ILACHE

QEPD el Profe. Rudy Acuña.

Rudy Acuña didn’t just teach Chicano Studies — he was the key architect in building it.

He challenged power, told our stories, and helped generations of students see themselves in history.

That is legacy. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. Rest in power, Profe. 🕊️

As someone who pursued a minor in Chicano Studies, I know how transformative that education is — it laid bare the systemic racism and institutional barriers our communities have organized, resisted, and fought to dismantle.

That is why, when I served in the State Assembly, I was a principal co-author of Ethnic Studies 101 — so every high school student could learn our history - history that for so long has been denied to us and that has only been accessible if* you went to college. Our stories belong in our classrooms.

And if you haven’t read his book, “Occupied America,” I encourage you to pick it up. Its lessons on history, power, and resistance are more relevant in today’s political climate than ever before.

Happy birthday to Ruben Salazar, born in 1928. Salazar was a pioneering journalist who brought national attention to the Mexican American experience at a time when it was largely ignored by mainstream media. Through his reporting for the Los Angeles Times and later as news director at KMEX-TV, he helped the broader public understand the goals, frustrations, and significance of the Chicano Movement, covering issues such as educational inequality, discrimination, and the Vietnam War’s impact on Mexican American communities.

His life was tragically cut short on August 29, 1970, when he was killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy while covering the Chicano Moratorium protest. His death shocked the nation and raised urgent questions about press freedom, policing, and civil rights.

Ruben Salazar’s legacy reminds us of the power of journalism to illuminate injustice and amplify voices too often left unheard.

The 2026 ILACHE Annual Conference is officially at capacity. Unfortunately, on-site registration will not be available on the day of the event.

Thank you to everyone who registered for “Raices y Resistencia: Building Educational Equity Through Community Strength” — Friday, March 6, at Roosevelt University is going to be incredible!

Visit ILACHE.org for updates and future opportunities.

Congratulations to the 2026 undergraduate student scholarship winners. These undergraduate students were selected for their outstanding commitment to leadership, community service, and learning.

📍 We’re coming to Roosevelt University! 🎉

ILACHE is thrilled to announce that our 33rd Annual Professional and Student Development Conference will be held at the Lillian and Larry Goodman Center at Roosevelt University on Friday, March 6, 2026!

This year’s theme, “Raíces y Resistencia: Building Educational Equity Through Community Strength,” reflects our commitment to honoring the roots that ground us and the resilience that drives us forward.

We’re grateful for our partnership with Roosevelt University in providing a beautiful space for our community to gather, learn, and grow together. We look forward to welcoming Latino/a/x educators, students, and professionals from across Illinois!

📅 Friday, March 6, 2026
📍 Goodman Center, Roosevelt University | 501 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago

🔗 If you haven’t yet, Register at ilache.org—link in bio!

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🎉 Meet ILACHE Board Member Dr. Tricia Rosado, Ph.D. 🎓

Dr. Rosado serves as the Dean of the Southlake Campus at the College of Lake County. She has been an equity advocate for first-generation, minoritized, and financially vulnerable students and their postsecondary aspirations.

Close to three decades of leadership in bringing together upper-level and local administration in institutions of higher education, schools, and non-profit organizations in various Chicagoland communities to close equity gaps connected to student success and retention during the critical phases of outreach, enrollment, transfer, and graduation. Over two decades of experience in developing and managing grants, budgets, and projects to ensure programs are executed with fidelity and operating within regulation, as well as implementing necessary administrative policies (locally and city-wide) to ensure success.

¡Bienvenida, Doctora! We’re proud to have Dr. Rosado on the ILACHE Board! 🎉

📍 College of Lake County
🔗 ilache.org

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✨ Meet ILACHE Board Member Blanca Jara, M.P.A. ✨

Blanca serves as the Interim Executive Director of Government Relations at Northeastern Illinois University, where she leads the University’s legislative relations, advocacy efforts, and government partnership initiatives.

With over 15 years of professional experience in public relations, government affairs, and nonprofit management, Blanca previously served as Chief of Staff at the Partnership for College Completion and as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Morton College. She is an alumna of the HACU Academia de Liderazgo and a Fellow of the National Community College Hispanic Council.

We’re grateful for Blanca’s expertise and passion for advocacy on the ILACHE Board! 🙌

📍 Northeastern Illinois University
🔗 ilache.org

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📣 Meet Mew ILACHE Board Member Aaron Cortes, M.S. 🎓

Aaron serves as the Director of STEAM Pathways at Northeastern Illinois University, where he directs TRIO Upward Bound, TRIO Upward Bound Math and Science, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Computer Science.

A passionate advocate for STEAM education, international access, and college readiness for low-income and first-generation students, Aaron began his journey at NEIU in 2003 as a college tutor within the GEAR UP Alliance and TRIO UBMS.

He has since earned recognition as a HACU Leadership Academy Fellow (2024), an ILACHE Educational Leadership Award recipient (2023), and a two-term president of the Illinois TRIO Association.

We're proud to have Aaron's leadership, experience, and dedication on the ILACHE Board! 👏

📍 Northeastern Illinois University
🔗 ilache.org

🌟 Meet New ILACHE Board Member Diana Soriano, M.Ed. 🌟

Diana is the Director and Lecturer of the Professional Development Program within the Institute for Leadership Excellence and Development (iLEAD) in the College of Business Administration at the University of Illinois Chicago. Bilingual in English and Spanish and a Second City-trained improviser, Diana incorporates improvisation pedagogy into her teaching on professional presence and professional development.

Diana is a Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) Fellow. She is involved in educational equity work and is currently a Cohort member of the Diversity Facilitation Collaborative (DFC) within the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Engagement to promote a thriving, inclusive, and diverse community at the University of Illinois Chicago. Soriano is also an Inclusive Educator Scholar and completed the educational program offered by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence (CATE).

¡Adelante, Diana! We're honored to have you on the ILACHE Board! 💪

📍 University of Illinois Chicago
🔗 ilache.org

📣 Meet New ILACHE Board Member Aaron Cortes, M.S. 🎓

Aaron serves as the Director of STEAM Pathways at the Center for College Access and Success at Northeastern Illinois University, where he directs TRIO Upward Bound, TRIO Upward Bound Math and Science, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

A passionate advocate for STEAM education, international access, and college readiness for low-income and first-generation students. Cortes served as the president of the Illinois TRIO Association for two consecutive terms from 2014 to 2016. Additionally, he was the president of the Educational Opportunity Association in 2019. During his period as president, Cortes served as a board member of the Council for Opportunity in Education from 2018-2020.

Cortes has earned a number of other prestigious recognitions, including being named an E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship (2014) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Latino Policy Multicultural Leadership Fellowship (2023), and fellow of the Emerging Leadership Program with the Chicago Council for Global Affairs (2022). Cortes was honored with the National Latino Education Institute's Emerging Leader Award in 2017 and the Educational Leadership Award from the Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education in 2023.

We're proud to have Aaron's leadership, experience, and dedication on the ILACHE Board! 👏

📍 Northeastern Illinois University
🔗 ilache.org