El Centro de Excelencia at NLU
El 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. As an HSI, NLU serves an important role in providing access to education and advancing academic outcomes for Latina/o/x students. 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.
El Centro de Excelencia es un espacio inclusivo que valora a nuestras/os/x estudiantes Latinas/os/x. Aquí encontrarás un lugar genuino donde te invitamos a convivir y crear comunidad en español, inglés o spanglish, en la manera que tú prefieres.
El 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
Signature and Institution Traditional Events:
¡Sí Se Pudo! Graduation Celebration
El Centro de Excelencia is proud to host the ¡Sí Se Pudo! Graduation Celebration: Honrando Nuestros Logros. This annual event is an empowering celebration that honors the many ways that our graduating students represent their Latina/o/x identities. Asabilingual celebration,we strive to be more inclusive and to center nuestra cultura. Over 100 undergraduate and graduate students receivea Orgullo Latino stole to recognize their achievement.
Latinx Heritage Month/Welcome Week: ¡Convivio, Comida, y Caballo Dorado!
El Centro de Excelencia and various student groups welcome students to the start of the academic year at NLU and to celebrate Latina/o/x Heritage Month with comunidad, food and Latinx line dancing!
Día de los Muertos – Building Our Community Altar/Ofrenda
Through this cultural tradition we honor our loved ones who have passed. In comunidad we build our altar/ofrenda with hand-made tissue flowers, sugar skulls, candles, cempasúchil flowers, and photos of loved ones. The altar/ofrenda is on display until November 2nd.
Posada in Support of Our Immigrant Community
Our Posada procession, based on a Latin American cultural tradition, centers our immigrant community by recognizing the significance of the immigrant journey in search of a safe and welcoming space.
El Centro de Excelencia is extremely pleased to showcase student success.
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).
LaDwonda Hill, EdD
Dr. Hill, CLAVE Doctoral Fellow (Cohort 3), completed her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (National College of Education).
Carolina Zuluaga, PsyD
Dra. Zuluaga, CLAVE Doctoral Fellow (Cohort 2), completed her Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Florida School of Psychology).
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
