Mario Flores, a staff member in the Hispanic Serving Institute - STEM program, was
one of 25 national recipients for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's E. Kika de
la Garza Fellowship.
Flores joins professionals nationwide at two- and four-year institutions, facing the
challenge of developing a well-prepared Hispanic workforce thru agriculture and life
sciences.
Flores, a native of the Salinas Valley joined Mission College in 2017. After starting
at Harnell Community College, he graduated from CSU Monterey Bay in Human Communication
and earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from Santa Clara University.
While a member of HSI, he has worked with first-generation and low-income Latinx high
school students and their families to explore a variety of college opportunities.
Fellows will spend two to four weeks in Washington DC with the USDA and other federal
agencies, understanding policies around grants, graduate programs, career opportunities,
and public and private partnerships to enhance opportunities in the Hispanic community.
Current Mission College Vice President of Student Services Omar Murillo is a former
fellow of the program.