Read the Bishop’s Statement on the announcement
[November 10, 2020 – San Jose, CA]
The Most Reverend Oscar Cantú of the Diocese of San Jose and the Board of Regents of Archbishop Mitty High School are pleased to announce that Latanya Nailah Hilton has been named the next President of the school, effective July 1, 2021.
Hilton has 20+ years of experience with Archbishop Mitty. As a proud alumna (1992), she returned as an Administrator (2004-2012), serving in the roles of Director of Admissions, Assistant Principal, and Executive Director for Advancement. She has been an engaged alumnus, including serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the AMHS Board of Regents.
Hilton has been a champion for social good and underserved communities for more than 25 years. Born into a family of educators, creatives, and activists, she is dedicated to ensuring that mission-driven organizations have the resources they need to advance positive change in today’s society. Through her roles in fund development and executive leadership, she has raised over $30 million to support education and nonprofit organizations.
Bishop Cantú stated, “Ms. Hilton is a recognized leader in education and social justice advocacy with a passion for Catholic education and its power to develop leaders who will impact the world for good. She brings a wealth of experience, energy, and commitment to collaboration to this position. She has received numerous awards for her service.”
After a national search, an extensive interview process, and taking into consideration the feedback from a broad range of participants from the Mitty community, the search committee and Board of Regents noted that they found Hilton to be the kind of visionary leader they were seeking. “We are confident that Latanya will be an incredible advocate for, and leader to, the Mitty community. Her wealth of relevant experience, her drive and passion, and her warmth and humility led us to the conclusion that she is absolutely the right leader for the school going forward – she will lead us all, with grace, in driving the school to reach even higher levels of excellence in the years ahead,” said Johnny Gilmore, President of the Board, and Chair of the Search Committee.
“The stakes are high, and there is no better time for current and future students to know that each and every single one of us has the capacity to shatter barriers, contribute at the highest levels, and change the world,” Hilton shared. “As a Mitty alumna, a wife, mother, and social justice warrior with deep family roots in education, I will serve this community with a continued commitment to faith, healing, justice, equity, and most of all, compassionate leadership. Mitty has always held a special place in my heart, and it is with deep appreciation and humility that I accept this opportunity. On behalf of my entire family, I am sincerely grateful to Bishop Cantú, the Diocese of San Jose, the Search Committee, and the AMHS Board of Regents for their vote of confidence and look forward to years of dedicated service.”
Hilton is a Founding Ambassador with The Ambassadors Circle, LLC, a national collective on a mission to inspire and equip people to do more good by offering full-service fundraising, marketing, and production services to help amplify their efforts. She served as the former Vice President of Development and Strategic Partnerships for the San Francisco-based Center for Youth Wellness, where she led the development, policy, and communications teams and successfully pushed for statewide legislation that recognizes the impact of adverse childhood experiences. She also served Santa Clara University as Assistant Director of Admissions, where she gained a deep understanding of enrollment, financial aid, diversity, and retention strategies.
She holds a Masters in Business Administration and a BSC in Marketing from Santa Clara University and currently sits on the University’s Board of Regents.
About Archbishop Mitty High School
Archbishop Mitty High School is the Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory school of the Diocese of San Jose. With 1,770 students, the school embraces the Catholic educational mission of developing community, teaching the message of the Gospels, and promoting service, peace, and justice. Through its rigorous academic program, the school prepares students for college and responsible leadership in a global society. More information at www.mitty.com.
Media Contact:
Cynthia Shaw, Director of Communications
Cell: 669-309-7222 | cynthia.shaw@dsj.org