Episode 47: Dr. Daniel López

Unknown Speaker  0:00  
Music.

Rachel Kobus  0:09  
Welcome to Redbird Buzz. I'm Rachel Kobus from alumni engagement. an immigrant first generation college student and former undocumented student, Dr Daniel Lopez is dedicated to providing opportunities to underserved and underrepresented students. The Redbird alum earned his doctorate from Illinois State in 2002 and brings more than 25 years of higher education experience to his role as president of Harold Washington College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago located in Chicago's downtown loop, serving more than 8000 students, with 70% identifying as black or Latinx. His commitment to helping all students of color can be seen in much of his research. His research, his community service and his leadership.

So we're so excited to have and to welcome Dr Daniel Lopez, so what's the word Redbird. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  1:02  
Well, thank you, Rachel for the opportunity to say hello to fellow Redbirds out there. What's up? Lots of things, lots of things, you know, even though I have graduated some time ago from ISU, it's still, you know, very much present and and the work that I do, and the things that I do personally, you know, I live in Chicago, so every time I see a Redbird sticker and cars, either if I'm driving, I'm waving at them, or if I see folks with a shirt, I always, you know, say, say hello. So, yeah, known lots of things here in Chicago, you know, I, I spent a few years at ISU, doing my, my graduate work PhD there, and also worked in the University College, okay, yeah, for a number of years. And so it is really nice to see other Redbirds, a matter of fact. Now, as a college president, we had a college fair this week, and ISU was here. Yes, we love it. Say hello to welcome there to Harold Washington.

Rachel Kobus  2:12  
Yes, well, and that's what I want to talk about right now, is jump right in and talk about the importance of higher education in your life. So how did you happen upon Harold Washington College? I thought we could jump right in and talk a little bit about your early life, your family, the importance of that family support, and then how that all led to Harold Washington College, the institution that you now lead, as the place that you started your college career?

Dr. Daniel Lopez  2:41  
Yeah, absolutely, I have a lot to be thankful, especially to Harold Washington. So my family and I immigrated to the United States when I was 10 years old. So we were undocumented for a number of years. Lived in California for about three years or so, then came to Chicago. We thought my family at the time that thought that California was too expensive to raise a family of six. That's fair, yeah. And so we had family here in Chicago. We moved here, and I was not very fond of Chicago initially, because I thought it was gloomy, I thought it was dirty. I mean, I came from a very nice neighborhood in California to come here, but went through the Chicago Public Schools. And when I finished high school, and I did really well in high school, I was involved also in the school band and in the newspaper, in the school yearbook and but as an undocumented student back in the mid 80s, late 80s, I didn't know what options I had, and at home, we were told not to talk about our status. Yeah, right. So no one knew, yeah, we very few friends, so I didn't tell advisors at the at the high school. So at the end of high school, I had no I felt like I had no options. I didn't know where I was going to go. So that fall semester, I just happened to come to downtown Chicago with a friend of mine just to kind of window shop. Because what do you do if you're not working, if you're not in school, just kind of walk the streets and what a better place to go than come window shopping to downtown Chicago. So that's what I did. That's what we did. And as we were walking outside the campus here, we saw the name, at the time, was called Loop College, and we walked in just to figure out what the college was all about. And just, I mean, I actually don't even know what we asked, but there was a student worker in the advising office, and advising used to be on the first floor as you enter the campus, and we must look so confused. And. And disoriented that the student workers said, I know you don't have an appointment, but you need to wait for an advisor. And so we said, Okay, we had nothing better else to do, yeah. So we waited. Two hours later, I was registered and enrolled here at Harold Washington. Wow. And that changed my life, because from that moment on, I remember the advisor who used to be, you know, back then, advisors, or faculty, full time faculty, who then also advised. And so that advisor, faculty became my mentor. To this day, I still keep in touch with, wow, she's been, you know, she really was the reason why I am who I am today. And so at Harold here, I got involved with many student activities. I was lucky that, lucky that towards the end of that first semester, spring semester, we had received our residency through the amnesty of the 80s, and so I was able to get a social security number and work, yeah, and so at the end of that, towards the end of that spring semester, I'm in one of my classes, and someone comes in and says, Hey, is there a Daniel Lopez in here? And I said, Yeah, you know, I kind of raised my hand, wondering why, who's who's asking me that. What did I do, yeah. And the the person said, I don't even remember who it was. They said, Well, when you're done for class, the President wants to see you. Oh, okay. What did I do? So where is the president? Who is the President? First semester, I

Rachel Kobus  6:46  
know I was gonna say you're a young college student who goes to see the President

