Esmeralda Sweeney is the associate vice president (AVP) of Student Success at Broward College. She has over 25 years of experience in higher education. In her current role, she is responsible for researching, implementing, leading, and assessing collegewide student retention initiatives. In addition, she provides collegewide vision and leadership for basic needs and wrap-around holistic student supports. Prior to her AVP role, she was the associate dean of the Academic Success Center at Broward College’s North Campus. Esmerelda is a leadership fellow of the National Community College Hispanic Council. She was selected to be part of the inaugural College President Leadership Academy, the Presidential Executive Practicum, and the Woman Leading Broward County leadership trainings. She also received the NISOD Excellence Award for her work, and, most recently, she was elected as a South Florida Hispanic Woman of Distinction honoree. Esmeralda holds a master’s degree in human relations and business and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in community college leadership. She lives in South Florida with her husband, her two teenage children, and their cat named Cicero.
Education:
Master’s in Human Relations and Business| Amberton University
Doctorate in Community College Leadership (in progress) | Morgan State University
Past Experience:
Associate Vice President of Student Success | Broward College
Associate Dean of Academic Resources | Broward College
How has education changed your life/your family?
As an immigrant, first-generation student, education changed my life in ways I could not have imagined. Education gave me my first taste of what it means to serve others, so much so that I started volunteering and working at Broward College as an 18-year-old student, and I never left. During my time at Broward College, I witnessed first-hand the impact education has on students. This is why I made education my career, and the reason I take student success as a personal mission.