I am a highly motivated and enthusiastic Community Planner-Scientist specializing in participatory planning, community resilience, and developing urban and community green spaces. With a strong background in scientific research, I have focused on understanding the socio-environmental dynamics in urban settings, exploring the intersection of human and natural systems.

My expertise extends to environmental outreach facilitation, program management, curriculum development, and conducting comprehensive environmental-social research using qualitative social techniques. I am passionate about fostering human-environment interactions and strive to integrate the principles of just and sustainable urbanism, civic ecology, and environmental studies to create thriving communities.

I have been dedicated to bridging the gap between research and practice throughout my career. I believe in the power of collaboration and working closely with stakeholders to develop strategies that promote sustainable urban development. By integrating a socio-ecological perspective, I aim to address the complex challenges faced by our society and create inclusive and resilient communities.

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Areas of Research Interest

Environmental and Urban Planning, Green Infrastructure, Civic Ecology, Environmental Justice, Sustainable Urbanism, Participatory Planning & Community Development, Urban Political Ecology, Urban Commons, Ecological Agriculture, Climate Change Adaptation, and Collective Actions.

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Professional Preparation

Ph.D. Environmental Social Sciences. Natural-Human Systems in the Urbanizing Tropics (NSF-IGERT Fellowship Program). University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras.

Dissertation project: Civic ecology in the urban environment of San Juan, Puerto Rico: Community gardens and their socio-environmental impact. Advisor: Dr. Gustavo García López.

Master in Planning. Society, Natural Resources and Environmental Planning, & Urban and Regional Planning. Graduate School of Planning, University of Puerto Rico- Río Piedras.

Planning Project: “Conexión ribereña entre la Reserva del río Espíritu Santo y el Bosque El Yunque: Propuesta para el desarrollo de un corredor verde aplicando un mecanismo colaborativo de conservación”.

B.Sc. Wildlife Management. University of Puerto Rico- Humacao.

Final work: Management plan for a secondary forest in the campus of the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao (Group Work).

High School Diploma with Graphic Arts Technical Certificate. Miguel Such Vocational High School.

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Certifications & License

Licensed Professional Planner (PPL). Examining Board of Professional Planner, Department of State, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG). National Association for Interpretation (NAI) 2011-2019.

Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator. Mindful Ohio & The Institute for Creative Mindfulness (http://www.dancingmindfulness.com/).

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). FEMA.

Science Communication for researchers and social actors (in progress). American Institute for Global Change Research.

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Selected Experience

Technical Assistance Coordinator at Foundation for Puerto Rico – Whole Community Resilience Planning Program (WCRP)
April 2024 – September 2025

Provides support and monitoring for the review of Community Resilience Plans and the technical assistance services delivered to WCRP CDBG-DR subrecipients.

– Supports overseeing service provision, ensuring quality control, and maintaining documentation of internal performance indicators related to technical assistance and project management.

– Strengthen the implementation of Technical Assistance and capacity building for WCRP participating entities and communities, including designing, and developing materials, tools, and resources.

– Identify and leverage opportunities for internal capacity building in technical assistance and specialized topics, enhancing organizational capabilities and expertise.

– Assist WCRP Program Facilitators by identifying areas of opportunity and risk and assisting in problem-solving.

-Conducts data analysis on resilience needs and actions across communities participating in the WCRP Program, identifying trends and creating clear visualizations to support the evaluation of the program’s achievements and findings.

-Facilitates the development of strategic partnerships with key organizations to provide technical assistance that strengthens the planning, execution, and implementation of community resilience initiatives.

Program Facilitator at Foundation for Puerto Rico – Whole Community Resilience Planning Program (WCRP) April 2022 – March 2024

Facilitate the Development of Community Resilience Plans (CRPs) as a Dedicated Program Manager and Technical Assistant Provider:

-Spearhead the coordination and management of sub-recipients and local communities in the development of impactful Community Resilience Plans (CRPs).

