STCC director named to 2026 ALX100 list recognizing Latino leaders

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – When Jose Lopez-Figueroa learned he had been selected for the 2026 ALX100 List, which recognizes Latino leaders across Massachusetts, he thought about the people who helped him along his journey.

First there was his mom, a longtime social worker in Worcester who received the Latino Achiever of the Year Award in 1995. Lopez-Figueroa saw a connection between his mother’s recognition and his own.

“I was following in my mother's footsteps,” he said. “I couldn’t wait to tell her.”

Lopez-Figueroa, director of the Center for Access Services at Springfield Technical Community College, said he was grateful and proud to be among the 100 Latino leaders recognized in the 2026 class. ALX, Massachusetts’ largest Latino advocacy organization, recognized 100 Latino leaders from across the Commonwealth whose contributions are shaping the businesses, industries, institutions, and communities that are central to Massachusetts and New England’s economy and civic life.

Lopez-Figueroa credits his mother with instilling in him a commitment to service.

“She has such a large heart,” he said.

As a social worker, his mother was constantly helping others, whether she was feeding people who were hungry or providing a place to stay for someone who needed it. Those experiences shaped Lopez-Figueroa’s own desire to help others.

He also credits college mentors, friends, and his wife for encouraging him throughout his career.

“I have a good network of people that have definitely shaped who I am and have helped me throughout my career,” he said.

His commitment to service ties in with his work at STCC, where Lopez-Figueroa has spent more than a decade helping students access resources and overcome barriers that can stand in the way of their education.

When he first took on his role at the college, he recognized an opportunity to combine his professional work with a deeply personal sense of compassion.

Jose excels at meeting students where they are at, which is a core part of a community college mission. Samantha Plourd, Dean of Enrollment, Retention & Completion at STCC

“It’s good that I can merge both worlds,” he said. “I've always wanted to help people, and I can do it for a profession.”

His mother's own experience also gives him a unique perspective. She was a single mother who attended Springfield College, taking night and weekend classes to earn her bachelor's degree.

Lopez-Figueroa remembers thinking about how helpful services such as those offered through the Center for Access Services would have been for his mother.

Today,

when he works with students who are single parents, struggling financially, or dealing with food insecurity, he can relate to some of the challenges they face.

Lopez-Figueroa believes representation is one of the most important aspects of his leadership role. He understands what it means for students to see someone in a leadership position who has experienced some of the same challenges they are facing.

“I represent you. I was you,” he said.

Lopez-Figueroa grew up in a low-income household. Because of that, his family relied on public assistance and income-based housing. He said those experiences allow him to tell students that their circumstances do not have to define their future.

“I can share my story to students and say, ‘Look where I'm at through hard work, dedication, and supports,’” he said.

Lopez-Figueroa said students can struggle with questions about whether they belong in college, particularly when they don't see people who look like them in positions of authority.

At STCC, he sees representation as an important strength.

“Here, I think we do a great job in representation,” he said, noting the diversity of the college’s faculty and staff.

Lopez-Figueroa said Latino students can encounter a range of barriers as they pursue higher education, including language and comprehension challenges, financial hardship, a lack of family experience with college, and questions about whether they belong.

Some students may be the first in their families to attend college. They may not have someone at home who can help them navigate processes such as completing the FAFSA, registering for classes, or understanding the consequences of withdrawing from a course.

Other students may be balancing college with responsibilities at home, including work, parenting, and meeting basic needs.

“When they have no parachute, they have no backing to fall on, and it makes it difficult,” he said.

Lopez-Figueroa sees the work of the Center for Access Services playing an important role. Supporting students means addressing the circumstances outside the classroom that can affect their ability to succeed inside it.

For Lopez-Figueroa, that work is closely connected to STCC’s mission of helping students transform their lives.

“Having the opportunity to be in the position to really help students is meaningful,” he said.

Samantha Plourd, Dean of Enrollment, Retention & Completion at STCC, said Lopez-Figueroa’s recognition reflects the impact he has had on STCC students and the college community.

“Jose excels at meeting students where they are at, which is a core part of a community college mission,” Plourd said. “We don't know what the student in front of us is going through, and Jose does an excellent job at creating a space where the student feels supported, advocated for, and is given the opportunity to thrive.

“As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, we should embrace and foster that identity, and Jose is a perfect representation of what that means,” Plourd added.

Lopez-Figueroa hopes his story can encourage students to continue pursuing their goals, even when the path becomes difficult. He offers a piece of advice he hopes students – and everyone – will carry with them.

“Stay humble and be kind,” he said. “Just be genuinely kind.”

“If there's anything that I want to leave in this world, it's genuine kindness,” he said. “We need a world full of just genuinely kind people.”

Students who need assistance from CAS can contact call (413) 755-5761, email cas@stcc.edu, or go to stcc.edu/cas. Students can also stop by CAS in Building 7 on the STCC campus.

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth’s only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC’s highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the College—a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution—seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed, and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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