Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15, 2026

Dear Wolf Pack Family,

As the semester gets underway, I hope that you are finding ways to stay focused on your academic goals, build new connections and discover new experiences. This is a time on our campus where new learning, insight and understanding into the reasons why we are here takes its full focus. 

Hispanic Heritage Month officially begins on Sept. 15 and it offers an opportunity to celebrate the rich and diverse culture, history, art, traditions and accomplishments of the Hispanic and Latinx community on our campus, our community and our world. 

Our University is proud of the contributions made each day by our Hispanic and Latinx students, faculty and staff. Growing Latino and Hispanic student enrollment reflects the evolving makeup of our University, which now meets the 25 percent Hispanic undergraduate enrollment threshold required for federal eligibility as a Hispanic-serving institution. 

We began the academic year with our fourth annual Mi Casa es Su Casa event, a Latinx parent welcome event that’s part of NevadaFIT opening weekend and works to connect families with resources and support systems to instill a sense of belonging from day one. More than 325 people attended the event, the largest Mi Casa gathering in University history.

Our campus eagerly kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month early with the Vamos Pack football game on Saturday, Sept 5, during our first game and win of the season. The game incorporated Hispanic and Latino culture throughout the game-day experience, including music, performances, and community recognitions. 

It was the first of many robust events happening on campus over the next six weeks. The programming reflects a collaborative effort across the University with colleges, departments, student organizations and community partners contributing to events throughout the month. 

Events include: 

• Academia de la Communidad (The Academy of the Community): Tuesday Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Reno Public Market
  This event, sponsored by the Latino Research Center, features Assistant Professor of History Michael Aguirre and administrative faculty member Claudia Gonzalez-Jeffery, who will lead a Spanish-centered conversation exploring history, Latinos in education and strategies for accessing the University of Nevada, Reno. 
• Noche de Locura: Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Residence Halls 
  Kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with a festive celebration at Nye-Canada Plaza! A night full of flavor and fun await with traditional food, fun activities, live music and dancing. 
• Tu Bienvenida: Thursday, Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at JCSU Gateway Plaza/KC Walkway 
  This vibrant celebration, hosted by the Office of Hispanic/Latinx Community Relations, welcomes students back to campus every year.  Enjoy traditional dance performances, live music, and complimentary refreshments while you connect with university departments, student organizations and campus resources. 
• Fiesta on Wells: Pre-event on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. at the JCSU Gateway Plaza/KC Walkway followed by the Wells Avenue celebration at 11 a.m.
  Join University departments for an on-campus celebration at 9 a.m. leading up to the annual Fiesta on Wells. Learn about campus resources, scholarship opportunities, or connect with the community. Continue the celebration on Wells Avenue, which will be blocked off for a festive day of fun starting at 11 a.m. 
• “Language, Identity and Justice: Confronting Linguistic Intolerance in the USA:”Thursday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. at the Reynolds School of Journalism Higginbotham Auditorium
  Learn from nationally recognized linguist Ana Celia Zentella, professor emeritus of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego, to explore bilingualism, language, identity and the barriers faced by Latino and other multilingual communities in the United States. The event is hosted by the Department of Anthropology. 
• A Journey into Chicanismo: Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. at the Knowledge Center Rotunda 
  Join community member Horacio Leyva as he shares his personal journey into Chicanismo and how Chicano/Mexican art and literature shaped his cultural self-discovery. The event is sponsored by the School of Social Work.
• Hispanic Heritage Month Faculty, Student and Community Social: Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 11:30 a.m. at a soon-to-be announced location
  The event will create an informal space for members of the University and surrounding community to build relationships and celebrate together.
• ¡Vamos Pack! Soccer Game: Saturday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. at Mackay Stadium 
  Honor the spirit of Vamos Pack at the annual Hispanic/Latinx Heritage soccer game as the Pack takes on Colorado College. 
• Café con pan: Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. in the JCSU Multicultural Center
  This month’s event is sponsored by Counseling Services and the Orvis School of Nursing. Café con Pan is a monthly drop-in support space best suited for students who want to discuss experiences related to the Latinx community. 
• Sugar Skulls Workshop: Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the JCSU Multicultural Center
  This event is an interactive and educational workshop where participants learn about the cultural significance and history of sugar skulls within the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos. The event will repeat on Oct. 22 and 23.
• Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. in the JCSU Ballrooms
  Dìa de los Muertos is a signature event of Hispanic Heritage Month which honors those who came before us with art, dance, food, and festive fun. This free event invites everyone to take part in family-friendly activities and traditions to close out a month of celebration. 

I encourage you to partake in these events, learn from new and different perspectives and celebrate the Hispanic and Latino communities that strengthen our University.

Vamos Pack!

Sincere regards,

Brian Sandoval
President