Chancellor Salgado Receives National Award for Commitment to Equity, Access, and Student Success

Chancellor Juan Salgado’s commitment to equity, access, and success for Latine students continues to be recognized on a national level.

On August 25, 2025, the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) announced that Chancellor Salgado is the recipient of its prestigious Liderazgo Visionario CEO Award for 2025. According to the NCCHC, the award honors an executive whose “visionary leadership has significantly benefited their community college and its Hispanic student population.”

Chancellor Salgado was nominated by Isaac Zuniga, executive vice president of academic and student success at Richland Community College, who stated, “Chancellor Salgado embodies visionary leadership rooted in justice, innovation, and a fierce commitment to student success.”

In addition to his commitment to equity and student success, Chancellor Salgado received the award for championing “transformative initiatives,” such as the Fresh Start student debt forgiveness program, Future Ready, which allows eligible Chicagoans to take short-term programs at no cost, and the Chicago Roadmap, City Colleges’ comprehensive partnership with Chicago Public Schools.

Other awardees include civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association, David Vela, trustee for the Los Angeles Community College District, and Susana Turowski, Title V retention specialist at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Chancellor Salgado and his fellow recipients will be celebrated at the Concilio (NCCHC) Leadership Symposium 2025 – Luz, Comunidad y Unidad: Iluminando Caminos Juntos – on September 26, 2025, in Long Beach, California.

“These award winners exemplify the innovative and compassionate leadership needed to advance equity and opportunity for Hispanic students in community colleges. Their contributions inspire us all to illuminate paths together, as reflected in this year’s symposium theme,” said NCCHC President and Long Beach City College President Dr. Mike Muñoz.