Urban College’s Dr. Noemi Custodia-Lora Receives Prestigious Fulbright Specialist Award
Urban College of Boston is proud to announce that Dr. Noemi Custodia-Lora, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development, has received a Fulbright Specialist Award to support an international education project in the Dominican Republic. The award recognizes Dr. Custodia-Lora’s long-standing leadership in expanding access to education and workforce development for underserved communities.
As a Fulbright Specialist, Dr. Custodia-Lora will spend two weeks collaborating with faculty and staff at the Universidad Instituto Cultural Dominico Americano (UNICDA), where she will contribute her expertise to help strengthen the institution. She will help refine UNICDA’s educational strategy to better align with U.S. higher education best practices, improve quality systems and academic procedures, and deepen the U.S–Dominican Republic student experience to ensure it is truly bicultural.
Her selection places her among a highly competitive group of U.S. professionals chosen for their academic achievement, professional leadership, and potential to foster long-term international collaboration.
A Leader Committed to Educational Equity
Born in Puerto Rico to parents from the Dominican Republic, Dr. Custodia-Lora has more than 20 years of experience advancing educational equity for immigrant and underrepresented communities. In her role at Urban College of Boston, she leads academic strategy and workforce development initiatives designed to remove barriers to higher education and create clear pathways to meaningful careers for Urban College students.
Her work continues to center students who have historically been excluded from traditional education systems, an approach that has shaped Urban College’s academic programs, employer partnerships, and commitment to its student community.
About the Fulbright Specialist Program
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international educational exchange initiative. The Fulbright Specialist Program allows U.S. experts to engage in short-term, collaborative projects abroad, strengthening institutions and communities through shared knowledge and expertise. Since the program began, more than 400,000 Fulbright participants have contributed to global learning, research, and cross-cultural collaboration across 160 countries.*
Furthering Urban College’s Mission Abroad
Dr. Custodia-Lora’s Fulbright project extends the impact of Urban College’s mission beyond Boston, reinforcing the belief that educational equity is a global imperative. Through her work in the Dominican Republic, she will contribute to initiatives that reflect the same principles that guide Urban College: access, opportunity, and education as a catalyst for economic and social mobility.
Urban College is honored to see Dr. Custodia-Lora represent the institution on an international stage. Her selection as a Fulbright Specialist is a testament not only to her individual leadership, but also to the college’s ongoing commitment to advancing education equity and building pathways to opportunity for all students.