Q&A with SOLES Alumna Amanda Corona ’18 (MA)
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationally from September 15 to October 15 and recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to history, culture and advancement.
Over the course of the month, USD News Center will highlight unique stories, thoughtful interviews and local events — both on campus and around San Diego — that encapsulate the spirit of this wonderful annual celebration.
Amanda Corona '18 (MA) was recently named one of 39 fellows of the fourth cohort of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo is meant to increase diverse representation in executive and senior-level positions in higher education.
Corona, a 2018 graduate of the Master's in Nonprofit Leadership and Management program at USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences and the director of development at the University of California San Diego, took a few minutes to talk to the USD News Center about her acceptance into the program, her professional life and her experiences at USD.
Tell us a little bit about the HACU Leadership Academy
HACU’s La Academia (Leadership Academy) is a direct response to the declining rate of Hispanic university presidents (from 4.5 percent in 2006 to 3.9 percent in 2016), despite the unprecedented growth of US Hispanic college student enrollment. Soon, if not already, one in five college students will be Hispanic, yet it is unlikely that many will enroll in a college or university with a Hispanic president. HACU is committed to reversing this 10 year decline by implementing an innovative academy that sets itself apart from other leadership programs including mentorship, workshops, conferences, advocacy and an international component.
Why did you apply to the academy?
As a result of personal and professional experience in higher education, I know the difference between surviving and thriving in postsecondary education. This distinction fuels my passion for supporting the development of people of color in higher education, which has led me down a personal, professional and academic journey of growth. My life’s goal is to create supportive, culturally competent climates for students to thrive. I am especially motivated to see this vision come to fruition in time for my two daughters, and the future generations they represent, to be surrounded by education leaders dedicated to equity, justice, inclusiveness, compassion and diversity. I applied to this program because it offers the perfect opportunity for me to follow my passion for working in higher education while at the same time learning from and with educational practitioners at all levels to create a more equitable education system.
What are you looking forward to?
I am excited to take part in this one-year program designed to prepare the next generation of culturally-diverse leaders for executive and senior level positions in higher education. Fellows participate in three week long face-to-face seminars integrated with HACU’s highly regarded annual conference, national capitol forum, and international conference/experience outside the U.S.
The curriculum emphasizes Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Emerging HSIs, but provides a holistic approach, including the search process, leadership fundamentals, current critical issues, and international relations. Hybrid content delivery with both in-person sessions and synchronous/asynchronous webinars allows a high degree of flexibility for busy work schedules. More than a dozen nationally recognized current and emeriti presidents and senior-level administrators with 100 plus years of combined experience serve on the faculty. Mentorship with a university president is a key component, as is the development of a special project designed to have an impact at the Fellow’s current institution.
What do you hope to learn?
I am confident that although this is a one-year program, the benefits will extend throughout my career. As a result of this program, my professional mentor network will grow to include current and former Hispanic leaders in higher education, within and outside of the United States. This is important to me because my SOLES experience taught me that the answers to current and future challenges affecting education rest in the knowledge that the collective holds. As such, my objective as part of this program is to lean into the cohort model of this program as an opportunity to learn from the perspectives, skills, and strengths of diverse education leaders.
Why is representation in prominent roles so important to the future of higher education?
As a first-generation Latinx woman who aspires to a presidential role in higher education, I know that I would benefit immensely from participating in this program. From networking with fellow cohort members to gaining access to a network of mentors including current and former leaders in higher education, within and outside of the United States. This program will open up doors of opportunity that I don’t even know exist.
Research suggests mentorship is a key component of Latinx student persistence in higher education. I believe the same is true for Latinx who aspire to leadership positions in academia. This rings true for me. In my 12+ years’ experience working in higher education I’ve only come across a handful of Latinas in leadership positions. As I continue to navigate higher education, I am extremely grateful for organizations like HACU who create, cultivate and inspire community.
How did your MA in SOLES prepare you for your work at UCSD and your professional career?
Thanks to SOLES and the MA in Nonprofit Leadership’s commitment to applied consulting projects, I have experienced education as a student, employee and consultant in many sectors of higher education including faith-based, private and public universities. These experiences have opened my eyes to the different needs and opportunities that exist in higher education. As a result of academic, for-profit, and nonprofit experience, my contribution to academia is the capacity to draw experience and perspective from multiple lenses.
— USD News Center