Nationality American Other names Daisy C. Defilippis | Name Daisy De Role Author | |
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Born February 25, 1949 (age 75) ( 1949-02-25 ) Dominican Republic Occupation Community college president Residence Waterbury, Connecticut, United States Books Literature: CUNY Panel : Rethinking the Disciplines Alma mater Queens College, City University of New York, Graduate Center, CUNY | ||
Daisy Cocco De Filippis (born February 25, 1949 in the Dominican Republic) is the current president of Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) in Waterbury, Connecticut. She is the author of works of fiction and non-fiction dealing with Dominican and Dominican-American women.
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Early life and education
Cocco was born in Santo Domingo on February 25, 1949. Her parents moved to the United States when she was 13 years old. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish language and a M. Phil. in Spanish literature from the The Graduate Center, CUNY, an M.A. in Spanish literature and a B.A. in Spanish and English literatures summa cum laude from Queens College, City University of New York.
Career
Cocco became the president of Naugatuck Valley Community College (Waterbury, Connecticut) in 2008.
Under her guidance, student retention has steadily risen, enrollment has increased from 6,128 students (fall 2008) to 7,293 students (fall 2013), and graduation awards have grown from 521 (2007–08) to 1,231 (2012–13) total awards. In 2012, NVCC became the first community college in Connecticut to confer 1,000+ graduation awards.
The community college has also observed the successful development of a growing center in Danbury, Connecticut; expanded course time blocks; extended library and tutoring hours to evenings and weekends; consolidated and streamlined student services; implemented college-wide mentoring, advising and job-readiness programs; and established a Bridge to College office, which administers $12 million in grants aimed at preparing students to enter and succeed in college.
Cocco has also worked with local and elected leadership to bring evening bus service to Waterbury, secure funding for an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, receive two Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence guests and bring the federal GEAR UP program to Waterbury.
Prior to coming to NVCC, Cocco served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Hostos Community College. Cocco began her career at York College, City University of New York, as an adjunct lecturer in 1978, advancing to become a professor of Spanish and ultimately being appointed associate dean for academic affairs.
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.
Honors and awards
As president of NVCC, Cocco has been honored by the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, the Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity and the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. She was also invited to speak at the Waterbury mayoral inauguration in 2012 and named Waterbury's Dominican Mayor of the Day in 2013.