A product of public higher education and an immigrant to the United States, Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernandez credits her teachers, undergraduate faculty and staff for preparing her to give back as a college president. Salomon-Fernandez knows first-hand how education can transform the lives of first-generation students and also the importance of maintaining higher education as a legacy for families. Since taking the helm of Cumberland County College in 2016, she has worked to ensure that the Hispanic serving institution in New Jersey remains a vehicle for achieving and maintaining the American dream through the collective impact of community-based organizations, businesses, higher education partners and the people of the region. Salomon-Fernandez earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston, a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and a Ph.D. from Boston College. In addition to English, she is also fluent in French, Haitian Creole, and Spanish. Her international experience includes working as a consultant for the Bermuda Ministry of Education and the United Nations in Mexico. She spent a decade serving as adjunct faculty, teaching a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in statistics, research methods, assessment and evaluation, and leadership.
