Fidel Vargas

Fidel Vargas is the president and CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, a leading provider of scholarships and support services for Latino students pursuing higher education. Under Vargas's leadership, the organization has expanded its reach, awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in scholarships and building technology infrastructure to serve students and their families. Vargas has positioned the Hispanic Scholarship Fund as one of the largest educational nonprofits in the United States, managing substantial assets and distributing tens of millions annually to support Latino students.

Before joining the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Vargas built a career in finance and public service. He was a founding partner of Centinela Capital Partners and a managing director at several private equity firms, focusing on investments in minority-owned and emerging-manager funds. Earlier in his career, Vargas became the youngest elected mayor of a major U.S. city, Baldwin Park, California, at age 23. He has served on numerous boards, including the Latino Donor Collaborative and California Community Foundation, and on national commissions under Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama.

Vargas has received national recognition, including being named to Time Magazine's Top 50 Young Leaders and Hispanic Business Magazine's 100 Most Influential Hispanics. He is a public speaker known for his focus on educational equity and organizational growth. Vargas's leadership at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund highlights his commitment to expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities and advancing Latino student success.