Twenty years after its founding, the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute at Seton Hall University has grown from a scholarship initiative into a multidisciplinary center focused on student success, leadership development, cultural engagement and community partnerships.
An Evolving Mission, Rooted in Broadening Educational Opportunities
Established in 2005 through the vision and philanthropy of Joseph A. Unanue, former CEO of Goya Foods, and his wife, Carmen Ana, the Institute was created to support students academically, celebrate Latino culture and prepare future leaders. Over the past two decades, that mission has expanded through scholarships, mentorship, professional development, healthcare initiatives and educational programming that serve a wide range of students.
Since its founding, the Institute has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. Over the past decade, scholarship recipients have achieved an average graduation rate of 97 percent, compared with national six-year graduation rates of approximately 52 percent for Hispanic and Latino students and 62 percent overall. Today, more than 32 percent of Seton Hall's student body identifies as Hispanic or Latino, reflecting the University's designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
The Institute’s Advisory Council currently includes leaders from business and civic organizations, while corporate partners help support scholarships and programming. The Institute's work extends beyond campus through partnerships with community organizations, corporations and educational institutions, creating opportunities for students while strengthening relationships across New Jersey and beyond. Thus, through mentorship, networking and community engagement opportunities, students connect with business executives, entrepreneurs, elected officials and nonprofit leaders.
While the Institute´s work continues to evolve, its mission remains rooted in expanding educational opportunity, developing servant leaders and fostering greater cultural understanding. The Institute welcomes the wider Seton Hall University community to engage with its programs and educational initiatives, all centered on Latino culture and experiences.
¨This is the most welcoming organization on campus,¨ said alumnus and former scholarship recipient William Calabrese. ¨It has given me lifelong friendships and life-changing experiences.¨
Celebrating the Past and Looking towards the Future
This year, as the nation commemorates America´s 250th anniversary, the Institute launched Celebrating 250 Years of Latino Impact on American History, an exhibition highlighting more than 30 Hispanic and Latino leaders whose contributions have shaped the United States across science, medicine, business, education, public service, the military, athletics and the arts.
Designed to encourage reflection and learning, the exhibition was paired with the interactive presentation History Has Its Eyes on You, which invited participants to consider the legacy they hope to leave through leadership and service.
¨Ms. Tarke´s presentation, workshops and the contributions of Latino leaders in our community and conversations on writing our legacy opened my eyes to how the story we write for ourselves doesn´t have to fit certain narratives or stereotypes on what Latinidad is,¨ said Emma Wulff, a National Hispanic Institute student who attended the exhibition's launch. "The work of the Latino Institute has inspired me to be more confident in what makes me unique as a leader; their success and presence are a result of what being dedicated to one´s goals and having confidence in one´s unique identity can lead to."
This October, the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the annual Generaciones Gala, recognizing leaders whose careers exemplify innovation, philanthropy, service and excellence while supporting scholarships and future programming.
Reflecting on the Institute´s continued growth, Executive Director Lori Tarke emphasized that its greatest measure of success remains the students and families whose lives have been impacted.
¨We´re answering the calls of ancestors who prayed that one day, they would see their children at a place like the Latino Institute,¨ Tarke said. ¨We are a springboard that plays a role in answering those prayers for a better tomorrow and their children are our legacy.¨
About the author
Dr. Lori Tarke is leading the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute into a new era of national and global influence. Since becoming Executive Director less than three years ago, she has expanded the Institute from a respected university cultural center into a catalyst for educational opportunity, leadership development, and cross sector collaboration that is impacting students, communities, corporations, and institutions well beyond the Seton Hall campus.
