Tranquilino Hurtado

Tranquilino "Kino" Hurtado is not currently the Director of Bridge Programs at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), but he has held various roles related to student success and Hispanic-serving initiatives.

Here are some key points about his background and current role:

• Current Role: As of November 2022, Hurtado is the inaugural Director of Hispanic Serving Initiatives at Salt Lake Community College. This role involves coordinating the college's efforts to prepare for and achieve Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) status, which includes both academic and non-academic initiatives.123

• Background: Hurtado is originally from New Mexico and has a strong educational background from institutions that are historically HSIs. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico and his master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from New Mexico Highlands University. He moved to Utah in 2020 to pursue his Ph.D. in higher education leadership and policy at the University of Utah.14

• Previous Roles: Before his current position, Hurtado was the director of a summer bridge program at SLCC, which was housed under the Student Affairs department. He also has experience in counseling and career services, which he believes are crucial in instilling a sense of belonging and purpose among students.1

• Goals and Philosophy: Hurtado's goals include leading organizational change to ensure SLCC serves Hispanic students effectively, not just enrolls them. He relies on research by Gina Garcia, a national expert on HSIs, to guide his work. His personal philosophy emphasizes consistency and ensuring that student affairs professionals are well-trained to support diverse student populations.1

• Impact of HSI Designation: Hurtado anticipates that the HSI designation will bring significant opportunities, including increased funding through Title V, professionalization of programs for Latinx students, and the recruitment and retention of more faculty of color.1