LANGUAGES: Fully bilingual and bicultural in English and Spanish

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Studies Included:

Public Administration Puerto Rican Politics

Research Methods United States Politics

Human Motivation Comparative Politics

Sociology Ethnic/Urban Politics

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

President & Chief Executive Officer, AGMUS Ventures, Inc. (AVI)

Responsible for the leadership, guidance, policy-making, planning, development, and quality control of processes and activities for AVI, an educational services corporation.

• Major accomplishments: Establishment and expansion of the corporation from an initial investment of $1 million to income over $37 million. Designed and developed the first dual language university level program in the United States. Developed and administered dual language branch campuses of Universidad Ana G. Méndez leading to the establishment of 6 campuses: 3 in Florida - Orlando, South Florida, and Tampa – Montgomery County, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Dallas, Texas. Branch campuses grew from an initial enrollment of 125 in 2003 to 3,200 in 2019.

Vice President for National Affairs, Universidad Ana G. Méndez (UAGM)

Serve as a liaison and facilitator of all matters that pertain to UAGM’s operations in the Continental United States and ensures compliance with all UAGM’s administrative and academic policies. Facilitate the development of projects and initiatives in the region for other UAGM Officials. Identify and develop new markets in the continental US and develop projects using strategies geared toward meeting the needs of the identified markets. Establish, develop and maintain strategic alliances in the public, private and community sectors that permit new project developments.

• Major accomplishments: Provided leadership in the development and adaptation of 43 academic programs at the associate, bachelors and masters levels in a dual language format, development of recruitment, student services academic and administrative strategies and policies in 5 educational markets and 4 state regulatory systems. Over 5,000 graduates from the dual language programs and multiple recognitions and commendations from external and accrediting evaluators.

Associate VP/Dean of the School for Professional Studies, Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez (SUAGM)

Provide leadership and manage the administrative and academic affairs of the School an autonomous unit within that administers adult accelerated studies programs. Responsibilities include program development, faculty and staff supervision, budgeting and planning, coordination of recruitment and student services activities, liaison with partner universities, and international joint ventures.

• Major accomplishments: creation and development of the School and its accelerated studies program, enrollment growth from 175 to 7,500 students in ten years.

Assistant Vice President for Academic Policy and Planning, SUAGM

Provide support, advice and follow-up to matters under the jurisdiction of the Vice Presidency for Academic Affairs related to strategic planning, academic policies and needs with special emphasis on adult education, nontraditional programs, technology and other key strategic areas. This includes conducting needs assessments, creative development of visions, models and projects, and strategic plan design and implementation. Responsible for the direction of the Institute for Public Policy.

• Major accomplishments: development of an adult education model for the System, establishing inter-university partnerships to assist in its implementation and development of a strategic plan for the integration of information technology and telecommunications into academic processes.

Dean/Director of Academic Affairs, Instituto de Educación Universal

Responsible for the development and quality control of academic processes and activities for the three-campus technical, post-secondary institution serving over 3,000 mostly disadvantage students. This included development and revision of curricular offerings, hiring, development and evaluation of approximately 200 faculty and other academic personnel, resource management, coordination of student counseling and placement services, and design and development of academic policies and procedures. Responsible for institutional authorization and accreditation with federal, state and independent accrediting agencies as well as the establishment of student outcome defined academic quality assurance systems.

• Major accomplishments: reorganization of academic resources and curricula to increase efficiency, achieving annual reductions in instructional costs of approximately $500,000 despite enrollment increase, a 9% overall increase in student retention and 16% increase in job placement, revision of academic policies and procedures, and faculty retraining.

Associate Director, Interamerican Studies Center, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico

Responsible for the administration of the institution’s center for the study of Interamerican issues. This included personnel supervision, budgeting, planning of Center activities and coordination of fund-raising efforts. In conjunction with the Director, determine the Center’s mission and agenda and maintain contact with leaders and scholars. Also assigned to the development of institutional external resources, including grant proposals relevant to academic priorities.

Associate Dean, Academic Support Programs, Triton College

Responsible for the planning, administration and coordination of academic support services for under prepared and disadvantaged students that represent over 50% of the college’s 20,000 students. These included remedial instruction in reading, writing and mathematics, English as a Second Language, high school completion for adults, adult literacy and basic skills, pre-vocational courses, tutoring, comprehensive counseling and mentoring programs, as well as assessment, placement and tracking of students. Activities included: administration of a million-dollar institutional budget, procurement and administration of federal and state grants, supervision of over 40 full-time and 150 part-time faculty and staff, program development, research and reporting of student’s outcomes, development of curriculum and assessment system, and coordination with other departments and external agencies.