Dr. Daniel Lopez  6:49  
Exactly. So I come to the president's office and says, I've heard really great things about you. I want to offer you a job. Are you interested? And I said, Absolutely, yeah. And I remember her saying to me, you don't even know what it is. You already said yes. And I said, whatever it is, absolutely. What she said to me, Well, it's a, it's a part time job, it's, it's in the summer. It's only going to be for the summer. And what we're looking for, though, is for students to go out to the Chicago Public Schools, and because you're a CPS student, to talk to other students about what it is that we have to offer at the City Colleges. And I said, Great, yeah, okay, I can do that. Yeah. And so that part time summer job ended up being a almost two years. Wow, wow. So while going to school full time here, I worked, and so I was, I was positioned in the admissions office, so I did recruitment and just basically talk to students about Harold Washington in particular. And while I was a student here, since I was so involved, I, you know, I, I was really fortunate to have such really great mentors, really great faculty. I met lots of people from different worlds, parts of the world, yeah, and had a great experience here. And then when I finished here, my my phi, theta, kappa, advisor said to me, you know, there's a scholarship in Springfield at Sangamon State University, Illinois, Springfield, Yes, yep. And I said, but that's Springfield. I don't want to go to Springfield. I'm from Chicago. The only, my only experience was Springfield was when you I was in grammar school or high school, you know, they would, you would take, take

Rachel Kobus  8:48  
a field Yep, field trips, yep, yes. 

Dr. Daniel Lopez  8:50  
But I said, Okay, I will apply. And I remember him saying to me, just apply. You can always turn it down. Yeah. Well, he knew that if I got this full ride scholarship. It was going to be very difficult for me to turn it down. Now, at the time, you know, I mentioned I was undocumented. My parents died when I was very young. So I was raised by my sister, six sisters and four, three brothers.

Rachel Kobus  9:17  
You still had a huge family that's, oh, you really have a big family support. And I

Dr. Daniel Lopez  9:22  
And I was the youngest, oh, gosh, all everyone. So my brothers and my sisters technically sacrificed going to school to take care of me. So by the time it got to me, yeah, the expectation was that I was going to go to college, but they didn't know how to help you, because they were also first generation, yeah, and so. So when I got the offer to go to Springfield for this two year program, I really didn't want to go, not only because it's Springfield, but because I felt that if I left Chicago, I and at the time I was working, so I wasn't working a lot, and I wasn't making a lot of money, but I was control, finally, contributing to the family, yes, and at the time, there was only three of us left, because everyone had gotten married, and, yeah, were doing their own lives. And I felt guilty to leave my then my one of my sisters and my brother. And so I went to my sister and my brother and said, you know, should I take this what do you think? And they're like, of course, there's, you know, you can't think about twice about it. Yeah, we're going to be okay. Gotta take care of and you gotta do whatever you need to do. Yeah. And so I made the decision to go down there, and it was a great decision, because I had a great experience there at Sangamon State. Also got very involved on campus. [Of course, you did.] I had my tuition paid. I lived in it at the time. They didn't have residence halls apartments, and so I had an apartment that shared it with three other guys, brand new. All paid for my books, my tuition stipend every month, 300 $400 you're Yeah, so I was living the life. Yeah,

Rachel Kobus  11:17  
this is great and well deserved too. You're so happy to look where it's led you to. But yes, please

Dr. Daniel Lopez  11:23  
That's right. And then so I was really involved on campus and student government, international students. One of the things that I always remember was at the time, institutions, even in Chicago, didn't really know how to classify students who are not citizens. And I remember when I was at Sangamon State, for some reason, they thought I was an international student. As a matter of fact, they tried to charge me international Oh, oh, right. And, you know, there's a big difference. But the only reason that that didn't happen was because I was on a full ride scholarship anyway, so it didn't matter, yeah, like the tuition was for me, yep, but I did. I learned very quickly that I was somehow connected to all the international students. I was invited to all kinds of international programs, which I love, love, love. I met lots of people.

Rachel Kobus  12:18  
what a great immersion into all these different nationalities and everything. So, yeah, yeah, but

Dr. Daniel Lopez  12:23  
I mentioned that because, you know, those are the the the experiences that I've had, one of many experience that I've had, the reason why I went into higher education as a profession, okay, yeah, my experience here as a student at Harold then Sangamon State, really helped me to understand how much our institutions did not understand who we were, as Latinos, whether we were citizen or resident or undocumented. They really didn't know--none of these services that we now have today existed, right? So, so through all of that, and obviously being the first generation, English, not being my first language, to really struggle in my classes, and I did very well all the way through the PhD, but I struggle. I'm one of those students that needs to read like content a couple times because, because English is not my first language. And so I was really fortunate to have such great support systems to help me, you know how to take notes, all the things that first generation students don't know about and and so that's one of the reasons I decided to pursue a career in higher ed, and as a matter of fact, even when I was here at Harold, I had such a great relationship with the faculty and the Dean of Students. When I transferred to Sangamon, the same thing, the VP of Student Affairs, I was in his office all the time. I was asking questions. I was volunteering for different things. And one day in our dean of students there too. And one day it dawned on me, because, you know, I was so busy doing all these student activities, and one day I thought, Oh, my God, you can actually get paid for this, like this could be a career for you. So I remember talking to the Dean of Students at the time, and said to her, you know, I think I want to do what you do. Yeah?

