University of Houston-Downtown President (UHD), Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz works not only to enhance the education of students at the institution he leads. The longtime educator and administrator also contributes to shaping higher education policy across the nation.

Recently, President Muñoz recently was elected to the governing boards for two of the nation’s most influential higher education organizations, the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

He was named to the Board of Directors for ACE during its winter business meeting. The organization is the major coordinating body for universities and colleges in the U.S. It represents more than 1,700 college and university presidents and higher education executives and is the only higher education association to represent all types of accredited, degree-granting institutions in the country.

“It is an honor to serve on the ACE board alongside presidents and chancellors from some of the nation’s top institutions,” Muñoz said. “I look forward to working with these leaders in addressing challenges facing higher education and working toward long-term solutions that ultimately, will benefit students throughout our state and the nation.”

Currently, President Muñoz is the only ACE board member from a Houston university.

“The ACE Board of Directors oversees the Council’s mission of mobilizing the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practice,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “I deeply appreciate President Muñoz’s commitment to our work at ACE, and his dedication to his students, his campus community, and all of American higher education.”

Complementing Muñoz’s ACE affiliation is his role on the HACU Governing Board. The association represents more than 470 colleges and universities committed to higher education in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain. Through HACU, Congress formally recognized institutions of higher education with high Hispanic enrollment. This led to UHD and other universities and colleges being designated as Hispanic- Serving Institutions.

“The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is proud to count Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz among its Governing Board members,” said Antonio Flores, president and CEO of HACU. “His unanimous election to our Board last October is a recognition of his visionary leadership and longstanding commitment to educational opportunity for all Americans. HACU is fortunate to have President Muñoz as one of its key leaders.”

The participation of President Muñoz and other UHD staff members in national higher education organizations reflects the University’s increasing visibility as an emerging model for urban student success.