James M. Montoya Frosh & Transfer Scholars Program
What is the James M. Montoya Frosh & Transfer Scholars Program?
The James M. Montoya Frosh & Transfer Scholars Program, known as Montoya Scholars, is an academic mentorship program for incoming frosh and transfer students of Latine & diverse backgrounds.The program is designed to foster agency & empowerment as frosh and transfer students explore and discover their academic and career paths. In addition, Montoya Scholars Program encourages students to critically examine their Latinidad and its rich legacy in the Stanford community. We explore these concepts through social engagement, community building, 1-1 mentorship with an appointed graduate student, and academic workshops. Montoya Scholars will receive 1 unit of elective course credit per quarter.
The Montoya Scholars Program challenges its participants to reflect on their collegiate journey, identify & access campus resources, and embrace their resilience to thrive at Stanford. Our program motto, Reflective, Resourceful and Resilient, serves as a reminder of our ethos.
Applications will open during the summer for the 2025/2026 academic year!
For more information, please email Sandra B. Galeas sbgaleas@stanford.edu
Who is James M. Montoya?
Chief of Membership, Governance, and Global Higher Education and Secretary of the Corporation at The College Board
Former, Vice President at The College Board
Former (First and only Latine) Vice Provost for Student Affairs at Stanford University
Former (First and only Latine) Dean of Admission at Stanford University
James M. Montoya, or Jim Montoya as he is affectionately referred to, is best known for his work in creating greater educational opportunity and access for students nationally and internationally. He is a trailblazer in the educational arena as the youngest head of admissions at a leading liberal arts college; the first minority head of admission at an Ivy League and Sisters institution; and, the first Latino Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Stanford University, where he also served as Vice Provost for Student Affairs. Mr. Montoya currently serves as the Chief of Membership, Governance, and Global Higher Education at the College Board in New York City.
A native of San Jose, James Montoya earned a bachelor's degree with academic distinction from Stanford in 1975 and a master's degree in Administration and Policy Analysis from the Stanford School of Education. At his undergraduate commencement, James Montoya received the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award in recognition of his scholarly attainments and his outstanding contributions to undergraduate education at Stanford.
An active Stanford alumnus, Mr. Montoya has served on the Board of the Stanford Alumni Association, the Stanford Athletics Board, and as a lecturer through the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. He currently serves on the Stanford Graduate School of Education Advisory Council.