Rachel Kobus  14:25  
It just light bulb. Okay, exactly,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  14:30  
just, yeah, because at the time I had, when I transfer from Harold, I didn't know what I wanted to major in, so I checked, I don't know how many boxes, yeah, one was business, one, the other one was something in health, health administration, because they had a good program under that, yeah, but I had, I knew nothing about it, right? So I came in, and my first semester, I took all these different classes, and I remember my last class that I had to choose. I was optional. And I remember my advisor saying, Well, you know, lot of students like this class, what do you what do you think about taking it? And I said, What is it? Mass media? Oh, okay, I took mass media. I loved it, so I ended up majoring my my undergrad is in communications, because the university didn't have to run a lesson, but I think it was called Mass Media Studies, okay? And loved it, loved it, loved it, loved it. And because I did that major when I was in my junior year, the program required an internship, and by that time I was so into the Latino broadcasting, I thought I was going to be a TV reporter, and I wanted to be a TV reporter for a TV Latino Spanish station. So it came back to Chicago that summer and did an internship on one of the Latino networks.

Rachel Kobus  15:58  
Did not realize that. Okay,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  16:00  
had a great experience, although my family always said, you know, we don't believe that you're at X movie at the time. We don't believe that you're there. We never see you on air. And I said, that's because there's a lot of people behind the scenes, but I said to them, because one of the reporters always liked my ties, so they would, he would borrow my ties. Yeah. So then I would say to my family, okay, you're not going to see me, but when you see this tie, that means I'm there. So that was a really great experience, but I learned through that internship that that wasn't where what I wanted to do. Yeah, I liked it, and I thought there was some opportunities there, but because of my student engagement, I felt like my calling was student affairs, student services. So when I finished my my program there, and you know, I've been really fortunate because a lot of these things, scholarships, fellowships, opportunities, in general, yeah, have come to me like out of the blue. No, one day I'm sitting in there. It was towards it was my senior year. It was spring semester, I want to say, probably around March, okay, student government meeting. At the end of the meeting, one of the senators, I was a senator at the time, said to me, have you heard that there's a scholarship that is for people who want minorities at the time, we use the word minority for minority students who are interested in working colleges and universities. And I said, No, what is it? Yeah, she gave me some very quick information. I went to, I don't, I think, with somebody, one of our advisors there. And sure enough, they told me about the program. Well, the deadline was, like two days from that day,

Rachel Kobus  18:00  
of course, of course, it was

Dr. Daniel Lopez  18:04  
so I got, you know, quickly, got myself together, send my applications in, and it's called the diversifying faculty in Illinois now, a different name then, and the idea was that you would apply to different grad schools, but you had to apply and get accepted to the graduate school first, okay, yeah, before the state could decide whether they were going to give you the fellowship, gotcha, because it's a fellowship that mostly public institutions, but also from private are Part of it, yeah, and they give you a stipend. They pay for your tuition, and it really depends on the institution, but in any case, the so I applied, one of them was Sangamon State, a couple of schools here in Chicago, because I wanted to come back to Chicago. I really didn't want to be at Southern or Southern Illinois, but I got accepted into this great program at Southern for college student personnel. That's what I was calling higher ed administration, and I accepted it. Yeah, I was ready to go. I remember my brother moved me down to an apartment in Carbondale, and something, you know, told me to check in with my application at Loyola. Go to

Rachel Kobus  19:23  
southern. Okay, I know this part of the history you did not go.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  19:30  
So I feel really bad because the VP of Student Affairs at Southern had created positions specifically for me and his office to work shadowing him for two years. But I really didn't want to go. Didn't want to be in central Illinois. I wanted to be in Chicago. So I reached out to Loyola. They said, Yes, you, you, you're accepted. And by the way, do you know you can, you can transfer your fellowship here? I'm like, Oh my God, yes. So, yes. So I went over. Loyola had a great experience there. And then, after Loyola, the I said to my advisor, I really want to do a PhD, because I learned that if I want to be a VP, yep, I need to get a PhD. And he said to me, that's great, but you've gone through school straight through from high school to college to graduate school. He said, you need some real significant job experience. Okay, would your PhD and hold go find a job? Said, Okay, so that's what I do. Okay, so I found a job at Illinois State University. Oh, I didn't

Rachel Kobus  20:41  
realize you started Illinois State before you started your PhD program. Okay, okay, because one of my questions was going to be why you chose Illinois State. So maybe I think you'll talk a little bit more about that then, yes, yeah,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  20:52  
yeah. So, so I found this job at ISU, and actually, I was finishing a summer program in Rome through Loyola. It was part of my master's program, yeah? And before I had left, I had applied. So I found a few positions, and one of them was at ISU. And I knew nothing about ISU. All I knew was the job, right? And then, so here I am in Rome, checking remember, and we probably don't remember this. We used to have answering machines.