-Offer valuable technical assistance to the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) and CDBG-DR WCRP sub-recipients, enhancing their community planning capabilities.

-Assume a critical role in quality assurance by meticulously reviewing and validating the Community Resilience Plans (CRPs) of CDBG-DR WCRP Program participants to ensure alignment with established planning objectives and methodologies.

-Serve as a trusted resource and advisor to WCRP program participants, delivering guidance and expertise on pertinent topics, including community participation, data collection and analysis methodologies, and climate adaptation measures.

-Design and develop a capacity-building portfolio for subrecipients and participating communities in the WCRP program to ensure the successful development of community resilience plans and practical resilience actions.

This experience underscores my proficiency in project management, and technical support, and my commitment to fostering community resilience in disaster-prone areas.

Regional Community Planning Associate at Foundation for Puerto Rico – Whole Community Resilience Planning Program (WCRP).

Provided technical assistance to the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) in terms of community planning:

This experience underscores my proficiency in technical support, strategic and program development, and my commitment to empowering communities in disaster resilience and recovery efforts.

Science Educator & Environmental Outreach Facilitator at USDA-NIFA Natural Resources Careers Track Program Puerto Rico. University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras.

The Puerto Pico Natural Resource Career Tracks (NRCT) Program: New Collaborators and New Goals promotes identifying and mentoring cohorts of students to prepare them for careers in natural resource management with the USDA and other agencies and NGOs.

-Mentored undergraduate students in the field of environmental careers and the development of science and outreach and activities.
-Facilitated Science Education Workshops and Developed Environmental Education Curriculum for Elementary Schools.
-Developed practical workshops about Urban and Ecological Agriculture & Created of School Gardens Activities.
-Planned and Implemented School Garden Curriculum Activities for UPR-RP Preschool Development Center.
-Coordinated with Rio Piedras Urban Action Center (CAUCE) and the communities around the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedra social-environmental outreach activities to improve the community’s urban environment and the quality of life of the residents.
-Research development of dissertation: Civic ecology in the urban environment of San Juan, Puerto Rico: community gardens and its socio-environmental impact.

Community Facilitator & Project Assistant at Community Garden and Urban Forest of Capetillo – Centro de Acción Urbana, Comunitaria y Empresarial de Río Piedras (CAUCE-UPR-RP).

Interim Project Coordinator
(September 2017 – March 2018)

– Led coordination efforts during the recovery phase following Hurricane Irma and Maria, focusing on enhancing community resilience.
– Devised and executed strategies aimed at improving both the physical and social aspects of the community garden and the Capetillo community:
– Implemented a new governance structure within the community garden.
– Orchestrated a tutoring program to support educational needs.
– Coordinated daily maintenance, planting, and harvesting activities in the garden, fostering education and community involvement.
– Co-coordinated an Educational Summer Camp to provide enriching experiences for local youth.
– Managed general administrative responsibilities to ensure project efficiency.
– Established and nurtured a Network of Collaborators to strengthen community partnerships.
– Pioneered Citizen Science Initiatives to engage residents in scientific exploration and data collection.

This role highlights my ability to lead and execute multifaceted community projects, emphasizing resilience, education, and collaboration.

Ph.D. Researcher. Conducted research on citizen collective initiatives for urban vacant land restoration and assessed their socio-environmental implications at the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras.

Teacher assistant (2015-2017) – Department of Environmental Sciences at University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.

Geographic Information System (GIS) Teacher Assistant

– Provided essential support for both undergraduate and graduate GIS courses, contributing to the overall educational experience.
– Organized and collaborated in the GIS lab, ensuring a conducive learning environment.
– Developed practical and theoretical exercises to enhance students’ understanding and application of GIS concepts.
– Maintained meticulous recordkeeping to track student progress and coursework.
– Offered hands-on guidance to students during their laboratory practices, fostering skill development.
– Assumed a leadership role by delivering select lectures, and sharing expertise and insights to enhance student comprehension.

