Dr. Esmilda Abreu-Hornbostel

I think of myself as a builder—I use my deep understanding of systems and people to respond to an organization’s critical needs. I’m also really a change agent—I look at what needs to happen and what’s missing and then I create consensus about what to do and enroll people in taking action to advance progress. I have been a champion for social justice my whole life, and now, as a professional, I help organizations navigate complex interpersonal, political, legal, and societal challenges as they drive towards delivering greater social good. Bringing together the disciplines of business management, human behavior, organizational development, and education, I work to promote diversity, equity, and strategic innovation in organizations I serve. I believe inclusive and cohesive teams create new possibilities. One friend calls me the Thermostat—he says “It’s important to have someone on your team that can give you an accurate read on everyone’s temperature, but when you have Esmilda involved, you can actually change an organization’s environment. She’s always finding ways to pro-actively address what’s happening at our campus—building bridges, making connections between different areas, and raising expectations.” Another colleague says, “If you hear the word impossible, Esmilda hears ‘aha there’s opportunity here,’ and then she makes it happen. I’m not sure how she does that, but I’m always amazed!” Currently, I am the Vice President for Student Affairs at SUNY Mohawk Valley Community College, where I lead a team of dynamic higher education professionals dedicated to transforming student lives. Our values: Embrace our Community | Model the Way | Inspire Confidence | Encourage Excellence. My specialties include: • Leadership and Mentoring, • Higher Education and Student Success, • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, • Threat Assessment, Crisis Management, and Conflict Resolution, • Institutional Research and Performance Assessment, • Strategic Planning and Innovation.