Contact for reporters:
Tiana Nelson
Director, Communications & Partnerships
CSU System
[email protected]
(970) 420-3316

A new partnership between the Colorado State University System and the Latin American Education Foundation (LAEF) showcases the natural synergy between the two organizations in serving Latinx students.

The University’s official commitment as the exclusive sponsor of the Young Professionals Board, to be formally announced at the LAEF Gala on March 2, follows from a long history of collaboration between the entities.

“For 30 years, LAEF has been engaged in a collaborative effort with Colorado State University to increase Latinx enrollment and retention through outreach and education, scholarships, and community development,” said Leslie Taylor, CSU vice president of enrollment and access. “This partnership to sponsor the Young Professionals Board is a great next step in our relationship with LAEF as we work together to invest in and grow the next generation of Latinx leaders in Colorado.”

During the past two decades, CSU, the flagship campus of the CSU System in Fort Collins, has welcomed an increasingly diverse student body with each incoming class. A land-grant institution, the University’s mission is to serve all students who have the academic prowess to attend college, and to provide wrap-around support to retain students. It is a mission that aligns well with that of LAEF.

“LAEF is excited to establish this partnership. We both share the great passion of developing these younger professionals into future leaders in our community,” said Jim Chavez, executive director of LAEF.

The LAEF Young Professionals Board was established to enhance the mission of LAEF, through outreach to LAEF alumni and other young professionals, and to increase public awareness and visibility of the organization. Through mentoring relationships with scholarship recipients, LAEF aims to help foster greater student success and higher graduation rates, ultimately developing leaders of the future.

The partnership with the CSU System encompasses efforts at all three System institutions: CSU in Fort Collins; CSU Global, the System’s fully accredited online university; and CSU Pueblo. CSU Pueblo is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with more than 30 percent of enrolled students identifying as Hispanic and nearly 50 percent identifying as a minority.

“LAEF inspires the next generation of Colorado students, just as the institutions within the CSU System does,” said CSU System Executive Vice Chancellor Amy Parsons. “This partnership builds on a legacy of shared efforts and lays a foundation for our continued, collective work in developing the next generation of Latinx leaders.”