The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute (JAULI) launched a traveling exhibit on July 4 that showcases influential Latino figures across 250 years of American history, including the founder of Goya Foods and the first Latina National Guard Black Hawk helicopter pilot.
Titled “Celebrating 250 Years of Latino Impact on American History,” the exhibit features 30 panels honoring Latino leaders in business, entertainment, journalism, literature, medicine, military service, public service, science and sports. Each panel explores an individual’s background, career and impact on American history while highlighting their courage, innovation and leadership.
The exhibit was inspired by a 2023 visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino (NAML), according to Lori Tarke, executive director of JAULI. During the visit, Tarke and 50 Seton Hall students were treated to a “VIP experience,” coordinated by SHU alumnus Omar Vargas and Estuardo Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of Friends of the American Latino Museum.
"The National Museum of the American Latino has done extraordinary work elevating Hispanic and Latino histories, and we were inspired by them," Tarke said in a press release. "We wanted to create something that communities across the country could easily access and use to celebrate our shared history."
The collection moves through each century, with many of the contemporary Latinos sharing a connection to the Latino Institute.
Colonel Marisol Chalas, a member of the institute’s Advisory Council and a mentor to SHU students, is recognized in the exhibit for her trailblazing work as the first Latina National Guard Black Hawk helicopter pilot. The exhibit reflects on the challenges Chalas faced as the first female Colonel of Dominican heritage, highlighting Chalas’ passion and confidence.
“No stranger to challenges, Chalas joined the National Guard in 1990 and went on to receive her commission as an officer from the Officer Candidate School in 2021. She distinguished herself as a trailblazer in the military, overcoming numerous obstacles as a woman and immigrant,” the exhibit states.
Another honoree is Prudencio Unanue, founder of Goya Foods. The exhibit recognizes Unanue for his entrepreneurship, which opened up new business opportunities for the Latino community while maintaining cultural traditions.
“Prudencio Unanue transformed the American food landscape by making Hispanic cuisine accessible nationwide. His work helped preserve cultural traditions while introducing new flavors to the broader public. Through Goya Foods, he created jobs, supported immigrant communities, and set a lasting example of Latino entrepreneurship,” the exhibit states.
The exhibit also recognizes leaders in public service, including Justice Michael Noriega, the third Latino to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court. JAULI highlights Noriega’s groundbreaking work in public service, including founding the Sanar Institute, which supports survivors of interpersonal violence.
Reflecting on his journey, Noriega said he is grateful for those who pushed him to achieve his goals.
“To me, [the exhibit] represents the support of my family, the people that helped me get there, my colleagues, and a lot of the people that believed in me along the way,” he said in an interview with The Setonian. “If you persevere, if you perform services for others, that to me is the most important part. It reflects that the journey is more important than the destination.”
As someone who broke barriers with his work, Noriega said students can achieve their goals with dedication and a strong work ethic, no matter the roadblocks they may face.
“There’s no shortcut. And even those who start out in places where there may be an initial, instinctual belief that they can’t achieve great things, there’s a path available,” Noriega said. “With hard work and a lot of sacrifice, with support and good intentions, you could make it just about any destination you choose to set out on.”
For Gregory Schipilliti, head of the JAULI Alumni Council, the exhibit serves not only as a display of past successes, but as a source of inspiration for students.
“To me, this exhibit is a living bridge, as much as it talks about the past, it is also an acknowledgment of what is possible for the future,” Schipilliti said in an interview with The Setonian. “Seeing these stories fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.”
Schipilliti said the leaders featured in the exhibit demonstrate passion and ceaseless confidence, which he said is key to success.
“[These figures’] superpower is unrelenting hard work, an eye for humanity, and a commitment to finding solutions instead of making excuses,” he said. “Their lives prove that progress is fueled by resilience, that the courage of conviction is of the utmost importance and failure is often not fatal.”
The exhibit can be accessed as a free download on JAULI’s website. All 30 panels will be displayed at the Latino Institute's 2026 Generaciones Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on Oct. 16.
Michela DiLorenzo is the Head Editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at michela.dilorenzo@student.shu.edu.
