Mason and Cisneros Center Forge Partnership for Educational Access

In Washington DC on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, Henry Cisneros, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1993 to 1997 and Founder of the Cisneros Center for New Americans affirmed an MOU with George Mason University’s President Ángel Cabrera. The MOU confirms collaboration between the Cisneros Center and George Mason to make higher education more accessible to immigrant and first generation college students. Mason and the Cisneros Center are committed to building clear avenues of empowerment and opportunity for these students.

Mason, a diverse and educationally inclusive institution, will work with the Cisneros Center to pilot a framework for a “Welcoming University.” Together, Mason and the Cisneros Center will pursue mutual goals of expanding access to higher education by increasing the number of first generation college students, adapting and improving higher education to better meet the needs of diverse students, and empowering immigrants and the children of immigrants and "New Americans" to better their lives through education.

Mason’s New Century College (NCC) and Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) will lead this initiative. Mason will promote learning and community-building that integrate research, discovery, and open-ended problem solving in real-world contexts that apply directly to the lives of immigrants and first-generation college students.

Cabrera said, “Mason welcomes the opportunity to join with the Cisneros Center for New Americans. Through this collaboration, we take an important step in recognizing the impressive socioeconomic and political contributions new Americans make, especially in our metro DC area.”

Nicolas Perilla, president of the Cisneros Center said, “We are a nation of immigrants fueled by the families that came to our shores looking to create a better future for their children. This partnership seeks to ensure that the American Dream remains a reality for anyone who is willing to work hard and improve our nation. Like the Cisneros Center, Mason is uniquely positioned to empower immigrant families and their children."

Lisa Gring-Pemble, dean of New Century College, said, “This partnership demonstrates Mason’s commitment to accessible education. Our work with the Cisneros Center helps Mason leverage our ideal location and unique campus demographics to work toward teaching innovation and research of consequence.”