MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Hispanic and Latino leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference across the state.
Profiles of these leaders will be published over the course of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. These are people readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Dr. Noe Ortega is the commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.Courtesy of Sperling Interactive
Dr. Noe Ortega
Age: 50
Community: Boston
His story: Dr. Noe Ortega leads the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education as its commissioner.
“Our team at DHE has overseen the launch of programs that have made college more affordable for countless students,” he said.
In 2023, the Commonwealth made community college free for students 25 and older through MassReconnect, Ortega added. The Commonwealth also made all state colleges free for low-income students through MASSGrant Plus and extended in-state tuition and financial aid to eligible undocumented students.
“Massachusetts built on that historic progress in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget through MassEducate, which has made community college tuition and fee-free for all eligible students regardless of age and income level,” he said.
“We have also brought students into our public higher education system through early college programs, and there are now about 50 such partnerships in Massachusetts,” he added.
Ortega said he started his college journey to do better for himself. By the time he finished his undergraduate degree at St. Edwards University, his goal was to “do better for others.”
“College made me realize I could play a role in the lives of those around me, and that realization naturally led me to the education field,” he said.
He started his career in higher ed in financial aid, where he saw how university policies and systems affected students’ experiences.
Later, he traveled and lived in Japan for seven years to become an educator at Kogakusha, a language institute in Osaka, Japan. There he trained teachers in early childhood language acquisition.
He then went on to get his master’s in school counseling from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi while he worked in higher education, focusing in educational equity.
After working at Michigan State University for eight years, he worked at Pennsylvania’s Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education as deputy secretary and commissioner and then as secretary of education.
“I was drawn to Massachusetts for its commitment to advancing educational equity, and I look forward to the continued work ahead,” he said.
In her words: “I’m grateful that I took the path of working on campuses while I completed graduate school, because I got to build on course learnings with day-to-day work experiences, and vice versa.”
We’re always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
