The Hispanic Educational Technology Services Consortium (HETS) celebrated its Board of Directors summer meeting. This meeting was hosted at the Central Administration of the University of Puerto Rico, last June 25th and 26th, 2026, and included the Executive officers election as follows: Eng. Gladys Nieves, President, EDP University of Puerto Rico, as HETS Chair; Dr. Milton Santiago, Interim President of New York City College of Technology, CUNY, as HETS Vice Chair; Dr. Olga E. Rivera, President and CEO of ICPR Junior College as HETS Treasurer; and Dr. Mary Jo Parker, Scholars Academy Executive Director at University of Houston Downtown as HETS Secretary.
Likewise, elected as Regional Representatives were Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis, President of California State University, Stanislaus for the Western Region and Dr. Maritza Rondón, Chancellor of Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, as the International Representative. All appointments started on July 1st, 2026, for a term of two years as stated in HETS Bylaws. HETS recognizes the hard work and commitment of the past officers during their tenure and truly appreciates those continuing serving as officers. To learn more about the newly appointed Officers visit: Meet the Executive Committee.
More than 30 of HETS member institutions were represented at the meeting, both in-person and virtually, along with its new members: Instituto Superior Tecnológico San Antonio TESA from Ecuador, New York City College of Technology, CUNY, and Pontifical Catholic University from Puerto Rico; and three new corporate members: D2L Brightspace, Raices Cyber Org and uPlanner.
This Board meeting ends academic year 2025-2026, an intense year for the organization and its members. The strategic plan framework corresponding to years 2025-2028 is focused on core areas of access, retention and successful completion, and online learning / technology integration to provide better support to our member institutions and their communities. Among the news shared with the Board were highlighted the major activities to support the organizational programmatic goals and added services such as: HETS Learning Technologies Leadership Academy (H-LTLA), the Student Passport February Edition in Puerto Rico, tools and services accessible through the HETS Virtual Plaza and HETS Website. Also, the results of our main events the HETS Best Practices Showcase, and the Student Leadership Showcase were presented. Likewise, Board members recommended new initiatives as part of the Collaboration Opportunities item led by Dr. Tomás Morales, HETS Secretary and President of California State University, San Bernardino. Also, Board members approved the 2026-2027 Proposed Budget and proposed the winter meeting dates and host for February 2027, concurrent with the Open Plenary of the Virtual Best Practices Showcase.
Also, HETS held its corporate session, and seven out of its 13 corporate partners attended the meeting and presented opportunities for collaboration, including Symplicity; uPlanner; American Heart Association; Educational Testing Services; Raíces Cyber Org; Online Learning Consortium; and Teach Access.
During the meeting, HETS recognized the outstanding leadership of President Dr. Tomás Morales, with the HETS 2026 Visionary Leader Award for his service as a HETS Board member and Officer from 2008 to 2026, and recently Secretary. The Board highlighted how his vision, commitment, and tenacity supported HETS growth inviting new members, establishing collaborative agreements, and promoting faculty development and student online resources and mobility initiatives.
For more information about HETS and how you can join or support its work benefiting students, faculty, and administrators, visit hets.org, follow HETS on social media (@hetsorg), or send an e-mail to info@hets.org.
