Morton College will join 19 other organizations in a fifth cohort of the Illinois Latino Nonprofit Leadership Academy, an intensive program designed to empower leaders that serve the Latino community, coordinated through the Latino Policy Forum. With 34 participants, the Year 5 cohort is the largest in the program’s history. Morton College is the first institution of higher education to participate in the Leadership Academy.

Morton College’s Dean of Student Development and Ombuds Services, Dr. Yesenia Avalos; Director of Student Development, Ms. Marlena Avalos-Thompson; and Dean of Arts and Sciences, Mr. Derek Shouba were selected by the Latino Policy Forum through a competitive nominating process to participate in the intensive nine-month academy, building personal and organizational leadership skills while exploring their role as leaders in both the Latino community and larger society. Dr. Avalos, Ms. Thompson and Mr. Shouba will collaborate with executive-level and emerging leaders from other Academy participants in a series of three retreat sessions, scheduled in August, November and March and will receive one-on-one consulting between sessions. The Academy will culminate with a graduation ceremony in May 2014.

Morton College’s student body is 76.6 percent Hispanic, making the College the nation’s seventh largest two-year federally designated HSI and the largest HSI east of the Mississippi River.