The Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs will be inducting Jesús Lizárraga Estrada, PhD, into the Iowa Latino Hall of Fame. Lizárraga Estrada is the University of Northern Iowa’s director of student success & retention.

Lizárraga Estrada has worked to increase educational access and attainment by creating new programs to serve students in transition, translating several financial aid sessions, admission presentations and other important documents into Spanish at UNI. He has helped increase the attendance of the fall Latino Family Visit Day by 63%. While working at Iowa State University, he implemented the first all-Spanish Spring Latino family visit day.

Lizárraga Estrada is a three-time UNI graduate, having earned a bachelor’s degree in business management, Master of Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs and Doctor of Education all at the University of Northern Iowa. He is a recipient of the Waterloo Courier’s “20 under 40” list.

The Iowa Latino Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to recognize and honor outstanding Iowa Latinos that have contributed their talents and skills to improve the quality-of-life in Iowa and to provide visible examples for tomorrow’s Latino leaders.

Lizárraga Estrada will be inducted to the Iowa Latino Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave. A reception will follow the ceremony. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required.