Full Name
Yudi Lewis
Job Title
Executive Director of Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiatives
Company
Weber State University
Speaker Bio
Yudi Vargas Lewis serves as the inaugural Executive Director of Hispanic-Serving Initiatives at Weber State University. As part of her efforts, she will lead Weber State to achieve its strategic goal of increasing the number of full-time Latino student enrollment to 15% by the 2025-2026 academic year.
Vargas Lewis was one of 25 fellows nationwide to be selected for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 2021-22 Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo, where she was recognized for her work in recruiting and retaining Hispanic students. She is a 2019 fellow of the UC Berkeley Executive Leadership Academy.
Before joining Weber State, Lewis spent 25 years at Utah Valley University in Orem, where she held progressively responsible roles, culminating with serving as program director for Latino Initiative in Multicultural Student Services (2009-2022). In that role, she helped increase UVU's Latino enrollment by 361% and graduation headcount by 724% (Fall 2007-Fall 2019). She fundraised over one million dollars in grants and donations.
Yudi's work has garnered state and national recognition, including the Pete Suazo Social Justice Award (2013), the Tonauac Award from the Federation of United Mexicans in Utah (2016), Utah's 40 Over 40 (2023), and Excelencia in Education. In 2015, the Latino Initiative she led was selected as a Bright Spot for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. During 2022, the Latino Initiative's work was instrumental in Utah Valley University's receiving the Hispanic Association of Colleges and University's Member Institution award.
As a first-generation high school and college graduate, Lewis holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Management and in Behavioral Science (Psychology), a master's in business administration, and she is currently a doctoral candidate (ABD) in the Educational Leadership and Policy Program at the University of Utah. Lewis is an acclaimed presenter at national and international conferences. Yudi co-led a tuition-free Latino Scientists of Tomorrow program, which has been replicated at six schools nationwide.
Vargas Lewis was one of 25 fellows nationwide to be selected for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 2021-22 Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo, where she was recognized for her work in recruiting and retaining Hispanic students. She is a 2019 fellow of the UC Berkeley Executive Leadership Academy.
Before joining Weber State, Lewis spent 25 years at Utah Valley University in Orem, where she held progressively responsible roles, culminating with serving as program director for Latino Initiative in Multicultural Student Services (2009-2022). In that role, she helped increase UVU's Latino enrollment by 361% and graduation headcount by 724% (Fall 2007-Fall 2019). She fundraised over one million dollars in grants and donations.
Yudi's work has garnered state and national recognition, including the Pete Suazo Social Justice Award (2013), the Tonauac Award from the Federation of United Mexicans in Utah (2016), Utah's 40 Over 40 (2023), and Excelencia in Education. In 2015, the Latino Initiative she led was selected as a Bright Spot for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. During 2022, the Latino Initiative's work was instrumental in Utah Valley University's receiving the Hispanic Association of Colleges and University's Member Institution award.
As a first-generation high school and college graduate, Lewis holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Management and in Behavioral Science (Psychology), a master's in business administration, and she is currently a doctoral candidate (ABD) in the Educational Leadership and Policy Program at the University of Utah. Lewis is an acclaimed presenter at national and international conferences. Yudi co-led a tuition-free Latino Scientists of Tomorrow program, which has been replicated at six schools nationwide.
Speaking At
