Manny Campos and Stephanie Hernández Rivera completed the LatinxEd Fellowship, a statewide program focused on educational access and equity. Both returned to Elon with renewed purpose shaped by the retreat and graduation experiences.
Great leadership grows through connection, courage and purposeful learning. This season, two members of the Elon community exemplified these qualities. Two Elon University employees have joined a statewide network of advocates working to advance educational access for Latine communities after graduating from the LatinxEd Fellowship in High Point at the top of November.
The multi-month fellowship offers growth and collective healing for Latine educators and organizers committed to equity. It equips Latine advocates across North Carolina with tools to remove barriers and build a thriving future, honoring identity and lived experience.
Manny Campos, assistant director of college success for the Elon Academy, said he entered the fellowship looking to stay connected to the community that shaped him.
“I wanted to participate in the LatinxEd Fellowship because I wanted to stay rooted in my community. Especially in a space where there aren’t many people who look like me” Campos said. “In turn, I wanted to make my mark and show the work that I am doing. I also wanted to see the work people are doing throughout North Carolina that supports Latine students.”
Through the Elon Academy, Campos supports first-generation and low-income students on their college journey. He shared that the fellowship retreat offered a powerful reminder of his purpose.
“The Fellowship retreat was very grounding and energizing,” he said. “It was so nice to be surrounded by people who care about the Latine community and advocate for those who don’t always have a voice. It served as a reminder of why I do the work that I do.”
Similarly, Stephanie Hernández Rivera, assistant professor in the Master of Arts in Higher Education program and Emerging Professor in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, also completed the fellowship. She learned about it from a colleague and former fellow, Luis Garay, who encouraged her to apply.
Her research focuses on the experiences of students of color in higher education. She saw the fellowship as an opportunity to enhance her advocacy for Latine students in North Carolina.
“For me, it’s important that my work continues to speak back to the communities I am trying to serve,” Hernández Rivera said. “Advocating for Latine students is central to this work.”
She added that the retreat emphasized a shared commitment to collective progress.
“Bringing together Latine people from across the state to consider how we facilitate educational access was a powerful demonstration of community and solidarity. Even as Latine people, we have varied experiences. Our willingness to learn from and with one another is a testament to our desire to understand each other to best serve our students.”
For both fellows, graduation marked more than just a ceremony—it brought pride and momentum. Campos was selected as one of two fellows to speak during the event, where he shared his experiences, key accomplishments, and the impact the Fellowship had on his growth.
“I felt so empowered getting to share my thoughts and my story with others,” Campos said. “This set the stage for what was a successful Fellowship journey. It marked the end of an emotional and thought-provoking adventure I’ll never forget.”
For Hernández Rivera, the moment was deeply meaningful both personally and professionally.
“It was beautiful and moving to be recognized for the work I have already done to support students as a Puerto Rican woman. I am inspired to continue on that road,” she said.
LatinxEd’s mission is to dismantle barriers to educational access for Latine communities. The group partners with advocates across the state to launch mentorship programs, organize workshops, and host networking events for students. Campos and Hernández Rivera return to campus with renewed purpose and strengthened skills from the fellowship.