#160 Zaka Presents My Journey Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández

We sit down with Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández, a visionary leader in higher education and the President of Urban College of Boston. She shares her extraordinary journey from immigrating to the United States from Haiti at the age of 12 to breaking barriers in academia as a first-generation college graduate and leader. With degrees from the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, and Boston College, Dr. Salomon-Fernández has built a career dedicated to expanding access and creating opportunities for underrepresented students. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, offering invaluable insights for anyone navigating challenges as an immigrant or aspiring leader.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Salomon-Fernández discusses her leadership philosophy, the importance of creating inclusive spaces, and the pivotal role community colleges play in empowering diverse communities. She also opens up about the systemic barriers she faced as a woman of color in higher education and how she worked to break them while uplifting others.