Rachel Kobus  21:23  
 Oh, yeah, I know what an answer machine is, don't we?

Dr. Daniel Lopez  21:25  
You can call your answer machine yes and get your messages. So I'm in, I'm in Rome, checking my because I knew I had applied for positions. You know, there was any, anyone who's interested in me? Yeah. And I called in, and shortly enough, ISU had called and asked me to do an interview. Blah, blah, blah, yes. So I came back and had an interview, got the position. So my first job at Illinois State was coordinator of academic services, support services. It wasn't UCollege. It was a different unit, but it was technically because it was changed later. So I came in there as an advisor and coordinator, and I was one of two Latinos advisors for the entire university. Yeah, only two, and what year was? What

Rachel Kobus  22:22  
year was this? Sorry,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  22:24  
It was 1994

Rachel Kobus  22:26  
I mean, so really not that long. I mean, you think about it, not really that long ago, and you were one of two Latino advisors. Like, that's to think through that. Sorry, I had to.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  22:35  
So, you know, my job was to work with students who were part of-- it was called the high potential students. Program was a program that was funded by ISU and was really an incentive to get provided advice to first generation college students. It wasn't even race related, it was really first generation. And when I remember reading the job description and really spoke to who I was and what I wanted to do, and so when I went down there, I had, in my case, I had over 600 students in my caseload, official students. But word got out very quickly that there was another Latino advisor in this program. So I had lines of Latino students, like from the from the Betas, the Gammas, because they were the only two Greek organizations at the time, yeah. And to the extent that it got me in trouble with some of my colleagues, sort of like, well, you know, Jose wants to see you, and that they don't want to see me, but I'm their advisor. You know, we can switch, yeah, or I don't have a problem, you know, if they're officially under your caseload, but you know what they're here to do? They want. They want to be able to talk to someone that looks like them and had some experience. Yes, it's not about you, it's not even about me. It's about them, yes, and so, so I did that for a couple of years. Then Then I got a promotion as a coordinator or something, or assistant or no, it's assistant director, and then director of the TRiO program,

Unknown Speaker  24:13  
yes Services Program.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  24:14  
And while I was there, I remember my first semester there. By the way, I still talk about semesters. You know, my family was like wondering, did you ever graduate from college?

Rachel Kobus  24:29  
No, rotating semester all the time. No,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  24:32  
that's right. So that first fall semester, when I started at ISU, you know, I had gone through school, as I said, straight through, and I was bored because my job was done at 430 Yeah, through the the many years before that, I was always up late, yeah, papers, participated in events, organizing, whatever, yeah, was really bored. I mean, I enjoy my my my work that. I did. But I thought, Okay, what am I gonna do after 430 what is it in Bloomington, Illinois? Yeah, right. So a lot of the times I came to Chicago, oh, go back to Chicago. Okay, especially Friday, Fridays on Fridays would be here till the weekend. Go back on Sunday. But then I said, okay, if I'm already here. Why don't I pursue a degree? So the same Latino advisor who was in that department was already in the PhD program. Thank you, counselor who you may know about. Yeah, she has a great story. You should do

