Dr. Pedro José Santana

Dr. Santana is a multi-lingual (fluent in English and Spanish and working knowledge of Portuguese) individual with two decades of experience working within academia at primarily public and private colleges and universities within the Northeast. He grew up in New York City and is extremely familiar with the critical role higher education plays within society.

Dr. Santana firmly believes in the transformative impact that a higher education can have on its students. Dr. Santana has made it his lifetime mission and goal to help institutions maximize their potential in addressing the shifting demographics and ever changing needs of a diverse student body.

The value Dr. Santana places on education is paramount as evidenced by his educational pursuits and the attainment of multiple graduate degrees in student personnel administration, organizational management and additional completed coursework in global affairs, educational leadership and higher education administration. Dr. Santana holds a Doctorate degree in Business Administration; his research examined the Middle States Chief Student Affairs Officer (CSAO) roles and succession planning considerations within all four-year public, private and for-profit institutions accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Dr. Santana’s career-path trajectory has been primarily within Student Affairs. However, despite his administrative focus, he has always remained grounded in his respective academic discipline and training. He has held teaching roles at Stockton University’s School of Business, the Wilmington University College of Business, Buffalo State College Department of Higher Education Administration and the MBA program at Goldey-Beacom College. Dr. Santana’s experiences and training in strategic planning, succession management, assessment, institutional effectiveness, student learning outcomes and technology have allowed him to develop and contribute his expertise at the local, state and national levels.

In addition to his formal schooling, Dr. Santana has completed the Institute for Education Management at Harvard University and has received a certificate in fundraising management (CFRM) from the Indiana University, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Other notable executive leadership programs that Dr. Santana has participated in have included the Leadership New Jersey Fellows program and the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA), a year-long program cosponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the American Academic Leadership Institute

Dr. Santana serves on numerous boards that are dedicated to the academic empowerment and upliftment of humanity. Dr. Santana holds numerous memberships in both professional and philanthropic organizations. In his personal time, Dr. Santana enjoys worshiping God, serving the community and spending time with his family.