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CONNECT | Wednesday, Sept. 16| Message from the VP
Message from Rosa Isela Cervantes, Director, El Centro de la Raza
El Centro de la Raza: 57 Years of Creating Community, Belonging and Opportunity
When I first stepped onto the University of New Mexico campus as a high school senior in the 1990s, I was welcomed by the faculty and staff at El Centro de la Raza. More than 30 years later, I have the privilege of serving as its director.
Alongside a dedicated team and colleagues across UNM Student Affairs, I work to ensure every student who enters El Centro experiences the same welcome, support, encouragement and care that helped shape my own journey. Together, we advance student success, foster belonging, strengthen well-being and create conditions that allow every student to thrive.
Founded in 1969 by students for students, El Centro de la Raza has spent 57 years advocating for students and honoring their cultures, communities and lived experiences. From the beginning, our purpose has remained constant: empowering students to succeed in higher education and beyond.
That mission is deeply connected to the work of UNM Student Affairs. Student success is a shared responsibility. Together, we help create an inclusive, student-centered university where students can learn, lead, connect and contribute. El Centro is proud to be part of that collective effort.
Much has changed over the years, but our corazón remains the same: Students come first.
El Centro continues to be a home away from home where students connect their academic experiences with culture, community, leadership and purpose. We listen to their voices, respond to their needs and walk alongside them as they navigate college and prepare to make an impact in their communities.
This work reflects the broader mission of Student Affairs: supporting the whole student and recognizing that learning, identity, well-being, relationships and belonging are interconnected. Students are more likely to succeed when they feel seen, supported and empowered to shape their educational journeys.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the histories, cultures, contributions and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino communities. We recognize the many ways Latinos have helped shape our nation, institutions and communities while celebrating the richness and strength of our shared experiences.
For Latinos, however, our heritage is not limited to one month. It is reflected in how we live, work, serve, teach, learn and care for one another every day. Our culture is not seasonal. Our languages, traditions, histories and contributions continue to enrich our families, communities and institutions.
This recognition reminds us that excellence has always existed within our communities. Our responsibility is to create the conditions that allow that excellence to flourish.
In partnership with UNM Student Affairs and colleagues across the university, El Centro will continue building relationships, strengthening collaboration, creating spaces of belonging, supporting student well-being, responding to student voices and data, and advocating for the resources students need to succeed.
Our students are not simply preparing to enter the future; they are helping create it.
Together, we share a responsibility to ensure students continue to succeed. That responsibility belongs to all of us: students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, partners and friends who believe every student deserves the opportunity to thrive.
To learn more about 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month activities presented by El Centro and campus partners, please see the flyers below.
With gratitude,
Rosa Isela Cervantes
Director, El Centro de la Raza
