Bronx, New York, United States
🎓 Provost - Chief Academic Officer at Lehman College in NYC. 🎓 Previously, Dean of CUNY's School of Professional Studies in NYC, with over 4,000 Bachelor's and Master's students and approximately 40,000 workforce development participants. SPS is ranked #11 nationwide by US News & World Report for online Bachelor programs. 🎓 Previously, Provost at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I lead its transformation during the pandemic to a remote teaching institution with a full conversion to the Canvas LMS, integrating Zoom, Panopto and various AI/ML edtech tools. 🎓 For the last eight years I have also taught business and entrepreneurship at Hostos (CUNY), Sagrado, NYU and Lehman. 🏛️ Before academia, I served as President Obama's appointee as SBA Administrator for Region II in NYC, leading SBA’s programs in NY, NJ, PR & USVI with over 2.7 million small businesses, and a portfolio of over $6.1 billion in guaranteed loans. 🏛️ Before SBA, served as Chief of Staff to Puerto Rico's Governor Acevedo Vilá and held senior government positions, including Secretary of Economic Development & Commerce, Executive Director of the PR Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) and President of the Economic Development Bank for PR (EDB). Served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of PRIDCO, PR Tourism Company, PR Commerce and Trade Company and PR Science and Technology Trust, among others. 👔 Previous to government roles, spent 13 years in the private sector: as Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble; VP at Citigroup; and attorney at O’Neill & Borges.
As Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success, I serve as Lehman College's Chief Academic Officer (CAO), overseeing educational programs, faculty matters, accreditation reviews, strategic planning, and school and departmental budgets. The Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success is the hub of Lehman’s academic programs and many administrative operations, with a mission to ensure the success of students, faculty, professional staff, and the College in a welcoming, efficient, and effective manner. The office strives to affirm and advance the College’s core institutional values: access to education; academic and scholarly excellence; life-long learning; commitment to social justice; and service in the public interest through collaborations with PK-12 schools, and community, business, and industrial partners in the Bronx, throughout the region, and beyond.
As Interim Dean, I led NYC’s top-ranked public university for adult learners, with over 4,000 mostly online Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, and 40,000 participants in workforce development programs. In 2023, Ranked #11 nationwide in online Bachelor programs by US News & World Report. Strategic investment in marketing efforts led in Fall '23 to the highest enrollment in the School’s history, with over 4,400 students, a nearly 20% increase in undergraduate enrollment. Helped expand access with the launch of Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) in Management and Entrepreneurship to serve community college graduates who intend to pursue a managerial or entrepreneurial path. Led final conceptualization and implementation of CUNY SPS's 5-year (2022-27) strategic plan, including 6 strategic priorities, with the goal of expanding online programs and access to post-traditional students. Focused on expanding accessibility for underserved populations, including first-generation, BIPOC, Veterans, and recent immigrants. Charged by the CUNY Chancellor with leading the first-year launch of CUNY Online, the CUNY-wide Online Program Manager (OPM) across all 25 Colleges and Schools. Completed the first RFP in just 4 months after launch, selecting the first 8 new programs to be developed. Expanded the use of Open Educational Resources (OERs) with the goal of converting full degrees to ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost). Led the development of two new state-of-the-art multimedia recording studios to create top-quality interactive course content in-house. Experimenting with AR/VR integration in our courses, with potential development of in-house virtual content.
As Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, I led all academic operations of the oldest university in Puerto Rico, serving over 4,500 students, including curriculum and course development, faculty training, student learning, academic advising, teaching innovation. Upon the outbreak of the pandemic, led the transformation of the University from a traditional in-person teaching institution into a fully remote one, with a full conversion to a new Learning Management System (Canvas LMS), and training of faculty to migrate into both synchronous and asynchronous online instruction. Led the creation of new faculty teaching capabilities, such as the creation of the Sagrado Educational Studios, to leverage Sagrado's communications and media expertise in the service of faculty to become more effective digital teachers. Selected as University Associate (UA) by the NYU Faculty Resource Network in 2020, which included teaching a summer faculty seminar on Lessons in Entrepreneurship.
Led the transformation of Sagrado Global, the School of Professional Studies at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, with the adoption of alternative education methodologies, such as blended and online learning, to better serve over 6,000 continuing education students in Puerto Rico. Dramatically expanded the offer of professional certificates in disciplines of high demand, such as digital marketing and data analytics. Led the design and proposal for the first Master’s in Digital Marketing offered in Puerto Rico, with 5x enrollment versus projection.
As Distinguished Lecturer of Business at Hostos, I taught a total of over 40 management and entrepreneurship classes, to over 1,000 students, focusing on the following disciplines: -Financing strategies for New Ventures (Angel Investing, Venture Capital, Crowdfunding) -Lean startup techniques -Optimization of Digital Marketing tools for Small & Medium-sized businesses (Social Media, SEO). -e-Commerce -International Marketing & Management -Business Law Assisted President Matos RodrĂguez in the strategic analysis of opportunities in various college initiatives, including: -Identification of potential corporate partnerships for student support. -Exploration of collaboration opportunities with colleges outside New York. -Development of the Hostos chapter of the Business Honor Society. -Representation of the President in various public forums and events.
Presidential appointee as Regional Administrator for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands with responsibility for delivery of agency services to approximately 2.7 million small businesses, and a loan portfolio of over $6.1 billion in guaranteed loans. Principal spokesperson for the Obama Administration and the SBA Administrator in outreach of SBA services, including lending, advising and contracting opportunities. Principal regional spokesperson for the Administration with business media in the region, and key small business stakeholders. Focused SBA role in the expansion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to benefit underserved populations, with particular emphasis on Hispanic business owners, and members of regional Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. Main liaison with regional administrators of the EDA, Commerce, Treasury, FDA, HHS, FEMA and the New York Federal Reserve.