Florentino Ubungen

"I am proud to endorse Dr. Florentino Ubungen, whose leadership I have had the privilege of witnessing as Secretary of FANHS Greater Seattle, where he serves as President, and through our shared work with the Urban Askals. Florentino brings thoughtfulness, integrity, creativity, and a deep commitment to community into every space he serves. I value his ability to bring people together around shared purpose while honoring the experiences, knowledge, and voices each person brings to the table."

"I wholeheartedly endorse Florentino as a culturally responsive school leader in higher education because he understands that effective leadership is not simply about managing programs, policies, or people—it is about creating environments where students, faculty, and staff feel seen, valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. Florentino leads with cultural humility, relational trust, and an awareness of the diverse experiences that shape students’ educational journeys. He recognizes that equity requires more than good intentions; it requires listening to communities, challenging institutional barriers, and using leadership as a vehicle for meaningful change. His ability to build authentic relationships across differences, advocate for students whose voices are often marginalized, and connect institutional priorities to the lived realities of the communities he serves reflects the kind of transformative, student-centered leadership higher education needs. I endorse Florentino with confidence because he does not simply lead within the institution—he works to make the institution more responsive, inclusive, and accountable to the students and communities it exists to serve."