The Gift of Latinx Leadership: Breaking Traditions and Finding Magic in Higher Education

It's YOUR time to #EdUp, with The EdUp WrapUp. In Episode 528 of The EdUp Experience podcast, Linda Battles, EdD , Regional Vice President - South at Western Governors University , and Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson , now Vice President of Education and Workforce Outreach Strategists, LLC , successfully executed a premeditated EdUp Takeover!

I found myself stepping aside (much like Abuela in the movie Encanto) as Dr. Linda Battles and Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson took over the mic for an extraordinary conversation about Latinx leadership in higher education.

I wasn't really locked out, Elvin Freytes and I gladly handed over care of the EdUp Brand to two leaders we hold in the highest regard. Like the casita itself, their discussion opened many doors to understanding how cultural identity shapes institutional transformation.

Similar to Mirabel in Disney's "Encanto" (and this is the point, particularly if you have kids, where you admit that you have seen this movie about ten times) who discovered that the true magic of the Madrigal family lay not in their individual gifts but in how they used them to serve their community, this episode revealed how Latino leaders are transforming higher education through their own special "gifts" of cultural understanding, resilience, and vision.

Breaking the Traditional Casita

Just as Mirabel challenged the rigid structure of her family's traditions, Dr. Battles and Dr. Cantu-Wilson shared their experiences breaking through cultural expectations. Both leaders, coming from border towns, chose paths that diverged from traditional roles. Dr. Battles, now Regional Vice President for the South region at Western Governors University and Chancellor for WGU Texas, spoke about choosing career over traditional family expectations. Dr. Cantu-Wilson, now a board member with San Jacinto College , reflected on being the first in her family to pursue higher education, much like Mirabel being the first to question the family's rigid systems.

The Gifts of Personalization & Family Connection

Like the intertwined magic of the Madrigal family, Dr. Battles and Dr. Cantu-Wilson emphasized how personalization and family connection must work together in higher education. "If you invite the family, you get the student. It is a family decision, it is a family experience," Dr. Cantu-Wilson explained, sharing how her institution saw remarkable success when they included families in information sessions and celebrations. She illustrated this through her husband's recent experience earning his MBA at age 46 - a family endeavor that involved her reviewing essays, celebrating milestones, and keeping extended family updated on his progress.

Dr. Battles complemented this perspective by highlighting the data driving this need: with Hispanic Texans now comprising over 40% of Texas's population but only 18% holding bachelor's degrees, institutions must recognize that traditional approaches aren't working. "Decisions always result in trade-offs," she noted, emphasizing that students need to see clear value and return on investment for both their time and money. This is particularly crucial for working adults balancing family responsibilities with educational aspirations.

Both stressed that this dual approach of personalization and family engagement creates a stronger foundation for student success. Dr. Cantu-Wilson shared how even developmental education students brought their families to campus events, while Dr. Battles described how WGU's flexible, competency-based model allows students to maintain family commitments while advancing their education. As Dr. Cantu-Wilson pointed out, "The things that you do for the students who need the most support sometimes work for all students. We lift everyone with these efforts."

Much like the Madrigal family's connection to their community, both leaders stressed how higher education success for Latinx students is inherently a family affair. They shared how involving families in the educational journey - from information sessions to celebration of achievements - creates stronger foundations for student success. The family-centered nature of Latinx education doesn't just serve Latino students - it creates better institutions for everyone.

The Gift of Transformation

Like Mirabel's gift of seeing the cracks in the foundation and working to repair them, they identified systemic barriers and proposed solutions for change. Dr. Battles issued a powerful call to action for current Latinx leaders in higher education:

1. Serve as mentors to emerging professionals
2. Encourage other Latinos to pursue doctoral degrees
3. Support and promote DEI initiatives and social justice
4. Take leadership positions that enable systematic change

Rebuilding the House

The future of higher education these leaders envision is like the rebuilt casita at the end of Encanto - stronger, more flexible, and more inclusive. They see a future that is:

• Accelerated: Moving at the pace students need
• Flexible: Accommodating various life circumstances
• Affordable: Ensuring access for all
• Personalized: Meeting students where they are
• Student-centered: Focusing on individual needs and strengths

The Magic Within

The conversation highlighted how Latinx leadership in higher education isn't just about representation - it's about transformation. Like the Madrigal family discovering that their true gift was in how they served their community, they emphasized that the success of Latinx students in higher education is increasingly tied to the economic and social prosperity of entire communities. Mirabel learned that the magic was not in the house but in the people who made it a home - Drs. Battles and Cantu-Wilson remind us that the power to transform higher education lies not in traditional systems, but in leaders willing to break barriers and create new paths for success.

And remember...

Ladies and Gentlemen, YOU've just EdUpped.

This edition of The EdUp WrapUp is brought to you by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education - their annual conference is coming up in Philadelphia, Dec 11-13. Register now!