• Major accomplishments: development of an integrated administration and service structure for all programs that resulted in cost savings, service improvement and easier student flow, development of an integrated curriculum and assessment model from the literacy to the college entrance level, and grants totaling more than $1.2 million per year.

Assistant Dean, Arts and Sciences, Director Developmental Education

Responsible for the administration of the Developmental Education Program Service serving over a third of incoming freshmen, including courses to improve reading, writing, and mathematical skills, counseling, advising, peer counseling and tutoring support services. Also coordinated the Behavioral and Social Sciences Departments, Honors Program, and assisted the Dean in faculty evaluation, scheduling and minority affairs. Supervised over 12 full-time and 60 part-time staff.

• Major accomplishments: writing and obtaining Special Services grant for $405,000 for the development of a comprehensive mentoring system, improved grant reporting and staff monitoring systems, and recruitment of needed minority staff.

Instructor, Political Science, North Park College

Part-time teaching of course in Comparative Politics. The course was designed to incorporate objectives and activities leading to the development of students’ reading, writing and thinking skills as they learned the Political Science content.

Dean of Students Affairs, St. Augustine College

Responsible for the administration of student services and activities, including recruitment, admissions and records, counseling, career development, student activities, and tutoring or specialized instruction programs at the Main Campus and satellite facilities. In charge of the supervision of two federally-funded student support services program, including the day-to-day administration of one of them. Also involved in institutional research, especially as it relates to enrollment management and retention strategies. Entrusted with tasks to coordinate institutional development of funding proposals for the government and private philanthropic sector. Activities included budget preparation, personnel supervision, training and program development.

• Major accomplishments: development of individualized, comprehensive counseling system, departmental and program reorganization resulting in increased level of service at lower cost, development of internal administrative controls, and intradepartmental planning mechanism, writing and obtaining grants for over $500,000, and preparation for successful visit by the North Central Evaluation Team.

Instructor, St. Augustine College

Taught course of Academic Skills in the Counseling and Guidance Program designed to familiarize students with techniques of information gathering, analysis and presentation, and other study research skills. Course was developed to familiarize adult students with the college environment and equip them with the necessary college survival skills. Responsibilities increased from supervision of one group to all courses sections as Group Leader, and design of syllabus and other class materials. Motivated and counseled students of different ages and varied socioeconomic, national, and educational backgrounds.

Director of Admissions and Records, St. Augustine College

Organized, directed and evaluated the Admissions and Records Office and the establishment of a centralized system of record-keeping for the College. Duties included program design, development and evaluation, implementation of procedures, training and supervision of other staff members, and interviewing and counseling students.

• Major accomplishments: Developed and implemented procedures for the entire admission and record-keeping process, as well as institutional utilization of data available from those records.

MAJOR AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND RESEARCH

• Extensive practical and theoretical knowledge of dual language education and the characteristics and benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy at the social and personal levels.
• Expertise in cultural diversity and inclusion at the organizational and personal levels, including the development and offering of workshops on cultural awareness, interaction and tolerance.
• Research on Ethnicity and Urban Politics, especially on the problems and needs of Hispanics in the United States and the role of language and culture in ethnic matters. Interviewed 25 leaders of Hispanic Community organizations as part of research for M.A. Paper at the University of Chicago (1980): “Assimilation, Ethnic Politics and the Puerto Ricans in Chicago”.
• Research on the principles of human motivation and how they affect participation in organizations and politics.
• Research on the development of the Puerto Rican Statehood movement and ideology, especially on issues related to education, culture and language.

MEMBERSHIPS

National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

AWARDS

Excellence in Dual Language Education Award, NABE, 2014.

Honorary Conference Chair, NABE, 2013.

Certificate of Appreciation, Mayor Dyer Safe Orlando Task Force, 2007

CIC/Lilly Fellow, CIC and Lilly Endowment, 1978.

Premio Betances, College of Social Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, 1978. Awarded to graduating student with the highest-grade point average.

Danforth Fellow, Danforth Graduate Fellowship Program, 1978.

ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS