About This Episode

Season 4. Episode 16.

In this episode of Education Insight, we speak with Matt Cuozzo, Chief of Staff for Excelencia in Education, a national organization focused on advancing equity in higher education. Matt shares insights into Excelencia’s mission, which highlights and supports programs that improve Latino college enrollment, retention, and graduation rates.

We also discuss the significant recognition that UC Riverside and Cal State San Bernardino received this year, earning the Seal of Excelencia. Matt explains what this prestigious award represents and what impressed the reviewers about these local universities. Learn about the criteria Excelencia uses to assess Latino diversity in higher education institutions, the impact of these recognitions, and how communities benefit when colleges excel in supporting Latino students. Additionally, Matt shares how Excelencia is contributing to broader diversity and inclusion efforts across higher education.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of Excelencia’s work and how it’s shaping the future of Latino student success nationwide.

Featured Guest

Matt Cuozzo

Matt Cuozzo serves as chief of staff for Excelencia in Education. In this role, he acts as a core liaison to support strategic implementation across the organization, provides oversight for several strategic partnerships, and intentionally engages with affiliates and partners to meet Excelencia’s mission of accelerating Latino student success in higher education. Matt began his career as a college success program coach serving low-income and first-generation students. This led him to pursue a graduate degree in higher education, where he studied the systemic barriers and opportunities for equity in higher education. During that time, he interned for Excelencia, contributing to the organization’s work on college completion through a Latino lens. Most recently, he worked at a community college implementing models of academic support, peer mentorship, engagement, and personal growth for 650+ students yearly, both dual enrollment high school students and college scholarship recipients.

Interview Highlights

3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.

7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.

8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.

9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE. 

13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.

20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.

21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.

23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.

25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues. 

32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond. 

36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.

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Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.