Al Lopez Academic Alliance

The Academic Alliance was named in honor of Al Lopez to recognize and celebrate his extraordinary legacy of service, advocacy and dedication to student success at Tri-C. Born in Tyler, Texas, Lopez served the College for 32 years as a trusted academic counselor and associate professor. His journey began with service in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1966, after which he used his GI Bill benefits to earn both bachelor's and master's degrees in counseling from Kent State University.

Lopez began his professional career as a chemical dependency counselor but soon found his true calling in higher education. Deeply committed to equity and access, he founded the Hispanic Council in 1992 — a bilingual (Spanish/English) resource center that provided critical support for Hispanic students through enrollment, retention and completion.

Lopez was also a founding force behind Esperanza, Ohio's only nonprofit solely dedicated to promoting Hispanic educational achievement. His work empowered generations of students to pursue college degrees, overcome barriers and fulfill their potential.

Naming the Academic Alliance after Lopez honors not only his professional accomplishments but also his lifelong commitment to cultural pride, educational equity and the transformative power of higher education. His impact continues to shape lives and open doors for future scholars.