News
AWC welcomes Miami Dade College for Excelencia collaboration
July 2, 2026Yuma, Ariz. (July 2, 2026) – Arizona Western College recently hosted representatives from Miami Dade College (MDC) through AWC’s partnership with Excelencia in Education. The visit showcased a variety of programs and initiatives across AWC, while providing an opportunity to exchange perspectives on student engagement, workforce development, academic innovation, and institutional effectiveness.
"We were honored to host representatives from Miami Dade College and Excelencia in Education for a day of collaboration and learning,” said AWC President Dr. Reetika Dhawan. “We value opportunities to learn from our peers and strengthen partnerships that benefit students and communities. I would also like to extend special thanks to Vice President for Advancement Lorraine Stofft, whose leadership, vision, and coordination were instrumental in making this visit possible. Her efforts helped create a meaningful opportunity for dialogue, relationship-building, and the sharing of ideas among our institutions."
As AWC's Excelencia partner institution, Miami Dade College visited to learn more about the programs, partnerships, and student-centered practices that contribute to student success at AWC. Over 30 AWC faculty and staff members helped host informative sessions on AI integration, Early College expansion, workforce development, transfer pathways, and community engagement.
“Our connection with Miami Dade College has been a huge advantage for us as we learn to serve our highly-Hispanic student population better, and by extension, all students,” Stofft said. “They are exemplars in community college work on a national front and this mentorship is a great advantage for our district.”
During a tour of the San Luis Learning Center, AWC representatives highlighted the college’s unique responsibility of serving students on the U.S.-Mexico border, discussing how this regional placement has shaped the institution’s approach to access and opportunity.
One faculty panel shared about the importance of embedding support systems throughout the institution to support students undergoing various challenges—examples included wellness resources, student life programming, and financial assistance through the AWC Foundation.
As a Hispanic Serving Institution serving a student population that is roughly 77% Hispanic, AWC is committed to improving learning opportunities and outcomes for Latino students, collaborating with institutions across the country to share and strengthen practices that promote student success. AWC has also applied for a Seal of Excelencia, a rigorous certification that would publicly recognize the institution for its commitment to student success.
The visit was the first of multiple meetings with MDC as AWC’s Excelencia partner school.
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About Excelencia in Education:
Excelencia in Education is a non-profit organization that informs, leads and accelerates higher education success for Latino students by providing data-driven analysis of the educational status of Latinos, and by promoting education policies and institutional practices that support their academic achievement. Recognized as the information source on Latinos in higher education, Excelencia is building a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy's need for a highly educated workforce and for civic leadership.
Contact:
Lorraine Stofft
Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the AWC Foundation
Arizona Western College
lorraine.stofft@azwestern.edu
(928) 314-9595