Alumnus Honored for Dedication to Supporting Hispanic Success in Higher Education
Eyole Mbongo
On Dec. 4, Eyole M. Mbongo (Political Science, '07), senior legislative assistant to Congressman Joaquin Castro of Texas's 20th congressional district, received the Outstanding Congressional Staffer Award from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) in recognition of his exceptional dedication to advancing equity in education.
“For the last eight years, Eyole Mbongo has been a vital partner in my work to bring more funding and support to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and the communities they call home," said Castro. “Over the course of his time with my office, he’s fought to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding back to San Antonio schools and HSIs — helping them chart a path forward through the darkest days of the pandemic and fighting to close gaps in college attendance and completion. There is no one more qualified or more deserving of this award — and I’m grateful to HACU for recognizing the profound impact of his work.”
Mbongo joined Castro’s staff as an intern in his district office while completing his master’s degree in public administration at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) — one of twelve HSIs serving the city. After graduation, he joined the office as a full-time staffer, working on constituent services and helping federal agencies serve the people of San Antonio. He currently serves as Castro’s senior legislative assistant in Washington, D.C., where he has been a critical advisor in the introduction of several bills and resolutions, including:
- The Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment Act (HERE Act), which would authorize a grant program to support partnerships between HSIs and school districts with high enrollment of Latino students to improve college readiness and degree attainment.
- The Advanced Coursework Equity Act, which would authorize a grant program to address equity gaps in enrollment and performance in advanced programs and courses.
- A resolution to designate the week beginning on September 11, 2023 as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.