Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Committee

The Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Committee at The Community College of Denver is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers Hispanic students and other underrepresented groups to achieve their full potential. Our mission is to embody the principles of "servingness" by actively engaging with and serving our Hispanic students, faculty and staff through comprehensive support, cultural celebration, and educational excellence.

Tina Garcia

As the Vice President for Student Services, my role includes developing and implementing procedures, programs, and services that foster student success in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. By participating in this committee, I aim to help cultivate a more welcoming atmosphere where Latine students and the entire campus community can thrive academically and socially.

Jim Chavez

In my role as the Executive Director of the CCD Foundation, I feel responsible for doing my part to help generate resources, scholarship funds in particular, to help our Hispanic and Latino students afford the opportunity to pursue their educational goals.  I am part of the HSI committee because I believe in and am committed to helping our Hispanic and Latino students lead a more prosperous and successful life for themselves and their families.  I choose to serve on this committee because of the impact we can, and must make to ensure our students are successful in educational pursuits and in their future careers.

Angelica Rueda

As the Dean of Enrollment Administration and Student Success and co-chair of the Hispanic Serving Institution Committee, I can make positive, large-scale impact to the lives of our CityHawks. We look for existing inequities in guidelines and programming, or from the point of recruitment through graduation and make changes to provide a seamless student experience. I re-ignited the HSI committee because Hispanics make up over 39% of our student population and I want to see them and other underrepresented groups succeed here and beyond our doors.

Karl Diaz-Sanders

As the Concurrent Enrollment Navigator and Chair of the Hispanic Serving Institution Committee, I guide students through the dual enrollment process, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to succeed in both high school and college. I chose to serve on the HSI Committee to advocate for equitable opportunities and to help create an inclusive environment where Hispanic students feel supported and valued. My commitment is to foster a sense of belonging and to empower students to achieve their academic and career goals.

Jessica Lanfranco

As Student Success Technology Manager at CCD, I work to enhance our student success platform – Navigate360 to help support student success initiatives throughout the college.   I chose to serve on the HSI Committee because I am proud to work for a Hispanic Serving Institution, and our mission aligns with my passion of promoting education, technology, culture music and dance. ¡Adelante! 

MaryAnn Blitt

As a professor, my goal is to help my students to acquire the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to successfully communicate in the Spanish language. Considering that CCD is an HSI, I have striven to add a Spanish Language class for heritage speakers so that our Spanish-speaking Hispanic students can improve their language skills to leverage them in a professional setting while learning more about their own heritage and that of their classmates. I chose to join the HSI committee because I firmly believe in servitude and want to support our Hispanic students in achieving their goals and dreams.

Lourdes Schmidt

As an academic advisor, I serve the Hispanic Community because, for me, it is a social responsibility. Our Hispanic community has a critical social need to have structure, direction, and education.

I chose to serve on the community with the hope of working with other Hispanics in higher ed to have similar interests in promoting and cultivating active participation.

Cassandra Otero

As an Academic Advisor, I am committed to support students--helping them to discover their talents, explore their passions and achieve their academic and career goals. I am honored to support students as they chart their paths and work towards a brighter future for themselves and their families.

I serve on the HSI committee to ensure that CCD is a place where Hispanic students feel valued and empowered and dare to reach new heights!

Daniel Limache

As Engagement Manager of CWI, my role is to obtain the commitment of the business sectors and specific training in the community that favors the development of the workforce. In this sense, we are a bridge for students who are preparing in that direction. HSI gives me the opportunity to better connect with the Latino community that I want to serve in the best way.

Asia Abeyta

As an Assistant Director of Financial Aid, I’m aware of how daunting the processes and cost of obtaining a post-secondary education can be.  My goal is to approach students and their families with empathy and provide the tools to empower them to make informed decisions. I chose to serve on the HSI committee to address systemic inequities that hinder the upward mobility of Hispanic and minoritized communities by keeping access to education seemingly out of reach.