Nick Lopez is the new President and CEO of the Latin American Educational Foundation (LAEF). Lopez replaces Jim Chavez who served as the organization’s executive director for more than 18 years.
Prior to joining LAEF, Lopez served in various human services and nonprofit organizations, including Volunteers of America Colorado where he recently served as the organization’s vice president of advancement and marketing.
LAEF has provided more than $700,000 through 7,000 scholarships to qualifying Hispanic students in Colorado. The organization has existed since 1949 and helps Hispanic enter college by establishing community collaboration efforts and by developing support programs for students who are working toward their college degrees.
“Nick is the right leader at the right time for LAEF,” said LAEF Board President Guillermo Lambarri in an email announcing that Lopez is taking over the organization’s president and CEO role. “Nick’s extensive nonprofit leadership experience, along with his unique set of skills, perspectives, and relationships will help lead LAEF into the future. Building on what we have already accomplished, under his leadership we will hone our strategic direction, grow, develop our organization, strengthen our partnerships, and increase our impact in the community.”
Lopez was recently announced as the National Hispanic Institute’s 2022 Person of the Year. The National Hispanic Institute aims to engage achieving high school and college age youth in community leadership roles that advance quality of life. Past recipients of the National Hispanic Institute’s Person of the Year award include Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, filmmaker Merced Elizondo, and entrepreneur Humberto Saenz.
Lopez earned his Master’s of Science in Public Service Management from DePaul University in Chicago. Throughout his career, Lopez has earned a reputation for giving back to the Hispanic community. He’s accomplished that through his time with the National Hispanic Institute where he served as its Midwest regional director. The organization said in its “NHI Magazine” that Lopez was an intrinsic part of its services and mission to promote higher education and leadership throughout the Hispanic community.
While in high school in the mid 1990’s, Lopez completed the National Hispanic Institute’s Lorenzo De Zavala (LDZ) and Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) programs. The LDZ program is an eight-day leadership experience for young people to learn how to navigate, manage, and create large organizations by taking charge of their own youth government. The YLI program is a free, college empowerment service for high achieving Latino high school juniors. It is designed to give young leaders tools they need to success- fully apply to top universities, have full access to scholar- ship and financial aid opportunities, and set a course for academic and career success.
Because of his involvement with the National Hispanic Institute, Lopez feels that joining LAEF is a full-circle connection.
LAEF is preparing for its annual Gala on March 11 at the Filmore Auditorium where the organization will highlight its scholars and alumni.
