Luis Alarcon is a Mexican American educator, strategic enrollment management (SEM) professional, and institutional agent whose work centers on student learning, empowerment, and the transformative power of education. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and an ally to systematically excluded communities, he brings extensive experience in admissions, recruitment, advising, Greek life, student life, and leadership development. Guided by Intersectionality Theory, Community Cultural Wealth, and Validation Theory, Luis highlights and amplifies students’ determination, resilience, and persistence as essential assets. His student-centered and student-serving approach informs his work across the recruitment, development, retention, and holistic support continuum. Deeply committed to implementing events, programs, and services that address students’ perceptions, lived experiences, cultural identities, and the broader campus climate, Luis continuously strengthens his practice through networking, conferences, and professional development opportunities.
Luis is a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and holds a Master of Arts in English from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Education from DePaul University, along with graduate certificates in Community College Leadership and Diversity & Equity from UIUC. He also earned a Certificate in Student Success Analytics from California State University and the prestigious AACRAO Ascend Enrollment Management Leader certificate. Currently pursuing AACRAO’s SEM-EP endorsement, he has been selected for Harvard University’s 2026 Leadership in Strategic Enrollment Management Certificate program. With a focus on student success and institutional transformation, Luis brings a data-informed approach to shaping equitable policies and programs. Actively serving with AACRAO, ACPA, and NASPA, he applies insights from his DEI work to advance initiatives that address bias, foster inclusion, and empower students. His mission is to cultivate environments that celebrate cultural identities and strengthen collective student resilience. Luis has received multiple professional grants and scholarships from ACPA, Cal State, NASPA, Phi Kappa Phi, and IACAC. His academic honors include membership in Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Sigma Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega, and Pi Lambda Theta, and he is a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Luis’ career and personal journey are grounded in his belief in the transformational power of education and his unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). His core competencies include allyship, mentorship, diversity and inclusion, and counter-storytelling. Drawing on his lived experience as a minoritized, first-generation, low-income student who immigrated to the U.S. at age 19 without a high school diploma, Luis uses his story to inspire, empower, and improve the lives of others through education and knowledge. He seeks opportunities to coach, mentor, and sponsor others who may benefit from his experiences while also learning from peers to collaboratively create more equitable conditions and transformative educational environments rooted in social justice. Outside of higher education, Luis enjoys reading, working out, nature walks, and road trips. He loves traveling and exploring historical ruins with his wife, Courtny, and is the proud cat dad of Tiki, Merlin, and Crete.
- 2026 AAC&U NLA Fellow
- 2026 Tina Falkner Engagement Award – AACRAO
- Awards Committee Member – AACRAO
- Commission for Two-Year Colleges Directorate – ACPA
- Equal Education Opportunity Officer – IACRAO
- Latinx/o/a KC Region IV-East Rep – NASPA
- Mid-Level Administrators Steering Committee – NASPA
- Mid-Level Community of Practice Directorate – ACPA
- PAC Committee Member (Enrollment Management & Retention) – AACRAO
- Public Policy Advisory Group – AACRAO
- Undocumented Immigrants & Allies KC Region IV-East Rep – NASPA
- 2024 NASPA Escaleras Leadership Institute Alum
- 2024-2025 AACRAO Ascend Leadership Alum
- 2025-2026 AACRAO N&E Committee member
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