, Excelencia has offered, to higher
education institutions in the United States, which "serve Latino students". The Seal acts as a certification from Excelencia that the institution helps Latino access resources like mentoring and financial accountability. Among the recipients of the Seal in 2022 was El Paso Community College, noted for its work on serving Latino communities.
Recognition
* 2021 Presidential Medal by the
Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)
* 2019 “Modelo de la Comunidad Award” from
College Board
References
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Educational charities based in the United States
Charities based in Washington, D.C.
2004 establishments in Washington, D.C.
Educational organizations established in 2004
Independent research institutes
Research institutes established in 2004
Education research institutes
Research institutes in Washington, D.C.
Think tanks established in 2004
Think tanks based in Washington, D.C.
Hispanic and Latino American