Montgomery College Faculty and Alumna Recognized by County Executive as "Rays of Hope" for Latine Community Advocacy Efforts

Dr. Glenda Hernandez Tittle, a Montgomery College faculty member, and Montgomery College alumna Luz Chavez Gonzales, were honored by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Latin American Advisory Group with Rays of Hope awards. The awards recognize their outstanding advocacy and dedication to advancing the Latine community in Montgomery County. 

The awards were presented at a ceremony on September 16 coordinated by the Office of the Montgomery County Executive with elected officials, community leaders, and members of the College's board of trustees in attendance.

Hernandez Tittle, a graduate of Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, and the University of Maryland, has devoted her career to empowering culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Currently leading the Alternative Teacher Certification (ACET) Programs, including ACET Flex: Feds to Eds, she has championed culturally responsive teaching and led major initiatives to elevate Latino student experiences and success. Her varied career includes international work in Europe and Central America, leadership roles at the World Bank, and service as a bilingual elementary teacher in Washington, D.C. Her recognition reflects not only her educational leadership but also her tireless advocacy to ensure Latine voices are represented at all levels of higher education.

One of her former students, Chavez Gonzales, embodies that legacy. A first-generation college graduate, Chavez Gonzales attended Montgomery College before earning bachelor’s degrees in sociology and political science from Trinity Washington University. She is now pursuing graduate studies at Georgetown University in Educational Transformation, with a focus on equity for BIPOC students. Chavez Gonzales has become a national leader in immigrant rights and social justice as a Youth Organizer with United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led network in the United States. Her activism includes work on campaigns such as the Dream & Promise Act, #ICEOutOfDC, and Defund Hate, as well as mobilizing youth for racial and immigrant justice.