Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, President of Northern Marianas College (NMC), was recently appointed to the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) Board of Directors, a national organization dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
In addition to improving the outcomes of AAPI students, APAHE promotes and supports the hiring, retention, and advancement of qualified AAPI faculty, staff, and administrators in colleges and universities, while calling for a better public understanding of issues affecting AAPI in higher education.
The appointment places Deleon Guerrero among a select group of national educational leaders charged with advocating for policies and strategies that promote higher education access and success for AAPI students across the United States. As a recognized Pacific Islander leader in higher education, Deleon Guerrero will focus on addressing educational inequities, enhancing student support services, and strengthening institutional practices that benefit AAPI students and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI).
“I am deeply honored to join the APAHE Board of Directors and represent the CNMI in advocating for greater opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander students,” said Deleon Guerrero. “This appointment is a testament of the great work being done by our entire Proa Tribe at NMC, and I intend to bring our island wisdom from the Pacific to the national discussion in order to lift the tide for the entire AAPI community and to ensure that all students regardless of their background have access to quality education.”
As President of NMC, Deleon Guerrero was recognized as a national CEO awardee, leading initiatives on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the Pacific, expanding student support services through NMC’s AANAPISI program Project PROA, and promoting regenerative development with NMC-CREES through the CNMI Green Growth Initiative.
The APAHE Board, which includes leaders from various sectors of higher education around the country, will focus on developing policies that address the unique challenges faced by AAPI students, including issues related to representation, financial aid, and cultural support.