2020
DR. DAISY COCCO
DE FILIPPIS
PRESIDENT
HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dr. Cocco De Filippis has been serving as President of Hostos Community College. She
also served as President of Naugatuck Valley Community College from July 2008 before
retiring on August 1, 2020 as President Emerita.��The hallmark of her presidency is a shared
vision of community, student-centeredness, collaboration and civic engagement.�� Under
her guidance student retention rose steadily as did the numbers of awards.�� Her leadership
saw the expansion of the Waterbury campus, renovation of Founders Hall and the campus
improvement project, as well as the establishment of an Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Center.�� In response to the needs of a growing immigrant population, NVCC created a
campus in the downtown of the City of Danbury, accredited by the New England Commission
for Higher Education to offer degree and certificate programs. The arts flourished as well
as the college hosted four Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence in support of the creation of an
International Center for the Arts at NVCC.
Under her leadership Academic Affairs oversaw the creation of the Hostos Academic Learning
Center, the expansion of non-credit offerings, and the successful application of a Title V grant.
Dr. Cocco De Filippis holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature, an M. Phil in Spanish
literature from the Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York,
an M.A. in Spanish literature and a B.A. summa cum laude in Spanish and English literature
from Queens College, CUNY.��
A published author and literary critic, her scholarly work is recognized internationally as pioneering
the field of Dominican women studies and Dominican authors in the U.S. In 2016, she was
awarded an Honorary Doctorate in the Humanities by the University of Santo Domingo (UASD).
Dr. Cocco De Filippis has served on the board of multiple educational and community
organizations, as well as Commissioner for the New England Commission for Higher
Education.
POWER WOMEN BRONX