This paper presents a contextual framework for analysis of Hispanic leadership in higher education and reviews the demographics of Hispanic college presidents, their challenges, and related leadership issues. It can be argued that Hispanic leadership in higher education brings a socially marginalized experience that, by emphasizing social justice, can yield a broader, more inclusive view of democracy and of the role of higher education in a democratic society than can the experience of the dominant group. However, emerging research on the selection of presidents and vice presidents for academic affairs at institutions of higher learning shows that Hispanics are held to higher standards than White American males due to processes that maintain and reproduce white privilege. The broad social changes accompanying the process of globalization offer some promise of change. Improvements can go beyond the typical race-based issues by including them in larger changes that are good for everyone. For example, institutions in need of increased enrollments aren't likely to resist enrolling more Hispanic Americans. Other issues facing Hispanics relative to higher education are maintaining their positions over time, building Hispanic infrastructural leadership within their institutions, increasing the numbers of Hispanics in tenure-track faculty positions, grooming Hispanic department chairs for national policymaking, consolidating Hispanic leadership across higher-education related arenas to expand influence, expanding leadership training programs for Hispanics, and building effective leadership teams to carry out strategic management. (Contains 59 references.) (TD)