Urban College of Boston Announces New Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development
Dr. Noemi Custodia-Lora succeeds interim vice president Dr. Chitra Javdekar
Urban College of Boston is excited to welcome Dr. Noemi Custodia-Lora as the new Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development.
She succeeds Dr. Chitra Javdekar whose work as interim VPAA over the past year helped develop new course programming and spearheaded securing a Workforce Development Grant from Massachusetts Life Science Center (MLSC) to boost STEM programming at Urban College.
“We thank Chitra for her lasting impact on Urban College of Boston, and are grateful for her leadership. Her hard work set us on a course for success. I am immensely thankful to her.”
Dr. Noemi Custodia-Lora is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience expanding access to education, particularly for underrepresented minorities. Her expertise in immigrant integration and workforce training, along with a deep commitment to social justice, has positioned her as a leading advocate for underrepresented minorities, including multilingual language learners, adult students, and immigrants.
As a native Puerto Rican whose parents immigrated from the Dominican Republic, Dr. Custodia-Lora moved to Boston as an adult, where she learned English before entering graduate school.
“Dr. Custodia-Lora is uniquely poised to lead our academic programs and workforce development. As an institution comprised primarily of non-traditional learners and multilingual students, it’s important to us to have accomplished leadership with shared life experiences. We are proud to have her on board.”
Dr. Custodia-Lora has driven statewide initiatives and advocacy work to increase access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, focusing on contextualized ESOL training with workforce skills.
She strongly advocates for immigrant integration, creating PIES Latinos de NECC, an initiative empowering immigrant professionals to validate foreign credentials and seamlessly transition into the workforce. She also served on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Alliance for Education board overseeing the Lawrence Public School district, playing a pivotal role in shaping educational policies focused on improving outcomes for students, predominantly low-income and Latino students.
Recognized for her leadership and contributions, Dr. Custodia-Lora has served on numerous boards and organizations, including the National Skills Coalition Panel on Racial Equity, Anna Jacques Hospital Board of Trustees, Latinos for Education Educator Diversity Coalition (OOMA), Haverhill Public Schools Diversity Committee, and the Massachusetts Commission for Foreign-Trained Medical Professionals. She is an American Council on Education fellow and serves as commissioner for the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Dr. Custodia-Lora holds a BS in biology from Universidad de Puerto Rico, a Ph.D. in Biology with a concentration in molecular endocrinology from Boston University, and a post-doctoral research fellowship in cancer research from Tufts Medical School. Her scientific background compliments her educational leadership, providing a comprehensive perspective on the intersection of research, education, and community development.
Urban College of Boston’s appointment of Dr. Noemi Custodia-Lora as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development marks a pivotal moment in the institution's commitment to fostering an inclusive and innovative educational environment.
With her extensive experience and dedication to social justice, Dr. Custodia-Lora is poised to advance Urban College’s mission of supporting underrepresented minorities and non-traditional learners. Her leadership promises to build on the significant progress achieved by Dr. Chitra Javdekar, further enhancing academic programs and workforce initiatives that are critical to the community. As Urban College embarks on this new chapter, the combination of Dr. Custodia-Lora's vision and expertise is sure to inspire growth, opportunity, and success for all students, ultimately strengthening the fabric of the diverse communities it serves.
