NJ Latina Lawmaker Pushes For More Leadership Diversity In Colleges

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A state lawmaker from Essex County has introduced a package of legislation that aims to tackle a “lack of Hispanic and Latino leadership” at colleges and universities in New Jersey.

Assemblywoman Carmen Theresa Morales introduced the Latino Education Advancement and Diversity (LEAD) Act this week. It’s composed of two parts: A-4665 and AR-146.

According to Morales, a Belleville resident, the proposed legislation urges higher education institutions in the state to reevaluate hiring processes and “create pathways to cultivate diverse leadership” for qualified Hispanic and Latino job candidates.

Morales represents the state’s 34th District in the New Jersey Assembly, which includes the municipalities of Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley and Orange.

According to the assemblywoman, despite a growing number of Hispanic and Latino students, Latino professionals in higher education remain “widely underrepresented” in senior leadership roles.

Currently, only one Latino president is leading an institution of higher education in New Jersey, Morales said.

The assemblywoman added:

“Approximately 20 percent of undergraduate students in the United States and about 25 percent in New Jersey identify as Hispanic or Latino. The State of Higher Education 2024 study by the Lumina Foundation revealed that only six percent of presidents at colleges and universities in the United States identify as Hispanic or Latino.”

“Leadership in higher education should reflect the diversity and richness of our minority communities,” Morales said.

“Students deserve to see themselves reflected in the highest echelons of academic leadership,” she continued. “We need to look at why there continues to be a low percentage of Latino leadership and examine how many Hispanic and Latino applicants were not picked or did not apply.”

• See Related: Carmen Morales Of Belleville Kicks Off Term As NJ Assemblywoman
• See Related: NJ Latino Caucus Backs Murphy’s Plan For Prison Pardons

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.