Latina Faculty President Committed to Education in South Florida
Meet Andrea Apa, Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Ed. D. President of Faculty Senate and Associate Professor , Broward College, South Campus
“To become a successful Hispanic woman in leadership, you need to be open minded, practical, a visionary, a problem solver, proactive, dynamic, and be ready to take risks but also learn to balance this with your personal life.”
Andrea Apa might have been a California girl by birth, but she spent the majority of her childhood in a small town in her family’s native Argentina. She returned to the U.S. to complete her education and pursue her professional goals.
Although Andrea originally considered following in her late mother’s footsteps in the field of medicine, she realized that she had an affinity for languages and the ability to communicate effectively and chose instead to become an educator.
Andrea is a strong, passionate, and dedicated educator who especially enjoys serving students from different cultural and economic backgrounds in our community’s diverse student population.
After earning her B.A. in English-Spanish Translation/English Education at the Universidad Almirante Brown in Argentina, Andrea returned to the U.S. and received her M. Ed. in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Florida International University. Andrea recently earned her Ed. D in Higher Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University (Nova).
While completing her advanced degrees, Andrea worked as an Assistant Director of Education and then became Director at the Huntington Learning Center in Coral Gables. Later, she became an ESOL instructor at Oak Grove Elementary followed by becoming an ESOL adjunct professor at Miami Dade College.
Andrea eventually moved to Broward College (BC) where she held a variety of positions including teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and Student Life Skills (SLS). She also was a Learning Community Coordinator, Student Affairs Faculty Advisor and Senior Student Success Specialist before becoming a tenured Associate Professor of EAP.
She also was a faculty club advisor for the ASPIRA and International Education student club on South Campus.Until recently she was Academic Associate Dean on BC’s South Campus focusing on English, EAP, Journalism, Reading and SLS. Her duties entailed supervising approximately 100 faculty and staff, creating new initiatives and working on programs geared toward retention, completion, and student success.
Andrea is the Chair of the Florida Statewide EAP Consortium and Commission Lead of the Community Engagement Team for BC’s Broward UP movement which is intended to partner and collaborate with cities, leaders, and agencies to identify the needs of community members and promote programs and services that will engage and recruit Hispanic and minority students.
Andrea also has been instrumental in growing BC’s international accredited program serving students in Bolivia and coordinating Language Readiness for all the BC’s international centers around the world. Recently she was elected to serve as the College Faculty Senate President.
Andrea was awarded a Higher Education Professional Engagement Grant from the Fischler School of Education at Nova which is given to qualified minority doctoral students engaged in Leadership Development Activities. At BC, she received a Classroom Research Award on the Academic Performance and Persistence of ESL Students as well as the Faculty Club Advisor of the Year Student Life Award for her leadership of working with Hispanic and minority students to enrich their academic journey by contributing their efforts to activities and events that emphasize commitment to the ASPIRA foundation and community. Andreawas also a recipient of a prestigious Jan R. Cummings Endowed Teaching Chair in Critical Thinking at BC among her other honors
Andrea has been married to Emiliano Lopez Candioti, a land surveyor, for more than 20 years. Together with their daughters, Micaela and Sofia, they enjoy traveling to Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Spain. When not traveling, Andrea enjoys the beach and hanging out with her daughters doing “girl stuff.”
For more information, visit www.hispanicwomenofdistinction.com or 954-601-6550 or email: hispanicwomenlunch@aol.com.
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Here are last year’s 2018
Puerto Rican Latina Has Improved the Lives of Many Young People
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Cuban Latina Enables Affordable Housing and Education
Panamanian Latina Has Received Stellar Recognition From the Children Services Council
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Puerto Rican Latina Marketing and Media Exec Also Supports Healthcare Organizations
Uruguayan Latina Business Development Leader Supports Education Initiatives
Venezuelan Latina Psychologist Has Helped Many Find Happiness
Peruvian Latina, Noted CPA, Outdoorswoman and Charitable Fundraiser
Ecuadorian Latina Has Made Great Strides As Director of Miami-Dade County’s Parks
Colombian Latina Nutritionist Small Business Owner Helps Women Be Their Healthy Best
Latina New Yorker of Colombian Heritage: Banking Executive/Community Activist
Latina Business Leader Spotlight: Ad Exec Daisy Expósito-Ulla
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Here are the 2017 Hispanic Women of Distinction:
GLORIA L. DIAZ-DANIELS –Div Sales Mgr Sales-Pharmacy Walmart – Palm Beach Colombian Born Latina Shines As Mentor and Walmart Sales Exec
ADRIANA FAZZANO FICANO – Chief of Staff, Broward College – Broward County Colombian-American Latina Leads College PR and Community Organizations
BLANCA GUERRA -Broward County Schools-Curriculum Sup/Dual Languages –Dade Cuban Latina Excels at Education and Preserving Heritage Languages
KARINA GOMEZ-HERRERA – Pres. CEO Karnna Fashion & Company – Broward: Outstanding Venezuelan Latina Excels as a “Hispanic Fashion Advisor”
Dr IVERIS LUZ MARTINEZ- Assoc Prof. Herbert Werthein College/Medicine FIU-Dade Cuban-American Latina Is a Premier Healthcare Anthropologist
LORENA MASTRARRIGO -Assistant Public Defender, Broward County – Broward Argentinian-American Latina Attorney Helping Hispanic Community
CHRISTINA PEREZ McDOWELL – Founder, Solutions by CPM, LLC – Dade- Cuban-American Latina Brand Manger and Executive Consultant
JACQUELINE NUNEZ – Co-owner, SOMA Medical Centers PA – Palm Beach Colombian Latina Healthcare Financial Officer Supports Those In Need
Dr. JACQUELINE PENA – Dean Academic Affairs – Miami Dade College – Dade Dominican Bronx Latina Secures Grants to Drive Student Success
MICHELLE MARTINEZ-REYES- CMO, Greenspoon Marder Law Firm – Broward Latina Cuban-American Chief Marketing Officer Is Growing Brands
MARIELLE SOLOGUREN – Vice President. Pierson Grant Public Relations – Broward Latina of Ancestry Cuban-Peruvian Making Waves in PR
RACHEL TOURGEMAN –Community Relations Dir.- Florida National University-Dade Panamanian-American Latina Community Relations Professional Advocates for Victims
LATINA PIONEER of the YEAR:
DAISY EXPOSITO-ULLA – Chairman, CEO of d exposito & Partners, a visionary creative leader in cross-cultural brand building for more than 30 years, Daisy has been recognized by numerous organizations and named as one of the most influential Latinas in the United States.