About Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis
Dr. Cocco De Filippis returned to Hostos Community College in August 2020 after serving as President of Naugatuck Valley Community College from July 2008 to August 2020. Prior to her presidency at Naugatuck, she served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (2002–2008) at Hostos Community College. Now, upon her return to the College as President for the last four years and through a pandemic with ‘manos a la obra/all-hands-on-deck’ as her motto, Dr. Cocco De Filippis continues to provide a high-quality education delivered with hope, care, and understanding to the students. During her presidency, author and philanthropist Ms. MacKenzie Scott announced a $15 million gift to Hostos, the largest donation the school has ever received. This was included in a large nationwide endowment for schools educating underserved students.
In her first year, President Cocco De Filippis hosted a successful Middle States Evaluation visit, which garnered thoughtful and collegial feedback from peer evaluators. In 2023, she concluded a College-wide Strategic Plan, effective 2023–2028. The Strategic Planning process consisted of multiple voices at the table to prepare a powerful draft final plan that is engaged and inclusive. The Strategic Plan has now completed its first year of implementation. She has also fostered the creation of a number of impactful initiatives, supported by Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s transformative gift to the institution.
Under her leadership, the academic year 2023 recorded significant progress in fall-to-spring retention and a growth in enrollment during the spring semester. She continued to lead the College in meaningful ways post-pandemic. Of significance, Hostos was selected as a top-ten finalist for the national Aspen Community College Prize.
Last spring, she opened the Hostos Research Center, a space where faculty members from across disciplines create and explore new and ever-more-effective teaching methods, which will, in turn, provide the optimum academic experience for students. Dr. Cocco De Filippis worked with local elected officials, such as Congressman Ritchie Torres, and submitted a successful $1 million congressional earmark in support of our students’ transfer opportunities and the successful celebration of the College’s 55th Anniversary year. And State Senator Charles D. Schumer provided additional support in the form of $1 million to continue the momentum in programs supported by the Ms. MacKenzie Scott Gift.
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, she is recognized internationally as a pioneer in the field of Dominican women's 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), the oldest university in the Americas, in recognition of her contributions to Dominican, Caribbean, and Dominican Diaspora literatures.
Dr. Cocco De Filippis has served on the boards of multiple educational and community organizations and as Commissioner for the New England Commission for Higher Education.