This experience showcases my proficiency in higher education, instructional support, and leadership within an academic setting.

IGERT Fellow – National Science Foundation (NSF). Natural-Human Systems in the Urbanizing Tropics Project. The goal of this Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) program is to train Ph.D. students to apply an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to environmental problems in urbanizing, tropical landscapes. (http://www.igert.org/)

Forestry Technician – Research Summer 2014 (GS,0462,04) – USDA-Forest Service Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest. Northern Research Station, Ohio, USA. Research assistant in Oak Restoration Project and assisted in setting up and operating standard equipment used for performing laboratory tests to make scientific measurements and observations of sample materials gathered from experimental field plots.

AmeriCorps State – ENLACE (2012-2013). Corporación del Proyecto ENLACE del Caño Martín Peña.

Community Initiatives Support

– Actively supported ENLACE’s community initiatives aimed at enhancing the environment and improving the quality of life for Martín Peña Channel District residents.
– Collaborated on the initial phase of the Community Hazard Mitigation Plan, contributing to disaster preparedness efforts.
– Researched strategies for community adaptation to climate change, fostering resilience.

Project Assistant – «Renovando mi Entorno» (REMEN)

– Spearheaded the «Renovando mi Entorno» (REMEN) project, which aimed to transform the community by empowering residents and nurturing a sense of belonging.
– Orchestrated community organization processes, facilitating cohesion and collaboration among residents.
– Effectively organized and led community meetings, ensuring active participation in the transformative project.

This experience highlights my dedication to community empowerment, environmental improvement, and disaster preparedness.

Consultant at ThinkaMap – Geo-Informatics for Collaborative Minds.

Offered assistance on projects related to Cloud-Based Computing Systems, Spatial Data Infrastructures, GIS, and Web Mapping Systems. Successfully managed projects, developed online surveys, and created a data entry platform while conducting statistical analysis. These projects focused on natural resource management and collaborative efforts.

Intern of Science, Education, and Public Policy Division at Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico – Para La Naturaleza (summer 2012).

Technical Assistant – Mapa de Vida Project

-Contributed to technical work on the “Mapa de Vida” project, focusing on the analysis, evaluation, and data entry into the online database mapadevida.org.
-Proficiently utilized Geographic Information System (GIS) to program and manage the database, enabling the development of species distribution maps.

Project and Research Assistant at the Community Garden, Nursery, and Urban Forest of Capetillo (2010-2012). “Centro de Acción Urbana, Comunitaria y Empresarial de Río Piedras, CAUCE” (Río Piedras Urban Action Center) at University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.

Technical, Administrative & Scientific Support Provider

– Efficiently managed a range of general administrative duties to ensure smooth project operations.
– Spearheaded marketing promotion efforts, effectively enhancing project visibility and engagement.
– Acted as the coordinator for a successful tutoring program, supporting educational needs and fostering academic growth.
– Conducted comprehensive data collection, contributing to informed decision-making and project evaluation.
– Established a robust Network of Collaborators, forging valuable partnerships to enhance project outcomes.
– Developed and implemented activities and educational workshops tailored to enrich the environmental condition and personal development of the Capetillo community members.

This experience reflects my diverse skill set and my ability to provide comprehensive support across technical, administrative, and scientific domains to achieve project success.

Planning Intern at INSTITUTO SOCIO-ECONOMICO COMUNITARIO, INC. (Spring 2010).

Strategic Planning Assistant

-Played a key role in assisting with the development of the organization’s strategic plan, contributing to its long-term vision and goals.
-Proficiently crafted socio-demographic profiles of various Puerto Rican communities, providing valuable insights for informed decision-making and targeted initiatives.

Research Assistant at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao (2006-2008). Laboratory of Terrestrial Ecology and Ecophysiology analysis of spatial patterns.

Collaborated on research studies focused on mangrove trees in diverse ecosystems, including Aguirre Forest, Mona Island, and Guánica Dry Forest, under the guidance of Dr. Denny Fernandez.

