Dr. Sonia Maldonado, an assistant professor in the Teacher Education Unit at Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, was recently appointed to the Advisory Board of The Simón Bolívar Foundation.

Before being appointed to the Hostos faculty, Dr. Maldonado worked as a counselor in the College’s Carlos González Counseling Center for fifteen years. Her doctorate is in Educational Leadership and her major research interests are student learning preferences, individualized teaching/learning strategies, bilingualism, and the vital role of education in achieving social mobility.  

Dr. Maldonado’s articles on how to help students achieve academic success have appeared in several influential academic journals. She has also participated in many committees throughout her years at Hostos and currently serves as the chairperson of the College Senate’s Affirmative Action Committee.  An active member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), she has served as the chair of AERA’s bilingualism panel and presented her research findings at several AERA conferences.  She also is very involved with her community and welcomes every opportunity to help others.

About the Simon Bolivar Foundation
The Simón Bolívar Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization solely sponsored by CITGO Petroleum Corporation and receives contributions from CITGO employees and the general public. The Foundation operates in the hope of improving the quality of life for all people, particularly those who suffer from the severe backlash of poverty throughout the Americas, including Venezuela. The Foundation funds the medical and related expenses for all eligible patients.

From medical care and hearing devices to liver and bone marrow transplants, the Foundation focuses on a number of critical health care programs. Financial assistance through the Foundation includes, but is not limited to, room and board for both qualified patient and one family member for the duration of the patient’s medical treatment.

A dedicated team, based at the CITGO headquarters in Houston, oversees the administration of funds and works in accord with the Foundation’s charter and agreements with other organizations.

About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique "Student Success Coaching Unit" provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.

Hostos offers 29 associate degree programs and five certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to CUNY's four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of The City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's leading urban public university, which serves more than 480,000 students at 24 colleges.