Rachel Kobus  25:36  
a podcast. All right, good to know. Yeah, she just

Dr. Daniel Lopez  25:39  
retired and moved to Valencia, okay, with her husband, who's also from ISU. I love that anyway, so so she told me about the program. And so then that was in the fall. By spring, I was already taking courses at large because I was trying. I didn't, you know, I had to apply formally, blah, blah, blah, and so I was there for five and a half years or so, working full time, going to class, which I love, because, you know, my office was in Fell Hall, and I went To DeGarmo for my classes. So how can you and the faculty were really fantastic. You know, I had also a really great experience there. And then left there to a position here in the Chicago area Lake Forest College, Associate Dean of the College and their director of intercultural affairs, Multicultural Affairs, technically, okay. And it was hard for me to leave ISU, because I had a great time. By then, you know, five and a half years I had, yeah, as part of OLE, you know, oh yes, the organization of Latino employees. As a matter of fact, I was the president for a number of years. Yes, I was really involved with ResLife. There were other Latinos that were there, that we did a lot of things together. So I really had a great experience. But I had this opportunity to come to Lake Forest, and I took it. Had a great, also a great experience there, but I didn't feel, I like, you know, Lake Forest is great, but I didn't feel that I was making that contribution with the students that I wanted to work with, yeah, Lake Forest tends to be more of a selective institution. There were a few Latinos. I mean, for them, diversity was International. Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that, yeah, but I wanted to work with domestic Latino students. That makes sense, yeah. So was there for four years, exactly four years, and then I had an opportunity, then to come to Northeastern Illinois University, where I spent more than 16 years in a number of roles. But I was thrilled, because it was a Hispanic serving institution. It had the diversity that I was looking for. I had just finished my PhD, which, by the way, took me too many years. Because I think what happened was, when I finished, when I left ISU, I left with all my coursework done, I was I had actually had my proposal had been already approved for my dissertation, but when I left, I made an agreement with Lake Forest College that I was going to fully dedicate my first year to Lake Forest College, but my second year, I was going to do a four a day work week. No, yeah, because my fifth day I wanted to spend in Bloomington, yeah, the dissertation, yep, so that's what I did. But during that year, I think my advisor thought, No, I I don't think he knew, because he told me himself he was under the impression that I was never going to finish a degree, that once I left, I was done. Oh, because part of it was because I didn't keep in touch with him for that year. I was really focused on what I needed to do in this new job, but I knew I had made that plan, and I didn't communicate that to him, so he didn't so he totally forgot about, oh no, yeah, until one day I show up in his office. Jim Palmer, I showed up at his office, and he says, Do I know you? Yes, and he remembered me. And I said, just so you know, I've been, you know, out for about a year. I really need to finish this degree. I need you to help me, help me get this guy. And from that moment on, he helped me to develop a plan. And then it took me another four years. Five years desperate a dissertation.

Rachel Kobus  30:03  
I mean, I'm not surprised. I'm not, yeah, working full time trying to do that. It, it is a balance, yeah.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  30:10  
So what I would do when I lived in Lake because I lived in Lake Forest at the time, worked there, I would drive on Thursday night to Bloomington, stay with friends, a good friend that I had who lived there, stay with him, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and I would be at Milner library. Yeah, they might entirely, wow. And I did that for about, probably regularly, for about three years, wow, maybe two and a half sometimes, but I remember was intense, so ready to get the degree done, yeah. And so finished the degree. Moved to Northeastern. I the position that I had applied for was the Associate Dean of Academic Support, yeah and the week before I was to start, I get a call from the provost saying, congratulations, you're you know you're joining us as the Associate Dean of this blah, blah, blah. And he said to me, but I'm calling to see if you were be interested in helping us on an interim basis run one of our satellite campuses. Oh, and without knowing what it was, I said, Yes,

Rachel Kobus  31:27  
this sounds like this sounds like a theme. Yes, exactly. Okay.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  31:31  
What is it so, yeah. So sure enough, I came in as an associate dean at the main campus and interim director at the El Centro satellite campus, okay, which I totally fell in love with, because it was a campus specifically in the community, primarily Latinos. To me, how perfect, yes, how perfect for me, and I knew nothing about Yeah. And so I took that on, and I so I spent my days at the main campus and my evenings and weekends at the satellite campus. Okay, loved it, loved it, loved it. Did it for about eight years. Okay, my job was to grow the enrollment. I was really fortunate that I had the support of the University, yeah, because I was able to convince the university to find a permanent location, we used to rent space. It was actually a terrible space, and so my task was to find us a permanent location, true campus. So I would drive around the neighborhoods looking to for grocery stores that were shut down, oh my god, Chicago public school buildings that were being used, looking for a location. And so it took me a few years. So I wrote the proposal for this building that we Northeastern now has, so it's also very dear to me, obviously, because I feel like I left part of my

Rachel Kobus  33:06  
Yes, oh, yeah, how much you put into it? Yes, yeah, that campus.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  33:11  
So I was there, like I said, for about eight years, and the other eight years I was in, I became dean of academic support, and then the university decided to merge the academic support services of the university with Student Affairs. So that merge, I lost my title as dean, but gained the title of Associate Vice President. Yes, yeah, so I became associate vice president of student affairs, and I brought all my student support portfolio which was actually bigger than Student Affairs at the time. Brought that in this mega Division of Student Affairs. Was there in that role for about four years as associate dean. And then when the position became available, I applied for the vice president. Vice President, good for another four years, yep. And then I get a call from City Colleges and said to me, how would you like to come to the City Colleges? Yeah. And so. So, with a heavy heart, I left Eastern but it was the best decision that I made. It's been so now it's almost five years that I've been here as president, yep, and the five years that I have been here have been very difficult. Okay, well, number one, covid, yep, let's

