A Message from the President:
Monday, September 29, 2025
This week, as Excelencia in Education hosts their Annual Convening in the midst of what feels like rough waters for education, I reflect on the Seal of Excelencia. I especially appreciate that the Seal is awarded to institutions of higher learning that demonstrate measurable and tangible results for Latino students across three verticals: Data, Practice, and Leadership. Institutions can earn the Seal when they not only enroll Latino students but also graduate them; not only when they launch programs, but also when they implement evidence-based programs that drive student success; and not only when they state expectations, but also when they embed student success into every practice, policy, and decision.
The Seal reminds me of the saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” If a Latino student succeeds, all students succeed. When resources are withheld from any segment of our student body, all students feel the impact; especially at tuition dependent mission driven institutions like ours.
At OLLU, we anchor ourselves in Providence and will remain tenacious and unwavering in our commitment to make each of our jobs about our students’ personal, academic, career, and faith journey. That commitment, lived in our data, practices, and leadership, is what will lift every boat, no matter the waters.
