Linda Delgado was raised to help those in need and to educate others.

As a child, Linda accompanied her mother, who was born in Puerto Rico, in helping non-English speakers register to vote, especially during the election of John F. Kennedy. As an adult, she came to New Paltz as a non-traditional student in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and a single mother of three. The entire family worked together so that she could earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and become a teacher.

“The cooperation of my children made it possible for me to succeed,” she said.

Delgado worked at the college in various capacities. Delgado was a graduate assistant to the director of EOP at New Paltz. She also taught as an adjunct in the women’s studies, history and education programs before becoming a visiting lecturer at Oberlin College in Ohio and director of the Latino/a Student Cultural Center and Special Assistant to the Provost Northeastern University in Boston. She was also a visiting lecturer at Mount Saint Vincent in New York City, where she is now be a visiting fellow.

“What I learned at New Paltz is in keeping with what Mom taught us at home – both experiences continue to guide me in my personal and professional life,” Delgado said.

Today, she and her husband, Dr. Douglas Baker, own B&D Associates, a consulting firm related to multicultural and urban education. Delgado has also worked on strategic planning with school districts in Massachusetts and organized bilingual focus groups involving parents and students in kindergarten through 12th grade also in Massachusetts.

Following the death of her mother in 2005, Delgado created a scholarship ay SUNY New Paltz in her memory that would help Latin American or Puerto Rican EOP students with a GPA of 3.0. The Selina R. Delgado Scholarship was awarded at EOP’s 4th Annual Chi Alpha Epsilon Induction Ceremony held at the college in April. Krystal Montalvo, a 2006 graduate of the Communication and Media Department, was the first recipient.

Delgado said her mother loved the school and came to New Paltz for many events, including an appearance by women’s rights activist and journalist Gloria Steinem.

Delgado is also the vice chair of the Gala Committee for the SUNY New Paltz Foundation and is on the steering committee for the Ulster Chamber Music Series in Kingston, N.Y.

Money matters: At Shearson American Express, Delgado was one of the first women managers on Wall Street in the 1960s.

Home sweet home: Delgado and her husband also own Baker’s Bed and Breakfast in Stone Ridge, N.Y.

Everlasting education: Delgado is currently pursuing her doctorate in Leadership in Higher Education online at Capella University. She chairs publications and is the conference chair for the 2007 National Association of Ethnic Studies Conference at New Paltz in March 2007.