Rachel Kobus  34:38  
say you were there during the pandemic. So

Dr. Daniel Lopez  34:41  
before covid, yep, yep. And so that in itself, no PhD or experience would prepare anyone for for that. And so that was tough. The other tough thing for me was, you know, I had spent 16 years in a university, so I knew and had a. Build relationships with folks and academics and student affairs. Yeah, in the students. And here I came in as a basically, I felt like it was my first job. Mm, hmm,

Rachel Kobus  35:12  
except now you're running the whole place instead. You gotta learn a lot of trust and everything too on top. Oh, my

Dr. Daniel Lopez  35:18  
god, yeah. So it's been really, and I know that's a long winded kind of response

Rachel Kobus  35:24  
you answered so many I love it. I love it, but,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  35:27  
but I think, you know, as as you asked about the, you know, family trajectory, I think all of these things to me are intertwined, right? And I'm I just really been very fortunate and very thankful to ISU, because ISU, you know, I would say that my best training as a professional is ISU, even though I was there for five years, yeah. But as a and people always say, Well, why? Well, let me tell you why. The why is because, when I came in as a one of the very few Latinos at ISU. I had great supervisors that allowed me the space to explore good and build and create programs that the university did not have. Yeah, and so I learned things that, you know, at one point I did a residential program. It was a learning community in one of the residence halls. I wouldn't have been able to do that in any other place, yeah. So the beauty about ISU for me, so I had this opportunity to do all these different things, even outside of my my job description that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere. And because of that, I think I was able to then build my career and, more importantly, identify the areas that I wanted to focus on in higher ed, yeah, and so, so I give lots of credit to ISU for that. And, you know, and one of the things that I really loved, which solidified my my plan to become a VP of Student Affairs, was that I had a lot of student contact, yeah, and I was one of the founder advisors for Alpha Psi, lambda, which co Ed fraternity or which is still there at ISU. I was very involved with ALAS, and I already mentioned OLE those things that are to me are connected to building community that I have done everywhere else. Yeah, you know, after ISU, I did some, obviously Northeastern now I'm doing it here. Yeah,

Rachel Kobus  37:51  
yeah, no, I love it. No, yeah, and that's it, no, but no, and I have a lot of questions based on and so before we get back in more to your professional career, and because we were talking about Illinois State and how it's built, you know, this sense of professional development for you and that foundation, you have stayed connected as an alum, we don't have, I think, obviously we have very small pool of doctoral alum to begin with, but then to have them come back and stay so connected is amazing to me, because that doctoral degree, it's usually when people are working or living somewhere else or, I mean, you kind of talked about that with having to move on to another career. But you launched, you helped launch the Latinx alumni network. I believe you support a scholarship alongside Dr Bob Navarro. So you impact all these lives in your professional role. You impact lives as a Redbird now. So why? What can you say, especially to our affinity groups, those that are you know, coming out of our underrepresented groups? Why is it important to give, whether it's a big or small time commitment, big or small gift, something to stay connected to your alma mater and continue to support our students, especially those that are first generation or from an underrepresented group?

Dr. Daniel Lopez  39:08  
Well, for me, it's really continuation of the work that I did when I was there so many years ago as an advisor and supporting students that were there. So, you know, I do it, because I know it's important, even today, 30 something years later, I think most of the students that are coming to ISU, the Latino students that are coming to ISU, are no different than when I was there, meaning that there's still so much need. They're first generation, first of their families, to go to college, first for many, then probably the first time they ever left home, ever left Chicago. So for me, it's really important to help create structures at the university to help. Help them be successful. Because, you know, one of the I joined actually ILACHE, because when I was an academic advisor back in 9495 probably at that time, I got a call from a parent who a Latino parent, who was actually happened to be a faculty member Joliet Junior College. Her daughter had just transferred to ISU, and she was having a really difficult time adjusting she she was on academic probation because she didn't feel that she fit in. Yeah, now she's not. This student was not even a first generation. We're talking about second generation. Other was doctorate professor. So I remember Berta. Berta calls in at the time. This is before internet. Somehow she found my name. And I don't, I know, I've asked her about I don't remember how she said she found my name somehow. She found my Latin, my Latino name, yep. Call my office. I picked up and she says to me, I know you're a Latino. I'm a Latina. Joliet, my daughter is there. She's having difficulties. I know she's not assigned to you. Can you help her? Yeah? I said it absolutely, yeah, yeah. Send her to me, yep, Iliana, yeah. Ileana came to see me. I actually didn't do much. I mean, what I did for her was really just to help her feel more comfortable, help her to understand what she was going through. Connected her to the Support Service, the student organizations, because even though we had very few students, the alas and the Greek organization, I still say to this day, they're the reason Latino students succeed. Yeah, yeah. And so Berta was so thankful that because that her daughter graduating. She actually now is an attorney. Oh, very successful. Iliana, she was so thankful that she then asked me to join the Illinois Latino counselor in higher ed. Okay,

