NIU is proud to announce that Simón Weffer, director of Community and Belonging for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been chosen to participate in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program.
Simón Weffer
Weffer was selected into the second cohort of this six-month program, which provides development experience for university professionals. As part of the program, participants learn about topics including academic and student affairs management, regional institutional accreditation, effective data utilization, higher education advocacy issues, and personal interaction with professional search firm partners. Weffer received a Capital One scholarship to assist with fees and help enable his participation in the program.
“I’m humbled and honored to represent NIU through this fellowship. I’ve been so lucky to have incredible mentors here at NIU and I’m excited to meet new mentors that can help me as I progress on my journey as an administrator,” Weffer said. “I’m very excited to connect with other Latinx leaders across the country and learn about programs they lead that could make an impact at NIU.”
Program participants complete a face-to-face session prior to HACU’s Annual Conference in the fall. Participants then complete eight, one-hour online sessions between November and April. Finally, participants travel to Washington, D.C. to complete final face-to-face sessions, attend the Capitol Forum and participate in a graduation ceremony.
The program is highly competitive and bridges leadership development with professional goals that prepares those leading today with the tools to be successful into the future. This experience highlights NIU’s ongoing partnership with HACU to develop emerging administrators who positively impact student, faculty and staff success.
“The Enlace program is one of the examples of how NIU’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) provides opportunities to strengthen our campus community,” Jade Silva Tovar, assistant vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion said. “Simón is a colleague who I appreciate working and learning alongside and who has been a champion for students, faculty and staff. I am enthusiastic for the learning and opening of doors his participation in the Enlace program will have, not just for Simón, but for other rising leaders at NIU who will be inspired to apply in the future.”
NIU has a longstanding commitment to access, affordability and social mobility. The university’s recent HSI designation reflects years of intentional work aligning with Illinois’ changing demographics and strengthening educational pipelines. NIU’s identity as an HSI reinforces our responsibility to provide culturally sustaining practices, holistic advising and pathways that promote successful outcomes for every student.
“This is an exciting time for us as a campus, having recently received our HSI designation. Being part of the HACU leadership program will help me become a better administrator for all our communities on campus, and hopefully an inspiration for Latinx faculty, students and staff,” Weffer said.
As one of only three public four-year HSIs in Illinois, NIU is uniquely positioned to serve the state’s diverse communities. This recognition strengthens NIU’s capacity to match talent with opportunity, meet workforce demands, prepare leaders and drive economic growth while ensuring that all students can thrive in their education and careers.
