New York City, NY – Nyack College hosted the 8th annual National Hispanic Education Summit and the 9th annual Nyack Scholars Symposium on November 8-9, 2017. These events were presented by the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference’s Alliance for Hispanic Education, the Faith and Education Coalition-NHCLC, and Nyack College.
The Summit and Symposium were attended by nearly 175 university leaders, faith leaders and students – representing 18 universities and 15 national organizations. The shared theme for these joint events was “In Search of Accountability in Closing Educational Gaps.” Topics for workshops and keynote speakers spanned education equity, accountability, and strategies for increasing Latino college recruitment and graduation rates.
The National Hispanic Education Summit convened at both NY campuses of Nyack College, featuring 15 workshops and panels led by 27 university administrators, professors, Nyack students, and pastors. Special guest speakers included Mr. Jer Swigart, founder of The Global Immersion Project, Dr. Irvin Scott, senior lecturer on education at Harvard University, Bishop Tony Garcia, Administrative Bishop of the Northeast Hispanic Region, Church of God, and Ms. Maria Eugenia Alcon-Heraux, Director of Media Relations, College Board.
Two awards were presented during this year’s Summit. The Faith and Education Coalition-NHCLC presented a Lifetime Education Impact Award to Dr. Shirley Hoogstra, President of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. A 25th Anniversary Award was presented in honor of the founding of AMEN, the organization founded by Dr. Jesse Miranda which eventually became the NHCLC. Dr. Benjamín Alicea-Lugo, Pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church, received the award on behalf of Dr. Miranda.
“We appreciate the hospitality of Nyack College as they provided the perfect environment for fostering impactful relationships between Hispanic evangelical leaders and university leadership. Hispanic students — and our nation — will be the ultimate beneficiaries of these Kingdom-minded relationships,” said Dr. Andrea Ramirez, Executive Director of the Faith and Education Coalition-NHCLC, who oversees key education initiatives for the NHCLC throughout the U.S.
“It has been an honor to work with Dr. Andrea Ramirez and Mr. Girien Salazar on this joint event. We are convinced that increasing access and providing appropriate support services for minority and low-income students to succeed in higher education is absolutely necessary to build a more equitable and free society,” said Dr. Vilma “Nina” Balmaceda, director of Nyack’s Center for Scholarship and Global Engagement.
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), which values Education as one of its core directives, advocates for Hispanic student success including education equity and high academic standards for all students. The NHCLC serves as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals worldwide assembled in the U.S. and throughout the Spanish-speaking diaspora.
Nyack College was founded in 1882 by Dr. Albert Benjamin Simpson and currently serves more than 2,500 students in its undergraduate, graduate, doctorate and online degree programs. In addition to its residential campus in Nyack, NY and a commuter campus in New York City, an extension site is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Nyack is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.
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Pictured left to right:
Dr. Michael G. Scales, president of Nyack College;
Dr. Andrea Ramirez, executive director of the Faith & Education Coalition
Dr. Vilma “Nina” Balmaceda, founding director of the Center for Scholarship and Global Engagement
Mr. Girien Salazar, deputy director of the Faith & Education Coalition
Pictured left to right:
Dr. Michael G. Scales, president of Nyack College
Dr. Shirley Hoogstra, president of Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
Dr. Carlos Campo, president of Ashland University
Dr. Irvin Scott, senior lecturer on education at Harvard University.
Dr. Andrea Ramirez, executive director of Faith and Education Coalition-NHCLC
Dr. Vilma “Nina” Balmaceda, founding director of Nyack’s Center for Scholarship and Global Engagement
Mr. Girien Salazar, deputy director of Faith and Education Coalition-NHCLC