WYOMISSING, Pa. — Penn State Berks wrapped up its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 11 with its 12th annual Latino Forum, an outreach effort for local high school students. Chancellor Radha Pyati provided a warm welcome to the students in Spanish, and she reached out to both students and the greater Latino community through a Facebook Live interview on La Mega Radio Station, a Spanish-language station who was on site for the event. Pyati was also interviewed live on La Mega’s Morning Show on Oct. 8.
Pyati explained that these efforts are part of a greater initiative for the college to reach out to the Hispanic and Latino community. Deeply committed to forging strong and meaningful relationships, Pyati said she understands the need for the college to continue to evolve to meet the needs of the local community.
One of Pyati’s main priorities is ensuring that Penn State Berks is accessible and well-equipped to serve the needs of the Hispanic and Latino communities. She wants prospective students and their families to know that the college is committed to providing a welcoming, diverse college community.
“Penn State Berks is located about five miles from the City of Reading, whose Hispanic and Latino population is growing and thriving, and we want to be a part of their story," Pyati explained. "We want prospective students and families to know that Penn State is possible. We have Spanish-speaking faculty and staff who are here to help students with the admissions process, financial aid and any other challenges they may face, and they are here to cheer them on and support their growth and success as well. At Penn State Berks, students will find a home away from home and a supportive environment to succeed.”
This year alone, 20% of the incoming first-year class at Penn State Berks is Hispanic/Latino. This growing population currently makes up 14% of the college’s overall enrollment, which is growing every year, said Pyati.
Penn State Berks has forged additional efforts to better communicate with the Spanish-speaking community. The college added a Spanish-language option to its phone menu for those who have questions and prefer to speak with a faculty or staff member in Spanish.
This summer, members of the college’s Administrative Council, the senior leadership group, enrolled in a Spanish for the Workplace certificate program through the Penn State Berks Office of Continuing Education. The goal was for college leaders to become more fluent in Spanish so they could communicate more effectively with Spanish-speaking students and families.
Angel Figueroa, senior vice president and executive director of the education division, I-LEAD Charter School, stated, “Under Dr. Pyati’s leadership, Penn State Berks offers a promising experience for Latino students. I congratulate all who are truly making this happen.”
Latino Advisory Council helps college understand community perspective
To gain a better understanding of the needs of the community, Penn State Berks went right to the source and spoke to community leaders. These conversations resulted in the formation of the college’s Latino Advisory Council in 2022. The council is composed of community members from a variety of sectors including education, government and nonprofit organizations.
"With the growth of Latino demographic throughout the state and the 222 Corridor, Berks County sits at the heart of that growth. I am proud to be part of helping Penn State Berks find innovative ways to be part of the Latino community today and in the future,” stated Rick Olmos, commissioner, PA Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs.
As a result of regular Latino Advisory Council meetings and ongoing dialogue, the Penn State Berks community continues to deepen understanding of the issues that Hispanic and Latino families face. The college has also become more engaged in the local community and expanded its participation to include additional involvement with such organizations as Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, the Berks Latino Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Berks County, Reading Pride and many others.
Spanish academic programs and activities
There are many opportunities for students who are interested in learning more about the Spanish language and culture. Berks is one of the few Penn State campuses that offers a minor in Spanish, and the only campus that offers a certificate in Spanish for Healthcare. Students from any Penn State major or program may sign up for the certificate in Spanish for Healthcare, which is composed of four courses. The program allows students to enhance their Spanish-language skills to use in healthcare and human services fields.
Outside the classroom, the Latinos United for Change (LUC) student organization is on a mission to help educate and enhance understanding of the Hispanic / Latino culture. It does this by engaging the campus community in various programs, discussions, educational workshops, activities and community service initiatives. The main goal of the LUC is to unite students to change for the better.
"As an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, we want to make sure that we are serving our Latino students, inside and outside of the classroom, recognizing the diversity of cultural backgrounds that represent the Hispanic and Latino community, with the intention of establishing a community that is more than a Hispanic-enrolling institution," stated Todd Migliaccio, vice chancellor and chief academic officer.
Berks LaunchBox hosts Spanish-language programs
The Berks LaunchBox, an innovation hub of Penn State Berks located within the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading, is actively serving the Hispanic/Latino population. With the recent hire of Frael Reinoso, a bilingual program coordinator, the Berks LaunchBox offers Spanish-language programs including quarterly LaunchTalk networking events with an educational speaker and monthly entrepreneurship education events.
For more information on Penn State Berks and its initiatives to serve the local community, contact Lisa Baldi, director of strategic communications, at LRW6@psu.edu.