A Leading UAlbany and SUNY Educator Becomes a Hispanic Leadership Institute Fellow 

Jerry Rivera-Wilson, second from left, poses in Atlantic City at the Association of Teacher Educators annual convention, where the New York unit, of which she is executive director, took the top national prize. With her are, left to right, Kim Wieczorek of SUNY Cortland, Nancy Dubetz of Lehman College and Chrystie McIntyre of SIU Carbondale.

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 23, 2020) — Good questions are often far more valuable to the responder than the inquirer. That was the case last fall for Jerusalem “Jerry” Rivera-Wilson, director of professional development and continuing education in the School of Education, after being nominated to become a 2020 fellow of SUNY’s Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI).

“I was honored to be nominated, but I hesitated to submit my materials to move forward in the process, given that I am a tenured faculty member/professional,” said Rivera-Wilson, who joined SOE in 1996.

“I ultimately decided to push ahead because of the reflective nature of the questions. I felt, regardless of the outcome, the application was forcing me to address what it meant to be a Hispanic/Latinx woman and a leader.”

Her answers were no doubt compelling, because in January she was chosen one of nine HLI fellows from a SUNY-wide applicant pool of 40. She began HLI’s individualized experience of leadership development that includes assessments, coaching, online and in-person workshops, and an applied learning project. Meetings with mentors and the fellows group began in person but have shifted to Zoom with the COVID-19 situation.

“Attaining this very significant honor speaks volumes about Jerry’s contributions to her profession as well as her tremendous potential as an emerging leader within the SUNY system,” said President Rodríguez. “As HLI’s executive director, I am especially pleased that Jerry will represent UAlbany within the program.”

Nominated by SOE’s interim dean, Jason Lane, Rivera-Wilson received multiple letters of support for a career at UAlbany that began with 20 years of oversight of the clinical component for the MS in Secondary Education and the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program.

Her current position includes leadership of the Academy for the Advancement of Teaching, Leadership, and Schools (AATLAS) program. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses at the University, as well as conducted research, and is executive director of the New York State Association of Teacher Educators, which in February won the national association's Sikula State Unit Award for overall excellence and performance — a first for New York.

“Over the years, Dr. Rivera-Wilson has taken on increasing leadership responsibilities for the School of Education and has built strong partnerships with local school districts,” said Lane. “Now, as the lead for AATLAS, she works to provide new and differentiated learning opportunities to educators and leaders within the K-12 system, supporting a diverse range of individuals as they advance their educational careers.

“Her selection to the HLI will help her further enhance her own leadership skills as well as build a network of leaders from Hispanic backgrounds to draw on as she advances in leadership roles.”

Rivera-Wilson, who holds an MS in Educational Psychology (1992) and PhD in Educational Psychology (2008), said she is realizing the value of her fellowship that she looked forward to at its start.

“The two aspects of the HLI program that appealed most to me were, first, the opportunity to be part of a cohort for five-months with colleagues at other SUNY campuses who have shared experiences and culture, and, second, the chance at this stage of my career to reflect, refine, and support my professional growth as a Hispanic/Latinx female leader.

“It is my hope that my participation as part of a network of Hispanic/Latinx leaders will not only strengthen and retain valuable assets within SUNY, but more importantly, ensure that we all feel included and a greater sense of belonging.”

President Rodríguez shares her enthusiasm for her future, “I look forward to working closely with Dr. Rivera-Wilson throughout the year as we explore the ways HLI can foster her professional development and build new pathways to success for Latino and Latina leaders across SUNY,” he said.

The HLI Fellowship is scheduled to conclude on June 18 but may extended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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