[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 43 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                RECOGNIZING DR. DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RITCHIE TORRES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 11, 2024

  Mr. TORRES of New York. Mr. Speaker, to celebrate Women's History 
Month, I want to highlight Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis. She is the 
President and leader of Hostos Community College who has more than 
earned all our heartfelt admiration and thanks for her tireless work in 
administration and academia.
  Dr. Cocco De Filippis' work in higher education began with her role 
as Provost and Senior Vice President of Student Affairs at Hostos 
Community College in 2002, where her unwavering commitment to 
compassion shaped the lives and academic careers of her students until 
her departure in 2008, when she took on the role of President at 
Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, Connecticut. She 
served this institution for twelve years, inspiring students to new 
academic heights.
  She inspired these students with her own work and her own academic 
journey. Dr. Cocco De Filippis herself graduated summa cum laude from 
Queens College, with a Bachelor's in English and Spanish Literature, 
and then went on to pursue a Master of Arts in Spanish Literature, 
again from Queens College. Dr. Cocco De Filippis didn't stop there: she 
pursued a Master of Philosophy in Spanish Literature and a Ph.D. in 
Latin American Literature from the City University of New York Graduate 
Center. She was also the first person of Dominican ancestry to do so, 
cementing her legacy as a legendary pioneer in Dominican women's 
studies, Caribbean, and Dominican Diaspora literatures. For her work in 
these fields, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University 
of Santo Domingo, the oldest university in the Americas. Dr. Cocco De 
Filippis' resume is no doubt an inspiration to her students, just as it 
is an inspiration to me.
  Dr. Cocco De Filippis returned to Hostos Community College in 2020 as 
President and led the school through the unprecedented COVID-19 
pandemic, navigating the difficult world of online learning and 
community preparedness with grace and hope. Hostos College reported 
significant advancements under her leadership. A myriad of impactful 
initiatives aimed at improving student life and accessibility have been 
implemented during her tenure, positively impacting both enrollment and 
retention. In early 2023, Hostos College unveiled a brand-new, cutting-
edge research center established due to the generous donations garnered 
under Dr. Cocco De Filippis' leadership, which has allowed members of 
the Hostos faculty to explore new and more effective ways of teaching, 
all with the goal of improving Hostos' learning environment for 
students and professors alike.
  We are honored to recognize Dr. Cocco De Filippis' leadership and her 
achievements today. Her contributions have been invaluable to the lives 
of many, and we thank her for her relentless dedication to empowering 
others through education.

                          ____________________