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David Fuentes, PhD, associate dean of William Paterson University’s College of Education, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE).
Fuentes is among three new members appointed to the board, each with a three-year term (2024 through 2027), bringing the number of AAHHE board members to 20.
AAHHE strives to effect positive change for the Hispanic community in American higher education through public discourse, addressing societal issues, and preparing more Hispanics to pursue careers in higher education. Though the Hispanic population is the largest ethnic minority population in the U.S., it is still underrepresented in higher education nationwide, both in terms of student enrollment and faculty in tenure-track roles.
“I am deeply honored to be selected for the board of directors of the American Association of Hispanics of Higher Education,” Fuentes says. “This call to service is a wonderful opportunity that brings with it great potential to impact both personal and professional growth while contributing to the cultivation of the next generation of Hispanics in higher education.”
Fuentes, who joined William Paterson University in 2012 as an assistant professor of teacher education, has focused much of his scholarly work on recruiting, retaining, and promoting K-12 teachers from underrepresented backgrounds.
Among his accomplishments: He helped develop the Aspiring Educators program on the William Paterson campus—an innovative program which cultivates high school students from diverse communities who are interested in education as a profession. He is also the project director for the University’s $1.6 million Augustus F. Hawkins grant, which seeks to make New Jersey’s teacher workforce more diverse and place well-prepared diverse teachers in the schools of high-needs communities.
Earlier this year, AAHHE selected Fuentes for its Mildred Garcia Founders Award, given to an individual or organization demonstrating an exemplary commitment to advancing access and success for the Latinx population in higher education.
“To be able to connect William Paterson to this network and bring what we do as a Hispanic Serving Institution to the forefront, and to be able to bring home the best practices of peers from across the country will provide reciprocal growth opportunities that are truly exciting,” Fuentes says.
08/20/24
