Hostos Community College is proud to announce that President Daisy Cocco De Filippis has been named one of City & State's 2025 Latino Trailblazers. Published on September 15, the City & State list celebrates influential Latino leaders who have made significant strides across various industries. Joining President Cocco De Filippis on the list are Kristen Gonzalez, State Senator; Amanda Farías, New York City Council Majority Leader; John Zaccaro Jr., Assembly Member; and Mayra Linares-Garcia, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, and CUNY Trustee, to name a few.
 
“I am grateful to be recognized as one of City & State's 2025 Latino Trailblazers,” shared President Cocco De Filippis. “I have always endeavored to make Hostos a welcoming place to everyone who would like to pursue higher education, and to ensure the staff and faculty deliver on our mission to foster life-changing socioeconomic mobility. This acknowledgment reflects not only my own dedication to education but also the collective efforts of the incredible team at Hostos. Together, we strive to empower our students and serve our beloved community.”
 
Dr. Cocco De Filippis has been a dynamic force at Hostos since returning as President in August 2020, at which time she made history as the the first woman of Dominican descent to lead a CUNY college. With a commitment to providing high-quality education, she has since guided the institution through challenging times, including a global pandemic, and implemented numerous successful initiatives to enhance students’ educational outcomes and support the mission of the College. Notably, under her leadership, the College was selected as a top-ten finalist for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and one of only six recipients of the U.S. Department of Education’s inaugural Postsecondary Success Recognition Program (PSRP) award in 2025.
 
Dr. Cocco De Filippis holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature and has received numerous accolades for her contributions to education and literature, including an Honorary Doctorate in the Humanities from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. Her dedication to the field of Dominican women's studies and her advocacy for Dominican authors have established her as a prominent figure in both academic and community circles. President Cocco De Filippis’ journey and career are powerful reflections of the impactful role of dedicated leaders in shaping the future, and her recognition as a Latino Trailblazer serves as a reminder of the contributions that diverse voices bring to the landscape of higher education.
 
President Cocco De Filippis was also recognized earlier this year as one of the 2025 Women of Distinction by the New York State Senate and on City & State’s 2025 Bronx Power 100 list, highlighting her impactful leadership. Additionally, two other esteemed members of the Hostos family have gained recognition from City & State this spring. In May, Dr. Eric Radezky, Director of Governmental and External Affairs, was named a Trailblazer in Higher Education. Following this, Dr. Evelyn Fernández-Ketcham, Vice President of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD), was honored in June as a Nonprofit Trailblazer.