Rachel Kobus  42:14  
gotcha. Okay.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  42:15  
I knew nothing about Yeah. She said, Well, you know, we're really looking for Latinos throughout the state, and the work that you're doing at ISU, you would be a really good fit for the organization as we try to promote and advocate for Latino student services throughout the state. And fast forward, I been the president of ILACHE now for about eight years. Oh, wow, wow. But that started there, and it really is very important for me to give back. I really believe that ISU is a gem for for our students, for our community. A few years ago, I started a PhD cohort, okay with ISU, okay, College of Education, yeah? Because, you know, I felt like I had, you know, I had been doing LAN and I was in the alumni cohort, but I felt that we needed something at the graduate level. To your point earlier, you know, there's not enough of Latinos who have a Masters of PhDs, obviously less PhDs. And so in one of my conversations with I think it was someone in the College of Education, yes, I was a faculty member of the College of Education, said, You know, we're really struggling getting Latinos to apply for our program. Is there any way you can help? When I was on the board, Beth Hat, who's no longer at ISU. And I said, You know what? Yes, why don't we work through ILACHE and see if we can do informational sessions? Yeah, about the PhD program at the College of Education at ISU? Because in the in is very often I hear still here in Chicago from Latino students who cannot find a graduate program in education, specifically in higher ed that is affordable. Okay? UIC used to have one. They got rid of it. Now it's called, like policy something. Loyola has one, but it's very expensive. And so Northeastern doesn't have a PhD program in education, which, by the way, is another thing that I have been working with them for years to try to do a PhD program. And so I said, okay, perfect opportunity. My college. It's my college of education. Is my college, the university I know. Well, let's work on it. And we did, yeah, and we brought in a group of Chicago area student. Students to the graduate program in higher ed, some of them who have completed already, but most of them who have not. And I wish we've had there's been a lot of issues with in the department, and a lot of the students in the cohort have really been impacted negatively and so but that was my way of creating this pathway for ISU and and I hope that once things get better in that department, that we're able to revisit that conversation, because I think there's a lot of interest. Yes, yeah. Chicago area students, Latinos, in this case, that want to get a PhD, could be a good, good fit for

Rachel Kobus  45:52  
yes. No, I agree. And I think it's, you know, it's amazing to hear alums like you that find those what we wouldn't think of. We always think of just give some financial, money, or just go talk to a student, but you're going very much outside the box to create cohorts and groups and true connections, and finding for again, whether it's first generation or students in underrepresented groups or alums that maybe come from underrepresented group, that connection, because that connection is what's needed, I think, at all universities, to make a difference for anyone that's part of an underrepresented group, that's what makes you feel comfortable, exactly,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  46:26  
and that's the reason why I joined the Alumni Association. People, we say even now there, I belong to a number of groups, but they're like, how do you do it? It's not easy, but it's, you know, it's like, I don't get paid to do ILACHE stuff, but it's important work. Someone has to do it. And I really believe for me, because there's, you know, I, I was really fortunate to have what I would call Latino Trailblazers here in the Chicago area who opened doors for me, yeah, and so it is my responsibility to do the same. Yeah. So whenever I have an opportunity, I do it. So I when I was in the Alumni Board, the first I remember, actually, when they when I filled my application, and they asked me, Why do you want to join the board? And I said, because I think it's time for ISU to have an alumni Latino network I don't think I called the network Alumni Association, yes, yeah, yeah. And that was my task, yeah. So during the time that I was on the Alumni Board, that was what I was going to work and I said to them, I know I'm busy, like everyone else, but my goal is to do this, yeah, and that's what I'm going to do. And so luckily, Jaime, Jaime Garcia, who you know, was trying to do the same thing. And I knew Jaime. We didn't know each other, yep. And Doris from alumni association connected Daniel Jaime is interested in the same thing you are. You guys should talk. And I Okay, great. We got together, and we, you know, luckily, we had a template from the black colleagues

Rachel Kobus  48:16  
Yeah,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  48:18  
Jaime had knew lots of people in there, and then Bob came on board, yes. And then we created this network Yep. 

