Houston, TX (March 29, 2024) –Late last month, TheDream.US, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and Immigrants Rising hosted their inaugural SUCCESS awards ceremony to recognize committed institutions, student advocates, and higher education leaders who are supporting undocumented students’ access and success on their campuses and beyond.

Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn was one of the recipients of the 2024 SUCCESS Higher Education Leadership Award. The group cited President Glenn’s leadership in the successful expansion of tuition equity to undocumented students in Massachusetts and crucial contributions to support immigrant students.

“We are so excited to celebrate such an incredible diversity of champions and leaders across the country, some are defending tuition equity, others are expanding it; some are working to create new structures and others working creatively within existing structures. Their dedication to serving their students makes a difference in first-generation immigrant students’ journey towards college and career success,” said Gaby Pacheco, President and CEO of TheDream.US.

“We know that the contributions our immigrant students make to our campus culture and eventually the workforce of Massachusetts are absolutely essential for our college and our Commonwealth to thrive,” said President Glenn.

President Glenn’s advocacy for immigrant students includes more than a decade of efforts toward passing the Tuition Equity Bill, which became law in Massachusetts last year. Governor Maura Healey, along with state and local leaders celebrated its passage with a special event on NECC’s Lawrence Campus in August. The law allows students without legal immigration status to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid at public colleges or universities in the Commonwealth.

President Glenn joined the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration in 2018. The nonpartisan nonprofit brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, students, campuses, communities, and the nation. They work to support undocumented, international and refugee students and advance forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal level, in our states, and across college campuses.

The Alliance is composed of 550+ college and university presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 42 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

SUCCESS Awards
Watch the video below that showcases the perspectives of college presidents and chancellors, including President Glenn, on the critical importance of supporting immigrant students in higher education.

Watch the full-length videos of the college presidents and chancellors here.

About TheDream.US
TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant students, having provided more than 10,000 college scholarships to Dreamers attending over 80 partner colleges in 21 states and Washington, DC. We believe everyone, regardless of where they were born, should have equitable access to a college education, a meaningful career, and opportunities to contribute to the communities they call home. For more information on TheDream.US, visit www.thedream.us.

About Immigrants Rising
Since 2006, Immigrants Rising has transformed undocumented individuals and fueled broader changes around the country. With Immigrant Rising’s resources and support, undocumented people are able to get an education, pursue careers, and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities. Highly respected within the field, Immigrants Rising has a proven track record of supporting the success and mobility of undocumented students through collaborative efforts with students, educators, and institutions. Immigrants Rising is a women-led, BIPOC-led, and immigrant-led 501c3 organization. For more information, visit www.immigrantsrising.org.