Cyndia Morales Muñiz

Cyndia Morales Muñiz serves as Senior Director for Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She led efforts that resulted in UCF becoming federally recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. She now works across the university to develop a centralized vision for maximizing this designation in a way that meaningfully serves students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members from all backgrounds.

Her leadership has also resulted in UCF achieving Seal of Excelencia certification, which recognizes institutions that demonstrate positive momentum in serving Latino students through intentional alignment in data, practice, and leadership. She also serves as Project Director for UCF’s first awarded Title V HSI grants, totaling $5.7 Million, in support of Project POTENCIAL and Project ENFERMERĺA. Additionally, she serves as Initiator and Co-Founder of the Florida HSI Consortium, comprised of 16 HSIs statewide.

Muñiz is a first-generation college graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Binghamton University, a master’s degree in Sociology from St. John’s University, and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership – Higher Education from UCF.

Muñiz’s efforts have been recognized with the Women’s Achievement Award (Emerging Leader) by the Women’s Executive Council of Orlando, the Women Who Mean Business Award by the Orlando Business Journal, the Don Quijote Award (Professional of the Year) by the Hispanic Chamber and Prospera, and the One World Scouting Diversity & Inclusion Award by the Boy Scouts of America Central Florida Council.