Lori Huertas

Professor Lori Marie Huertas was born in New York and raised in Puerto Rico. She is passionate about STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) as well as higher education with over 15 years of experience. Her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies focused on International Business. Her internship included travel to more than 6 countries in Latin America. Her Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology has been used to impact students as a mentor providing online onsite academic advising and intervention strategies for student adjustment to university life with a focus on student retention, improved student graduation rates and increased enrollment of the Hispanic student population. She has completed graduate courses in Training and Development.

Currently she is pursuing her Doctoral degree. She is the co-Author of the published book, available on amazon.com "The Christian Therapist Notebook". As hobbies she is certified in Yoga for Kids and Zumbini (Zumba for Babies as a certified Infant Mental Health Specialist). Lori is the proud mother to a U.S. Army Soldier that graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is pursuing his Masters in Homeland Security. She refers to herself as “Army Mom, Army Strong”.

Lori joined SHPE this year with Polytechnic University -Orlando, where she works as a Research Analyst/Articulation Specialist under a federal STEM grant. This role includes assessments of quantitative data that looks at # of participants, enrollment vs retention, # of transfer students. It also includes qualitative data in new programs/services, surveys/assessment, focus groups with observations.

Lori also teaches Psychology as an adjunct at Valencia College. She has conducted experiments with student that evoke “empathy” through a “Five-minute Eye Contact Experiment” as well as a study an incorporation of “The Five Love Language” as well as “The Myers Briggs Assessment” as a tool to help students understand their natural talents and how to incorporate in not just the classroom but in their future careers/internships.

One of her favorite books is, “Failing Forward” by John Maxwell and its quote “a leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” Her desire is to be a positive role model representing Region 7 and showing Higher Education Institutions. The amazing characteristics of Hispanics engineers as courageous, determined, faithful and fearless are areas that she strives to highlight when explaining to others SHPE's mission is to empower the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support and development.