MIAMI, Sept. 30, 2016 – Following some retirements and departures, Miami Dade College (MDC) announces several important, recent hires and the promotion of Dr. Lenore Rodicio to Executive Vice President & Provost for Academic and Student Affairs.
Dr. Rodicio previously served as Provost for Academic and Student Affairs. She first joined MDC in the fall of 2002 as an adjunct instructor of chemistry at the Kendall and InterAmerican Campuses. Since that time, she has held a number of positions of increasing responsibility at the college including Associate Professor, Chair of Natural and Social Sciences, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Vice Provost for Student Achievement.
Damian Thorman, Esq. is the new Chief Innovation Officer at the college. Prior to MDC, he served as director of the White House Social Innovation Fund, an initiative that identifies, grows and scales the most transformational social service programs in America. He has also held senior positions in philanthropy, Congress and the judiciary. Previously, he was CEO of True North Philanthropic Advisors, Director of National Programs for the Knight Foundation, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Director of Public Policy for the Kauffman Foundation and Professional Staff for the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee.
The new director of MDC’s acclaimed cultural affairs division is Natalia Crujeiras, who is responsible for overseeing all of the college’s flagship cultural programs, including the Museum of Art + Design, Miami Book Fair (MBF), Miami Film Festival (MFF), MDC Live Arts, the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower, Koubek Center and Tower Theater. She has worked for leading Spanish networks Univision and Telemundo, and as Director of Broadcast Operations at the University of Miami. Most recently, she served as Chief Content Officer for the federal agency that oversees Radio & TV Marti.
Also in cultural affairs, the new executive director of MDC’s Museum of Art + Design, Rina Carvajal, has been a museum director and curator for more than two decades. She was Executive Director and Chief Curator of Miami Art Central and has worked for the Perez Art Museum, the Pinacoteca do Estado de Sao Paulo, the 29th International São Paulo Biennial, The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other major posts.
Finally, Javier Ley-Soto is the new College Attorney. His background includes serving as chief legal counsel for the Florida Department of Children and Families since 2007, and associate attorney with Rosen Switkes & Entin law firm.