Centro de Excelencia at NLU
The Centro de Excelencia at NLU serves as the hub for programs and initiatives that advance our work as a community and career focused Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).
National Louis University is among the top 25 most diverse national universities, and in 2016 NLU earned its federal designation as an HSI by the U.S. Department of Education. We are proud of this designation and its contribution to living our values of diversity and equity, and to building a culture of belonging. Currently, 51% of our undergraduate students and 20% of our graduate students identify as Latina/o/x, and as our Latinx enrollment has grown, so has our commitment to address the needs of both undergraduate and graduate Latinx students through distinctive and innovative programs and resources.
Centro de Excelencia at NLU promotes:
- excellence in Latinx student outcomes
- excellence as a career and community focused HSI
- excellence in building a more diverse and inclusive community
Upcoming events:
Alternative Application Renewal Party Thursday, February 15, 2024 Chicago-122, Room 4036 For more details: https://nl.presence.io/event/alternative-application-renewal-party
Batalla de las Bandas/Battle of the Bands Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Chicago-122, 2nd Floor, Atrium To perform register here: https://nl.presence.io/event/battle-of-the-bands-batalla-de-las-bandas
Congratulations Class of 2023! ¡Felicidades! ¡Si Se Puede!
On June 14, 2023, El Centro de Excelencia hosted its Inaugural Latina/o/x Graduation Party and gifted Latinx stoles to honor NLU’s 2023 Latina/o/x Graduates
The CLAVE Graduate Student Institute is extremely pleased to congratulate the following CLAVE Doctoral Fellows for successfully completing their doctoral degrees at NLU.
Octavio Casas, EdD
Dr. Casas, CLAVE Doctoral Fellow (Cohort 2), completed his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (National College of Education) in the summer of 2023.
Toni Carmichael, EdD
Dra. Carmichael, CLAVE Doctoral Fellow (Cohort 1), completed her Doctorate of Education in Teaching and Learning: Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy (National College of Education) in the summer of 2023.
LaDwonda Hill, EdD
Dr. Hill, CLAVE Doctoral Fellow (Cohort 3), completed her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (National College of Education) in the summer of 2023.
Carolina Zuluaga, PsyD
Dra. Zuluaga, CLAVE Doctoral Fellow (Cohort 2), completed her Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Florida School of Psychology) in the summer of 2023.
We encourage faculty, staff and student groups to consider hosting events in this space that align with the mission of the Centro de Excelencia to support and engage the Latinx and BIPOC communities at NLU. Please email centrodeexcelencia.nlu@gmail.com to reserve the space.
Highlight Events:
Día de los Muertos – Chicago and Wheeling Campus – October 24, 2022
NLU students and staff celebrated Día de los Muertos by building altares at the Wheeling and Chicago campuses and sharing stories of loved ones no longer here but always in our hearts.
Photo credit: James Richards
Dr. Gabriel Cortez: Latinx History is U.S. History #thatborderaintreal #monroedoctrine1823 – Virtual – September 16, 2022
HSI week highlighted the important role HSIs play in improving access to education and advancing equity for traditionally underserved students. We welcomed Dr. Gabriel Cortez who discussed Latinx history and Latinx equity initiatives in Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
NLUnidad
NLU’s Latinx Faculty & Staff Group, NLUnidad, was established in October 2021. The primary reasons to create this group were to meet other Latinx members at NLU, connect on our cultural identity, and build community. The group holds virtual monthly meetings every 3rd Friday at 3:00 pm CST. Please contact Inés Sahagún-Bahena at isahagunbahena@nl.edu with any questions.
In the News:
- Introduction: A Different Kind of College Ranking | Washington Monthly
- 2022 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: Midwest | Washington Monthly
- National Louis University Secures Funding for Programs to Propel STEM Education for Hispanic Students
- Daily Herald: National Louis University awarded $2,800,000 grant from U.S. Department of Education
- National Louis University and Universidad del Valle de México Announce Partnership in Double Degree and Certificates Program for Students in Mexico
- Announcing the Inaugural CLAVE Postdoctoral Fellow, Estee Hernández, Ph.D.
- Announcing the Inaugural CLAVE Postdoctoral Fellow, Mónica Haydeé Ramos, Ed.D.
- CLAVE Doctoral Fellows Announced, Speak in Their Own Words About Their Doctoral Experience
