ENRIQUE E. FIGUEROA
Public Policy Fellowship  1982-1983

Dr. Figueroa was born in Uvalde, TX to parents that came from northern Mexico—his father served in the US Army during WWII.  At the age of ten, Dr. FIgueroa’s family moved to the Central Valley (Modesto) of California, where he completed all his degrees: an A.S., a B.S., two MSs, and his Ph.D.  While in his Ph.D. Program, he was selected for the first class of CHCI’s Fellows program.  Subsequently, Dr. Figueroa was selected as CHCI’s Outstanding Alumni in 2006 and presented with CHCI’s Medallion of Distinguished Alumnus in 2008.  He taught a year at a Community College, eleven years an an Ivy League institution, Cornell University, where he was the faculty advisor to MEChA, the Latino Graduate Student Coalition, and the Latino Living Center.  He was also instrumental in establishing the Hispanic American Studies Program at Cornell.  He was the Director of the Roberto Hernandez Center at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee(UWM), where he created and administered the Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program (LNLP), which generated 180 alumni over eleven years, many of which have leadership positions today.  He also established an endowed scholarship fund specific for UWM Latino students, which raised nearly $150,000.  The second Clinton administration selected Dr. Figueroa as a Presidential Appointee at the USDA—Deputy Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs—where he Chaired the Secretary’s Hispanic Leadership Council.  Dr. Figueroa has an extensive record of serving on national, state, and local Nonprofit Boards, governmental Commissions/Boards, and a host of civic committees.  Dr. Figueroa has received numerous honors, including the Green Bay Packers Hispanic Leadership Award, Fresno State’s Top Dog Award, and Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee Leadership Award. He is a recognized leader at the national, state, and local level.  He has lived in TX, CA, NY, VA, and WI and he has travel extensively around the world.

Enrique’s Statement

I was one of four Fellows chosen in the FIRST CHCI Fellows program. Twice I have been honored by the CHCI as the “Outstanding Fellow” in Oct., 2006 and the “Medallion of Distinguished Fellow” in Sept. 2008. I have a very special place in my heart for the CHCI and as a Fellow. I have been a Prof. and an Ivy League University, Cornell; a Presidential Appointee in the second Clinton administration; a Director and Prof. at an urban RI research institution, primarily dedicated to the academic development of Latino students; established a scholarship fund, raising nearly $150,000, for Latino students; created the Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program, LNLP, with 180 alumni, many of which are in leadership position; served on a number of National, State, and local Boards/Commissions/Committees; and have lived in TX, CA, NY, DC, VA, and WI. I am retired now and can think of no better way to devote some of my time as Vice president of the CHCH Alumni Association. I look forward to further discuss what I bring to the Association….gracias!

JOSE L. PLAZA
Higher Education Graduate Fellowship  2012-2013

Jose L. Plaza is a CHCI alumnus, class of 2012-2013, and served as the Bill and Melinda Gates Higher Education Graduate Fellow. During his fellowship, he held placement at the education non-profit Ed Trust and the office of Congressman Raul Ruiz managing portfolios ranging from health, immigration, housing, to education.  Jose began his professional work as a counselor for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), co-authoring a federal multi-million dollar grant to implement CAMP at the community college level.

Currently, Jose is a program manager in the statewide Prevention team at the California Endowment. In that department, Jose oversees immigration, LGBTQ, disability portfolio, and spearheaded TCE’s GOTV efforts. Jose’s portfolio also encompasses youth engagement specifically education and outreach around issues of civic participation, activism, and social justice. Jose is one of the social media content coordinators for the endowment and oversees a myriad of communications contracts from social media to traditional media.

Jose earned bachelor’s degrees in social science and English from San Diego State University. In 2005, he moved to Long Beach, California to pursue a M.Sc. in counseling with an emphasis in student development in higher education from California State University, Long Beach. He began his doctoral work in education at the University of Southern California studying undocumented/migrant student experience in higher education. Jose is currently one of 10 American Express NGEN Fellows focusing on equity work in non-profit and philanthropy with Independent Sector. Jose resides in Sacramento, California.

 Jose’s Statement

CHCI is to me what it is to countless alumni, a life changer. CHCI was the catalyst for my professional career and as such, I have sense of indebtedness to the organization, its alumni, and to future CHCI leaders. The CHCI Alumni Association has had a successful trajectory and as its ranks are growing, after an unsuccessful campaign for its presidency, my commitment to CHCI has not waned. In my run it was evident the desire of alumni across the country for stronger leadership, communication, and responsiveness to alumni needs outside of D.C. It is my desire as VP to work with existing leadership to ensure that timely and successful solutions are put in place and continue to grow the organization.