Profile

Margarita Benítez brings to Excelencia a lifelong involvement with higher education that began at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). At UPR, she was a professor of Spanish Literature and Humanities, as well as President of UPR’s Cayey Campus and Acting President of the Humacao Campus. She held various senior positions at the Office of Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Dept. of Education from 1998-2003. She was responsible for the launching of the GEAR UP and the Title V Institutional Development for Hispanic-Serving Institutions programs, and also headed the Upward Bound, Talent Search and Educational Opportunity programs in TRIO.

Benítez has served as Director of Higher Education for The Education Trust where she coordinated the Access to Success Initiative. She was a Senior Associate at the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), where she directed the BEAMS Project (Building Engagement and Attainment for Minority Students), and the National Articulation and Transfer Network. Since 2006, she has served as Senior Associate at Excelencia in Education.