ESU Announces Latinx Heritage Month Keynote Speaker

East Stroudsburg University announced this year’s Latinx Heritage Month keynote speaker will be Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez, national leading authority on leadership development. Her presentation will take place on Tuesday, September 26 at 6 p.m., in Beers Lecture Hall. The event is open to the public at no cost.

Dr. Damary M. Bonilla-Rodriguez is a national leading authority on leadership development, especially as it pertains to diversity and inclusion. She delivers keynote addresses and presentations drawing upon her experience from roles in the non-profit, private, and government sectors, as well as her doctoral research. Her research about Latina leadership in the United States has served as the foundation for events, conference sessions, publications, and content development – to address the urgency of leadership development for a fast-growing population and create a pipeline of diverse leaders.

Bonilla-Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and social work, a master’s degree in organizational communications and a specialized certification in corporate communications, from the College of New Rochelle. She earned a Doctorate in Education focusing on executive leadership from St. John Fisher College.

To change the political and leadership landscape for Latinos, Bonilla-Rodriguez ran for State Representative in the 189^th District of Pennsylvania in the 2016 election cycle where she became the first Hispanic to make a State ballot in Pike and Monroe Counties. In November 2019, she became the first Hispanic elected as School Board Director in the East Stroudsburg Area School District where she Chairs the Education committee. Passionate about supporting professional organizations, she is a Board Member of the Brodhead Watershed Association, Colonial IU 20 where she serves as Vice President, Prospanica NY where she serves as Vice President of Professional Development, ACLU of Pennsylvania, Latina VIDA, Latinas on the Plaza and an Advisory Board member for several organizations including: The Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs, Monroe County Children and Youth where she chairs the education committee, SciGirls, the Alliance for Positive Youth Development, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education Equity Task Force where she Chairs the Advocacy subcommittee. In addition, she was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to represent the Poconos Region on statewide commissions on redistricting reform and Latino affairs where she chairs the statewide education committee.

Bonilla-Rodriguez was recognized as a 2014 Coors Light Lideres finalist and is the recipient of numerous awards including a proclamation from the NYS Assembly, the Proud to Be Latina Soy Poderosa award, the GACLA recognition award and the SISGI Beyond Good Ideas Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership award. Her published written accomplishments include the books Gender, Race and Ethnicity in the Workplace and Today’s Inspired Latina (Volume II), as well as contributing to the Huffington Post and being featured by several media outlets including NBC Latino, Chief Writing Wolf, and the Empowered Latinas series.

While she is proud of her many accomplishments, she highlights her greatest as being the mother of thirteen-year-old twin boys, Caleb and Joshua. She resides in Pennsylvania with her boys and husband Robert. Her favorite quote is: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” (Newton).

For more information about this event contact Ly Fleming, director of ESU’s Center for Multicultural Affairs and Inclusive Education, at (570) 422-3896 or lfleming@esu.edu.

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