MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University will host the fourth annual Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Summit on April 18, 2025. This year’s summit will focus on institutional change and what it means to create change.
Following the previous three years, this summit invites local, state, and national partners and all interested community members to share ideas and best practices for serving and supporting students.
This year’s summit keynote speaker is Gina Ann Garcia, Ph.D., professor in the School of Education at UC Berkeley. She is a nationally recognized researcher and author exploring the experiences of administrators, faculty, and staff at HSIs and the outcomes of students attending these institutions.
“We are excited to bring people together for an open dialogue on driving institutional change,” shared Cristian Mendez Garcia, assistant director of Hispanic Serving Initiatives. “It’s a true privilege to host Dra. Gina Garcia—an incredible individual whose expertise is invaluable—and to offer presentations that will empower attendees with actionable insights for their communities.”
Western is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, with more than 26 percent of its undergraduate students identifying as Hispanic/Latiné. The goal of hosting these summits is to bring together the campus, community, and regional and national partners to discuss what it means to be an HSI, how to collaboratively engage in this work, and why it is critical to the success of students and the greater community.
“I’m so excited to be the keynote speaker at this year’s HSI Summit at WOU. My research centers on issues of equity and justice in higher education, emphasizing understanding how HSIs embrace and enact an organizational identity for serving minoritized populations,” shared Garcia. “This summit is a great way for WOU to identify how to serve minoritized populations and I look forward to connection and conversations that will be had.”
In addition to a keynote and workshop facilitated by Garcia, there will be a student panel, an afternoon of concurrent sessions, and networking time for attendees. Registration is open to everyone through April 15.
This year’s summit is supported by the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF). OCF has provided WOU $40,000 to support this year’s HSI Initiatives; both the HSI Summit and the upcoming Cesar E. Chavez Leadership Conference for high school students across the region on May 2, 2025. OCF’s Latino Partnership Program centers the voices and experiences of the Latinos/x in their efforts by leaning into the strengths and collective wisdom of our comunidades (communities) across Oregon.
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About Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Where YOU belong.
