LMU and SOE Faculty and Alumni Help Advance Latinx Student Success at UnidosUS Summit

Both faculty and alumni of Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and its School of Education (SOE) played prominent roles in Rooted & Resilient: The UnidosUS Education Summit, held June 10-12 on LMU's Westchester campus.

Hosted by UnidosUS every other year, the summit convened hundreds of educators, practitioners, students, families, policymakers, researchers, nonprofit leaders, and advocates from across the country to explore strategies for advancing Latinx student success from early childhood through higher education and into careers. UnidosUS is the nation's largest Latinx civil rights and advocacy organization.

Mauricio Garcia, senior vice president for programs at UnidosUS, opened the summit by acknowledging the theme of the 2026 convening. "The story of our community has always been rooted in education. Generations before us fought for the right to learn," he said. "Our aspirations and resilience have always gone hand in hand-we have moved forward not because the path was easy, but because we refused to give up when it was hard."

His greeting was followed by remarks from SOE Dean Estela Zarate, who shared the impact of similar gatherings on her own professional journey. "When I was a senior in high school, I attended my first 'National Council of La Raza' conference-as UnidosUS was called back then," she said. "I was inspired by the work others were doing on my behalf. Without a doubt, I'm standing here today because of the transformative power of education in my own life."

The two-day summit offered plenary sessions, panel discussions, and breakout sessions, many with immersive learning opportunities. Highlights of LMU's participation included the below.

Associate professor Cynthia Alcantar, co-director of LMU's doctoral program in educational leadership for social justice, led a fireside chat with the author, poet, and activist Javier Zamora. His bestselling memoir Solito details his harrowing migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine.

Matt Hill, Ed.D. '18, CEO of Waterford.org, led a breakout session titled "Playful Paths to Literacy" organized by fellow alumna Elizabeth Zamudio '05, M.A. '09, vice president of education at UnidosUS. Waterford.org provides research-backed tools in literacy, reading, math, and science for PreK through second grade students. "This summit brought together passionate people who are deeply committed to expanding opportunities for children and families," said Hill. "Overcoming our country's literacy challenges will take all of us working together, and my colleague and I were grateful for the chance to provide practical examples on how to infuse play-based learning into proven literacy learning approaches."

Gabriella Carmona, research analyst at UCLA's Latino Policy and Politics Institute, moderated a faculty panel about turning the promise of Latinx education into lasting wealth and opportunity. Panel members from LMU included Vanessa Diaz, associate professor of Chicana/o and Latina/o studies; Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and Chicana/o Latina/o studies; and William Perez, professor of educational leadership and chair of SOE's department of educational leadership.

Perez commented on Sueño Incompleto: History of the Latino Wealth Gap in the U.S., a report published recently by UnidosUS. "The findings make it clear that the [wealth gap] is not due to a lack of ambition, effort, or belief in education, but instead the persistence of structural exclusion through under-resourced, segregated, and linguistically subtractive schools organized around low expectations," he said. "Expanding access alone is insufficient; institutions must also transform the conditions that reproduce exclusion. Only then can education move beyond symbolic access and become a pathway to durable mobility."

Throughout the summit, other LMU faculty, alumni, and community partners helped lead conversations focused on expanding opportunity, strengthening educational systems, and supporting Latino students and families. Conversations were powerful, connections were real, and the commitment to change and transformation was palpable. LMU's hosting of and participation in the 2026 UnidosUS Education Summit underscored the university's commitment as an Hispanic-Serving Institution and its longstanding partnership in advancing educational equity and student success.