Biology Tutor at the University of Puerto Rico – Humacao. Supplementary Educational Services Program.

-Designed and developed educational activities to aid freshmen students in the field of biological science.
-Provided valuable assistance and guidance to enhance students’ understanding and proficiency in biology.

Selected Presentations & Publications

Vega-Fontánez, H. (2024) Social and environmental learnings in the practices of community gardens in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Milenio, 23(1), 10–31.

Vega-Fontánez, H. (2023) Civic Ecology Practices of Urban Community Gardens in San Juan, Puerto Rico:
A Summary of Their Socio-Environmental Contributions. Proceedings I Congreso de Trabajo y Desarrollo
Comunitario: experiencias del trabajo y desarrollo comunitario en Puerto Rico.

Vega-Fontanez, H. (2019) Civic Ecology in the Urban Environment of San Juan, Puerto Rico: Exploratory Study of Community Gardens and Its Socio-Environmental Impact. 14th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) & 2019 Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program (HSI) Meeting, USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Vega-Fontanez H. & Rodríguez N. & Cátala A. & Méndez R. (2016) Bosque Urbano Comunitario de Capetillo: Un Estudio Exploratorio Sobre Comunidades Urbanas y sus Espacios Verdes. Acta Científica 30, 281-295.

Vega-Fontanez, H. (2015). Política Pública sobre Ambiente Urbano en el Municipio de San Juan, Puerto Rico: Un Análisis desde la Perspectiva de los Espacios Verdes en la Ciudad. Conference: X Convención Internacional sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo – II Congreso de Política, Derecho y Justicia Ambiental, at Havana, Cuba.

Vega-Fontanez, H. & Guevarez-Ayala, A. & Ortiz-Rodriguez, N. & Catala-Sanchez, A. & Mendez-Resto, R. (2015) Community and Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study on How People from Capetillo in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, approach an Urban Forest. 55th Annual Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference. Justice and The City: (re)Examining the Past to Create the Future. Houston, Texas.

Ramsy M., Nytch C., Meléndez Ackerman E., Cartagena M., Fidalgo L., Trujillo A., Vega-Fontánez H., Santiago L., Díaz E., Correa N., Olivero S., Fontánez J., Erazo A., Torres K., Vila C., Ramos O. and Lugo A. (2014). An assessment of residents’ satisfaction and short-term visions for urban yards in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 2014 ialeUK Annual Conference& 99th ESA Annual Meeting 2014.

Vega-Fontánez, H. (2012). Bridging El Yunque National Forest and Espiritu Santo Nature Reserve: a proposal for developing a floodplain Green Corridor in Northeast Puerto Rico. First Undergraduate and Graduate Students Research Congress at UPR-Río Piedras.

Vega-Fontánez, H. (2011). Community Garden, Nursery, and Urban Forest of Capetillo: How community participation changed community environment. XII N-AERUS CONFERENCE (Network-Association of European Researchers on Urbanization in the South). “The city at human scale”. Hosted by the Faculty of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Vega-Fontánez, H. (2010). “Capetillo Al Rescate de Isla del Diablo: De Vertedero a Bosque Urbano”. Community Garden, Nursery, and Urban Forest of Capetillo project, CAUCE. Presentation of initiatives on the rescue and restoration of habitat for urban community forest. 13th Caribbean Urban and Community Forestry Conference, USDA-Forest Service.

Rivera, L. & Vega-Fontánez, H. & Vera, R. & Vera, Z. (2010). Area Plan for the Future Cerra stop of Light Rail San Juan, Puerto Rico. Transportation Week Symposium. Institute of Transportation Engineers, Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying. University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.

Vega-Fontánez, H. & Peschiera, M. & Alejandro, T. (2007). Comparison of stomatal density within species from depression forest(bajura) and plateau forest in Mona Island Reserve. 27th Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Scientific Meeting (PRISM 2007) and 42nd ACS Junior Technical Meeting. Research sponsored by the Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation of the University of Puerto Rico (CATEC).

