IVC Research and Planning Analyst Kevin Hsu has been named a 2025 RP Group Rising Star Award recipient, honoring his early-career leadership in institutional research, planning, and effectiveness (IRPE). The Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (RP Group) is a membership-based organization representing institutional research, planning, and effectiveness (IRPE) professionals in California. Recognized for his equity-minded, data-informed, and innovative approach, Hsu received the award during the RP Group Conference in April.
In addition, Hsu and a cross-campus team received an Honorable Mention in the RP Group’s 2025 Outstanding Project Award for their work titled “Improving the Student Experience and Increasing Access by Streamlining Workflows: A Collaboration Between EOPS and Research.” The project aimed to remove barriers in student support services and improve internal EOPS processes to better serve historically underserved students.
The collaborative team included Hsu, EOPS Specialist Luis Macias, former EOPS students and student workers Sarah Smeltzer and Diego Valencia, and Saddleback College Counselor Cindy Duran.