Rachel Kobus  48:25  
And how beautiful I was gonna say in 10 year. 10 Year celebration this year too. So

Dr. Daniel Lopez  48:31  
yes, and I haven't been done much, doing much with them lately, because part of our charge with Jaime, I we said, you know, we're gonna get it started. We're gonna bring, you know, the students together, and then we gotta turn it over. Yeah, new generation. So that's okay, yep, and, and so he, he attends when he can. I do the same. Bob does the same, yeah? But we're really thrilled to have the the network there, yeah,

Rachel Kobus  48:59  
yes. And we are thrilled to have it too. And so I want to end on this note getting back into more but your higher education career is you talked about how you are going to retire from Northeastern and as a and now you're president of Harold Washington College. So what goals do you see for yourself in the future as a president of a full institution where you're overseeing, I think between eight to 10,000 students, 70% of those are Latinx and black students as well. You've done the research about, you know, change, or being an agent of change, and underrepresented groups. So when we come to this close, what do you see for yourself now going forward as president of a university like this?

Dr. Daniel Lopez  49:42  
yeah, you know, I finally feel that in my fifth year, I finally feel that I'm making the progress that I wanted to make on day one, for the reason that I mentioned

Rachel Kobus  49:53  
just took five years, yep,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  49:57  
building trust relationships. You know? So even though I'm an alum, obviously most of the majority of the people that are here didn't know me as a student, so they really didn't know what I was all about. And so for me, I feel like I still have some work left to do. I think, you know, sometimes it saddens me to think how much progress we've made, but how much work we still need to do. And so one of the things that I really have enjoyed the last well now 20 years or so, has been teaching at a northeastern graduate program, yeah, higher ed, that is a Latino focus cohort. Every every year and a half, they bring a cohort. I've been teaching there for almost every cohort, the exception of the first one joined the University. Yeah, that's amazing. But we have been able to prepare Latino professionals, that everywhere I go, I run into some someone who had taken my class cohort higher ed. You know, I feel that that programs have been very beneficial, but we still have a lot of work to do. So for me, I'm not ready to retire yet?

Rachel Kobus  51:22  
Oh, you do have a lot of work to do. You're not allowed to--exactly.

Dr. Daniel Lopez  51:25  
I have 30 years now in higher ed. I just celebrated my 30th year, mostly, as you know, in public higher ed, and I see myself doing this for a little bit more [good], and because I think it's necessary. You know, I still go, and I still but I often go to other meetings with other presidents, both in the state and the country. I'm usually the only one, very few Latino presidents at the two year. For the two years, there are the four year, okay, and so. And then for me, you know, I'm also  a gay president. So for me, it's really important to be visible, yep, and to be out there and let people know that you know who we are, can really contribute to transforming higher ed and that's what I've been. I've dedicated my life to, and I think there's still, there's still a few years that I think I have to give but, but, yeah, no, I and I've been really fortunate because, like, I don't know of anyone who, at least here at this college, who had been a student before now, who has her residence, President,

Rachel Kobus  52:50  
yeah. Well, someone had to. So you're the first so that's Yeah, and that's amazing. So, yeah. So,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  52:55  
so lots, lots of work still to do, to do with, with, obviously, ILACHE. ISU, I think is making really great progress. But, you know, I still, you know, when I meet with leaders at ISU, I was reminded of the importance of supporting Latinos. I mean, obviously other students, but Latinos in general. I mean, if you look at the enrollment for ISU every year, you know the enrollment is increased, but it's primarily Latino students. My question to ISU is, well, what are we doing to hire more Latino faculty, hire more Latino administrators, advisors, and to make sure that the services that are, that are, are available, are are earmarked specifically for the needs of Latino students. And so that's kind of my advocacy.

Rachel Kobus  53:51  
I would say someone needs to be an advocate, and that is your role. So, and that is why

Dr. Daniel Lopez  53:55  
So, and that is why I stay involved as much as I can. ISU, because I think it's really a gem of an institution, and I think it could do even much more. So that's why, when they, when I created that undocumented student scholarship with Trustee Navarro, I think we, you know, we are really, goal is to help people, yeah, help students, yes. And so, yeah. So I will remain involved. As a matter of fact, I carry this every day.

Rachel Kobus  54:23  
Oh, I love it. I might send you a Redbird Buzz one then too. So you can add that,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  54:29  
not, I am not like the like Bob. You know, Bob is like the oh, I don't.

Rachel Kobus  54:39  
Oh, but you all serve you. All serve in amazing capacities, and that's why we appreciate alums like you. Dr Lopez, it's amazing to hear your story and what you've done and what you're going to do. Yes,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  54:51  
thank you. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to meeting you in person one of these days. I

Rachel Kobus  54:55  
know Yes. Thank you so much, and we hope to see you in the near future. You. Yes,

Dr. Daniel Lopez  55:00  
all right. Thank you. Bye, bye,

Rachel Kobus  55:09  
and that was 2002 higher education administration alum and president of Harold Washington College, Dr Daniel Lopez, thanks for listening and tune in next time for more stories from beyond the quad. 

Transcribed by https://otter.ai