The message below was sent by Marymount University President Irma Becerra to students, staff and faculty on Wednesday, September 17.
Celebrating Hispanic-Serving Institutions and safeguarding their future
Dear Marymount Community,
When Aileen Martinez first arrived at Marymount University, she became the first in her family to pursue higher education. She wanted a school where she felt supported, seen and challenged, and she found that here as she later earned both her bachelor’s in Education and master’s in Special Education. Now, she is shaping young minds in Fairfax County classrooms and preparing for a future Ph.D. so she can help train the next generation of educators.
“My professors were always super supportive of me no matter what was going on, especially in the beginning when I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” Aileen shared. “I was able to get guidance from professors and different leaders on campus. I really love the closeness of Marymount.”
Aileen’s journey is one of countless examples of why Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) matter. Across the nation, over 600 HSIs enroll 67.3 percent of all Hispanic undergraduates, and over 5.6 million students of all backgrounds attend these colleges and universities. We know that when students succeed, entire families and communities are uplifted. Marymount’s status as Virginia’s first HSI represents our commitment to opportunity and excellence for students from all backgrounds.
Since we first qualified for federal HSI designation in 2020, our undergraduate population has grown from just over one-quarter to 43 percent Hispanic, and our overall enrollment has continued to break records year after year. Of incoming students starting college for the first time, 45 percent—Hispanic or not—are the first in their families to attend college. They are ambitious and resilient, but often arrive on campus with additional hurdles. HSIs step up to meet those challenges as they offer bridge programs, mentorship, tutoring and wraparound services that can make all the difference between dropping out and earning a degree.
The support that HSIs receive from the federal government—about $230 million last year—has tangible results. Marymount’s HSI eligibility helped us secure a $1.46 million National Science Foundation grant to establish our STEM Scholars Program, a $1.2 million award to fund fellowships in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and additional opportunities for our students and faculty to participate in national leadership programs. These investments don’t just benefit Hispanic students—they strengthen the entire Marymount community.
That is why current legal threats to the HSI program are so concerning. A lawsuit brought by Students for Fair Admissions and joined by the state of Tennessee seeks to dismantle the system that makes these resources possible. Instead of resulting in fairness, this lawsuit—if successful—would roll back progress and deny students the support they deserve. Nationally, it would shrink opportunities, limit our workforce pipeline and harm our nation’s ability to meet critical needs in fields like nursing, teaching, engineering and cybersecurity.
As we celebrate the transformative impact HSIs have made over the last three decades, we also raise our voices in defense of their future. At Marymount, we are unwavering in our mission to empower students of all backgrounds. The promise of higher education has never been about serving one group at the expense of another—it has always been about opening doors so that talent, no matter where it comes from, can thrive.
Aileen’s story is proof that when students are given the right tools and encouragement, they go on to change the world. We must ensure that more stories like hers are possible, and Marymount will continue to champion the programs and resources that make college attainable and success achievable. The future of our students, and our country, depends on it.
Sincerely,
Irma Becerra, Ph.D.
President
