Ernesto Nieto, founder and president of The National Hispanic Institute (NHI), has been elected to DePaul University’s Board of Trustees by the Members of the Corporation. Nieto is one of four new trustees joining the board this spring.

Nieto founded the NHI in 1979. The private Texas-based non-profit organization is dedicated to helping Latino youth develop leadership skills, prepare for higher education and achieve. NHI sponsors the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Sessions, a program coordinated by Nieto and his wife Gloria de Leon to expose Latino high school juniors and seniors to community leadership opportunities. NHI also sponsors the Young Leaders Conference, the Mexican Language Program and the Collegiate World Series for high school and college students.

DePaul is a member institution of the College Register, a consortium of universities that work with NHI to reach out to Latino, college-bound high school students. The university also is a co-host institution for the Young Leaders Conference Great Debate series, an NHI program that helps participants hone communication and analytical skills.

"Ernesto Nieto’s dedication to creating opportunities for Latino youth make him an excellent addition to the board, particularly because of DePaul’s mission to serve the community and create a diverse environment," said Edward A. Brennan, chairman of DePaul’s Board of Trustees.

Also joining the board this spring are: Pamela Strobel, executive vice president of Unicom; the Hon. Anne Marie Burke, Illinois Appellate Court Justice; and Eugene Delaney, senior vice president and general manager of Motorola’s Global Telecom Solutions Group.