Peschiera, M. & Bulnes, A. & Vega-Fontánez, H. (2007). Difference Between Population of Melocactus intortus in Two Different Areas of Guánica dry forest. 2nd UPR-Humacao McNair Research Symposium.

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Selected Internship

HACU – National Internship Program (2014). Forestry Technician – Research at United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service.

Mini Internado en Estrategias en Redacción de Escritos Académicos y Ensayos para Revistas Profesionales (55 horas). Centro para la Excelencia Académica, UPR-RP.

Puerto Rico Sustainable Material Management Internship Program (2012-2013). Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University.

Programa de Apoderamiento y Retención de Agentes de Cambio (PARACa) Summer 2012. Mentes Puertorriqueñas en Acción. Research and Final Work: Development of Community Tourism in Puerto Rico: Proposal for effective implementation in Puerto Rican communities. (http://www.mentespuertorriquenas.org/paraca)

Democratic Governance and Community Development (Fall 2010). “Instituto Socio-Económico Comunitario, Inc.” (INSEC) and Institute of Municipal Strategists and University of Puerto Rico. Development of part of INSEC strategic plan and democratic government studies.

2010 Summer Environmental Leader Training Program (Sprog). Sierra Student Coalition, Sierra Club. Topics
Discussed: Strategic Campaign Planning, Principles of Organizational, Development, working with the Media, Effective Facilitation for Meetings and Groups, Coalition Building and Influencing Policy & Meeting with Decisionmakers.

Transitions to research careers Program (TRC). TRC is a program sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) that promotes research careers and graduate studies. Also provides first research experience. This was a Bug diversity research collaboration at Mona Island. Dra. Elvia Meléndez-Ackerman Lab. UPR-RP. University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus.

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Special Courses / Training 

Pedagogía de la tierra: Agricultura en armonía con el ambiente (2019). AFC+A and UPR-RP. Instructor: Dalma Cartagena Colón.

Knowledge Systems Analysis and Application to Sustainability and Resilience (2017). Instructors: Dr. Clark Miller, Arizona State University & Dr. Tischa Muñoz-Erickson, US IITF.

Theories and Methods for Sustainable Neighborhood Revitalization and Slum Upgrading (2016). Instructor: Dr. Isabelle Anguelovski, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.

International Course of Participatory Planning for Equal Structural Change (Spring 2015). Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Economic and Social Planning (ILPES) and Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) United Nations, Chile.

Computational Summer Institute 2014. National Socio- Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC). Annapolis, MD.

Watershed Academy Web’s Watershed Management Training Certificate. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). FEMA

Collaborative Design and Habitat Studio: bridges between academy and community (2012). Collaborative workshop between students, professionals, and inhabitants of Buena Vista Santurce community to develop a design proposal for urban renewal in common and private spaces. The aim is that students and inhabitants collaborate in creating quality living spaces.

Agricultural and Biodiversity residential course at Casa Pueblo, Puerto Rico (2011). Sponsored by Instituto Comunitario de Biodiversidad y Cultura & University of Michigan & University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez

La Parguera Workshop. Wetland Education Through (Maps and Aerial Photography) WETMAAP (2010). La Parguera Site Development. Sponsored by NASA, CNL World, USGS, UPR-Mayaguez, UPR- Río Piedras.

Project Design and Evaluation Workshop. NOAA Coastal Service Center. (16 contact hrs.).

Increasing Capacity for Caribbean Wetlands Conservation: Training Workshop for Monitoring, Education, and Conservation. Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico.

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Selected Voluntary & Community Work and Extracurricular Activities

Environmental Society of Capetillo (2015 to 2017) – Consultant of Environmental Society of Capetillo, a community-based association that aims for the socio-environmental improvement of their community. Assistance to develop different educational activities and help in diverse administrative, proposal, and scientific duties.

The Center for Science and Math Education Research (CSMER) at UPR-RP / Maximizing Yield Through Integration (I3) Project. Provided research assistantship to teachers in the development of their school research project.

