Keynote Speaker Information
Get to know the 2024 HEPCAMP National Conference Keynote Speakers
![Felipe Lopez_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/699640_e6a81ba240dc4101bd7da94d0bfccfc5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_923,h_926,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Felipe%20Lopez_edited.jpg)
Dr. Felipe López Sutaita
Felipe is a higher education advocate, community leader, and former migrant farmworker. His passion for higher education is fueled by his dedication to lifting communities out of poverty. Felipe works to advance educational, professional, and entrepreneurial opportunities for underrepresented communities. He also regularly returns to work in the agricultural fields of Michigan to show his four sons the value of hard work and keep himself grounded. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and Ferris State University.
Felipe picked oranges, grapefruit, onions, strawberries, asparagus, squash, blueberries, peaches, pears, tomatoes, peppers, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. In 2014, he completed his Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University. Felipe is very passionate about higher education, as he knows that higher education is a pathway out of poverty. He is married to Dr. Danielle M. Flores Lopez and has four sons: Felipe, Amancio, Sion, and Eladio.
Notable Accomplishments: In 2018 Felipe, was recognized by the National Football League (NFL) and the Detroit Lions, he was also selected to be a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow (2019-2021), he was also invited by Google to do a Google Talk in 2018. Felipe has traveled to 20 countries and in 2022 he published his book. Felipe also served as an advisor to both Republican and Democrat Governors of Michigan from 2016- 2021. Felipe earned his Black Belt in Taekwondo in 2022 and was awarded the Key to the CIty of his hometown Donna, Texas. Felipe is also committed to teaching religious classes to children 3rd to 8th grade the past several years.
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Juvencio Rocha Peralta
Juvencio Rocha Peralta, Jr., a native of Veracruz, Mexico, has lived in North Carolina since 1980 and has been a community advocate and leader in communities local and abroad for the past 40 years. Mr. Rocha-Peralta has been the Executive Director and Founder of the Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, Inc. (AMEXCAN) since 2001.
Mr. Rocha-Peralta serves on numerous Task Forces and Boards addressing the needs of the community including as the Founder and President of The Eastern North Carolina Latin-American Coalition Inc., Board Member of the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children, National Advisory Board of the Institute of Emerging Issues (IEI), Board Member of East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, Board Member of Disability Rights NC, and Member of the Rural North Carolina Latino HIV/AIDS Task Force Initiative.
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Juvencio Rocha-Peralta, Jr. has received numerous awards for his commitment to service within our communities. Some of his most recent awards include:
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Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship member 2016
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Substantial Award 2014
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Best-Irons Humanitarian Award, 2012
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American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Award, 2010
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International Human Rights Award, 2010
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The North Carolina Justice Center Defender of Justice Award, 2009
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Orgullo lo Nuestro, 2009 Univision Television Network
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Otli Award, 2002 (The highest award that the Secretary of the State of the Exterior of Relations of Mexico presents to a Mexican citizen living in the USA, recognizing commitment and services to the Mexican residents of North Carolina)