Villamarin, Juan A. (1939-). Villamarin is an emeritus professor of anthropology and former chairperson of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Delaware. He continues to mentor students and teach some courses at the university. Villamarin guides undergraduate and graduate students, ushering in class after class of Latino professionals to the Delaware arena.
Miro, Joseph (1946-). Miro, a Republican state representative in Delaware of Cuban ancestry, spent 31 years as a teacher for the Christina School District/Wilmington School District and served as chair of the World Language Department. After retiring, he became president and consultant of Miro Diversified Services. He serves in many leadership roles, including state representative (R), 22nd District; vice chair of the
Health and Human Development Committee; chair of the Business/Corporations/Commerce Committee; chair of the Homeland Security Committee; and member of the Education Committee, Bond Bill Committee (alternate), Joint Finance Committee (alternate), and Appropriations Committee (alternate). He previously served as councilman in the New Castle County Council, 3rd District.
Rivera, Jaime Gus (1950-). Rivera, a physician, was born in Puerto Rico and migrated to the United States in 1957. He graduated from Aviation High School in Queens, New York. He attended the City College of New York, graduating with honors in 1972. He received his MD degree from Harvard Medical School in 1976 and completed residency training in pediatrics in 1979. In 1972, Rivera cofounded the Latino Boricua Health Organization at Harvard Medical School. This organization currently has 13 chapters in medical schools across the country and is dedicated to increasing Latino enrollment in medical school and serving their needs while in medical school. Rivera serves as an appointed member of Delaware governor Ruth Ann Minner’s administration in the capacity of chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs. He serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Delaware, and he is a director of the Grand Opera of Delaware. Rivera is cofounder of the Delaware Hispanic Political Action Committee and the Delaware Friends of ASPIRA Committee.
Pilonieta Blanco, Gabriel (1955-). Gabriel Pilonieta Blanco, originally from Venezuela, is a historian. He worked as a reporter after coming to the United States and then decided to start his own publication, El Tiempo Hispano, a weekly bilingual newspaper. Pilonieta renders an invaluable service to the Delaware region in that he provides the community with a forum to highlight accomplishments, express concerns, and debate important issues.
Rodriguez, Havidan (1959-). Rodriguez, born in Puerto Rico, is a sociologist with academic training in demography and statistics. He has expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methodology. Rodriguez is the University of Delaware’s vice provost of Academic Affairs and International Programs and the former director of the Disaster Research Center (DRC). He joined the University of Delaware in 2003 as director of the DRC and professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. Rodriguez has published in the areas of disasters, diversity in higher education, and Latinos in the United States.
Delgado, Milton (1962-). Born in New York City, Delgado is a U.S. Navy veteran, a former instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. He works for Nemours Health and Prevention Services as a community relations associate. He helps community leaders build an infrastructure that will sustain community-based, long-term educational programs focused on healthy eating and physical activity. Delgado sits on the board of directors of the Latin American Community Center and of Westside Health, and he chairs the Health Committee for the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs.
Matos, Maria (1962-). Matos, a native of Puerto Rico, has been the executive director of the Latin American Community Center (LACC) in Wilmington since 1995. Major accomplishments include the selection of LACC by the National Council of La Raza as the
regional affiliate of the year for 2005 and 2006; the development of a high school reentry program at LACC to reduce the number of high school dropouts among Latino youth; and the designation as a supplementary education provider for the state of Delaware.
