In related news, a project director for Concordia’s second, graduate-level HSI grant has been chosen: Timothy Young, who attended Concordia and is the son of a longtime Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod pastor in Southern California churches. He will oversee staff and programs related to the Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
“I love Concordia and am Lutheran at my core,” Young says. “It feels like returning home, and it’s good to be back.”
Young spent the past 19 years at Vanguard University, most recently as vice president for student affairs and campus operations. He is also a participant in the Townsend
Leadership Program (TLP) executive coaching and leadership development group. Early in his education career, Young worked as a bilingual aide in the Westminster School District, and says he has long aimed to work with Hispanic students.
“I have a passion for the culture,” he says.
At Vanguard, Young launched the first summer bridge program for Hispanic students and established the first black and Hispanic student unions. His goal at Concordia is to create a similar sense of belonging for Hispanic students.
“I have taken on the role of being an ally and an advocate for under-served students,” he says.
The grant he directs will help to create a first-year mentoring program for doctoral students in the School of Education; expand coaching and writing assistance and career services for graduate students in the School; and allow certain Hispanic or low-income graduate students to receive three- year, $12,000 scholarships as “faculty fellows” who conduct research with School of Education faculty members. Young says the overarching goal is to launch what he terms a “concierge academic support center” which will provide “a huge value-add for masters and doctoral students” through enhanced services in writing and success coaching.
Heather Vezner, dean of the School of Education, says Young is “uniquely qualified to serve in the role of PPOHA grant director for Concordia University Irvine. He brings extensive knowledge of higher education, HSI grant implementation and leadership development. We are grateful that God has called Dr. Young to this role and we know he will serve our students with expertise, humility and genuine care and commitment through the PPOHA grant initiatives.