Laredo College is always excited to share some amazing opportunities our students, faculty and staff receive through their hard work and dedication. Most recently, two LC participants were selected for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Enlace Mid-level Leadership Program to strengthen their leadership capabilities.
Director of Recruitment and Dual Enrollment Julio Reyes and Department Chair of English and Communication Rene J. Montemayor were among 56 participants to be selected for the fall program. HACU states that the six-month program is designed to increase the number, variety and quality of Latinos in leadership positions at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and in higher education overall.
Reyes and Montemayor will undergo multiple, hour-long online sessions from November to March. Within the six months, the program will cover academic and student affairs management, regional institutional accreditation, diversity, equity and inclusion, higher education advocacy issues and personal interaction with professional search firm partners.
Furthermore, Montemayor was one of 10 participants to receive grant funding from Capital One which will allow him to cover the program fees. He said that he felt especially proud to have been accepted to such a prestigious program for Hispanic leaders in higher education.
“I always place myself in the team members’ position and ask myself, ‘Is this the way I want to be led?’ Also, it’s very important that a leader’s expectations of the team are clearly communicated from top to bottom, and therefore, from bottom to top,” Montemayor expressed. “Being an effective listener is also a huge component of being a strong and effective leader.”
Both said that it is both an honor and a great opportunity to be a part of the course, with Reyes adding that it is the responsibility of a leader to always improve themselves for the benefit of their teams and institution.
“As a leader, I also have the responsibility to help and develop the next director of my office that will be 10 times better than me. However, I strive to remain effective over my career by continuing to read and implement new initiatives within my office to improve effectiveness and teamwork,” Reyes added. “A strong leader is a leader that takes the opportunity to have their team grow and become the best version of themselves.”
As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Laredo College is always delighted to see more Hispanic leaders grow in their career that will continue to inspire future generations. Reyes said, “I personally feel that as a Latino, our family-oriented culture translates into strong leadership styles that cultivate a tight-knit community/family environment within the office and throughout Laredo College.”
Montemayor agreed, saying that his Chicano heritage is and has been a tremendous advantage to his leadership skills.
“Since the young Hispanic population in Texas is now the majority population, I believe this leadership program will help me improve my leadership capabilities and help pass on my knowledge and experience to these future leaders,” he said. “It is my hope that they will learn how to lead along the border, specifically Laredo, as it is quite unique even among other Texas-Mexico border cities as it has always been led by Hispanics.”