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Julio Vargas-Essex is the Vice President of Student Success at North Hennepin Community College, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

In his position, Mr. Vargas-Essex provides executive leadership to campus student services including Admissions & Outreach, Counseling, Advising & Career Planning, Disability Access Services, Financial Aid, Records & Registration, Student Life & Recreational Sports, Testing Center, Student Conduct, Outreach, Career Programs and Veterans Affairs. These departments support and facilitate services related to recruitment, admission, orientation, retention, transfer, graduation, student activities, international students, PSEO students, student employment, assessment of student success, etc. With a tremendous desire to see students succeed, Mr. Vargas-Essex places a significant importance on making higher education accessible and achievable for everyone. His experience with culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities has reinforced the importance of helping others find their vocation in life. With a holistic approach, Mr. Vargas-Essex believes that individuals can realize their true “calling” in life through education and by focusing on values that inspire others to be “Idealistic Leaders.”

Prior to North Hennepin Community College, Mr. Vargas-Essex served as the Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions at Metropolitan State University from 2012 – 2019; Director of Enrollment Management at Perpich Center for Arts Education, in Golden Valley, MN since March 2011; and, worked at Augsburg College as an Associate Director and Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment from 2008. In his formative years, he was a Student Services Coordinator and Adjunct instructor at Rasmussen College, Eagan, Minn., and a Crisis Intervention Specialist at the Eau Claire Academy.

He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Stout and M.A. in Psychology from Metropolitan State University–St. Paul, MN.

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