Mentes Puertorriqueñas en Acción (MPA) – Consulting and collaboration in the development of fourth summer program. (Programa de Apoderamiento y Retención de Agentes de Cambio (PARACa). Social Change Project Coordinator: Coordinated the process of planning and implementation of an interdisciplinary proposal to catalyze a social change and mentor 2 participants through an 8-week multidisciplinary research. The theme of the project was: Food Security for Puerto Rico. (https://www.facebook.com/seguridadalimentaria.puertorico/)

Collaborative Design and Habitat Studio: bridges between academy and community. Collaborative workshop between students, professionals, and inhabitants of Buena Vista Santurce community to develop a design proposal of urban renewal in common and private spaces. The aim is that students and inhabitants collaborate in creating quality living spaces. (http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0124-79132017000100007)

Sierra Club – Outing Leader. Provided tours in some natural areas in Puerto Rico with the purpose of providing recreational activities to help meet the goal of the organization. Volunteer in various activities of the organization and Puerto Rico Northeast Corridor Ecology campaign.

Hands Across the Sands (2010). Puerto Rico activity organizer. The activity goal is awareness of people about environmental problems, specifically offshore oil drilling.

ENLACE Martín Peña Channel Project (2010) – Supported the environmental affairs coordinator in the initial stages of development of the feasibility study of dredging of Caño Martín Peña. Participated in the development of the Community Committee for the feasibility study and developed community assemblies.

Boletín EGP – Editor and founding member of the publication created by planning students. The goal of the magazine was to make known the planning profession and provide a place where students can publish their research. (https://www.scribd.com/document/55049742/Boletin-EGP)

First undergraduate and graduate students Research Congress at UPR-Río Piedras (2012). Member of Steering Committee of Congress. Sponsored by the office of Dean for Graduate Studies and Research at UPR-Río Piedras.

Student Council of the Graduate School of Planning- activities coordinator 2009 to 2011 (two terms) and representative of external organizations, 2011 to 2012. Provides social and academic activities that integrate students. Main organizer of the first research symposium: poster presentation. The theme of the symposium was “Repensando el espacio compartido, buscando alternativas para lograr el Puerto Rico habitable”.

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Skills

Project coordination / Research group leader / Event Manager / Community
liaison / Outreach Specialist / Qualitative and Quantitative research techniques and methodologies.

Computer knowledge, MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) Windows OS and Mac OS, Microsoft Publisher, Gantt Project, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), Dedoose, Illustrator, and ArcGIS. Knowledge in GIS (Geographical Information System) and Design Program. Knowledge of various qualitative techniques and research methodologies.

Creative, organized, energetic, and responsible. Able to adapt to changing priorities and maintain a positive attitude and strong work ethic.

Outgoing and detail-oriented. I am proficient at building and maintaining professional relationships.

Language: Spanish native, advanced. English intermediate (Read, Write, Spoke).

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Selected Awards

Dissertation Fellowship 2020-2021. Office of the Dean for Graduate Studies and Research UPR-RP.

HSF Scholar (2016). Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Education and Research Traineeship, 2013- 2015. National Science Foundation (NSF): NSF-IGERT Fellowship – Integrative
Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT). Natural-Human Systems in the Urbanizing Tropics Program,
University of Puerto Rico.

Outstanding Student, 2012. Recognition of faculty member of Graduate School of Planning UPR-RP

Summer Environmental Leader Training Program (Sprog) 2010. Sierra Club

Global Diversity Scholarship 2010. Adelante U.S. Educational Leadership Fund. Sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch. $1.750,
One of 3 recipients. The scholarship also includes a travel award to participate in the 2011 National Leadership Institute & Recruitment Fair.

University of Puerto Rico at Carolina Honor Award, 2002. Recognition for academic excellence in the first year of college.

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Reference Available under request

Contact: hagmel.vega@hotmail.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hagmelvegafontanez

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hagmel_Vega-Fontanez