Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Monday, January 14, 2008
MDC Welcomes Two New Campus Presidents
As an institution we are defined by the caliber of our people, and I am very pleased to announce the appointment of two new campus presidents who are sure to continue MDC's tradition of excellence. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Anita S. Kaplan, new president of the Medical Center Campus, and Dr. Gina Cortes-Suarez, president of the InterAmerican Campus. As you know, Dr. Cortes-Suarez had been serving as the interim-president at IAC.
As we congratulate our new presidents, it is also fitting to say thank you, one more time, to Dr. Sigler, who has served as interim president at the Medical Center Campus. Her service to MDC and to our students has been incomparable. Please take a moment to welcome our new additions and offer our deep appreciation to Kathie.
Dr. Anita S. Kaplan, Ed.D.
President, Medical Center Campus
Dr. Kaplan has compiled a distinguished resume, one that is steeped in creative, groundbreaking work at community colleges. She arrives at MDC from Erie Community College in Buffalo, NY, where she served as Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. In that role she focused on the development of Erie's Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, a specialized program in surgical technology, and a major collaboration between the Erie's Health Sciences Division and a major health provider, among numerous accomplishments.
Dr. Kaplan's previous positions include Vice President of Student and Community Services at New Hampshire Community Technical College; Vice President and Dean of the Faculty at Southern Maine Technical College; and Dean of External Relations and Executive Director of Corporate and Economic Development at North Shore Community College in Massachusetts.
Dr. Kaplan earned her B.A. in Modern Languages and Secondary Education from Northeastern University, and went on to complete an M.Ed. and Ed.D. at the University of Massachusetts, the latter in Higher Education Policy, Research and Administration. She brings a history of innovation on behalf of students. I look forward to her contributions in her new home at Miami Dade College. Her appointment is effective February 15.
Dr. Gina Cortes-Suarez
President, InterAmerican Campus
Dr. Cortes-Suarez' distinguished career at MDC stretches across nearly three decades. She has earned the respect of her colleagues through service in a full range of responsibilities. She proves the adage that our greatest strength is in our people. She has provided leadership as associate registrar, director of the Hialeah Center, department chairperson, associate dean, dean of academic affairs, associate provost for college accreditation, associate provost for faculty initiatives, and as a member of the faculty.
Dr. Cortes-Suarez earned a B.S. and M.S. in Education from the University of Miami and completed an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration at Florida International University. Her dissertation examined attributional style and academic achievement in mathematics.
While welcoming Gina is not quite appropriate, congratulations and a great deal of enthusiasm accompany her appointment, which is effective today, January 14.
Thank you.
Eduardo