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Empowering Students Through Role Models: Meet Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, Founder and CEO of HISPA
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, GlobalMindED is honored to feature Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, founder and CEO of HISPA. A proud
Puerto Rican mathematician and education leader, Ivonne has dedicated her career to mobilizing Latino and other professionals as role models, inspiring thousands of students to pursue their dreams and embrace their potential.
Tell us about your personal journey.
As a young student growing up in Puerto Rico, I vividly remember the joy of doing my math homework. I began thinking about discovering new math and whether that was possible for me. It was only when I started my bachelor’s degree at the University of Puerto Rico that I met other mathematicians, including some who were also from Puerto Rico. They became my role models and showed me the way forward. During the summer between junior and senior year of college, I had the amazing opportunity to intern at AT&T in the United States. I spent the summer with other students, mainly studying engineering, and was introduced to the world of computer science and
telecommunications. After finishing my bachelor’s, I got my first job with AT&T in New Jersey.
After that first summer, I pursued a master’s degree in operations research from Cornell University sponsored by the AT&T One Year on Campus program. I saw apple trees and snow for the first time, but most importantly, I learned about the true power of mathematics, the great honor of this opportunity, and the potential impact of this achievement. There was only one other student of Hispanic heritage in this program of about 40 students. At this point, there were 22 million Latinos in the U.S.
This experience opened a new door to new possibilities. While back at AT&T, I had the fantastic opportunity to test the use of a new algorithm to solve a telecommunications capacity planning problem. This only increased my interest in continuing my education. I attended a national conference and met a professor who encouraged me to apply for their Ph.D. program, and that’s what I did. I studied at the University of Maryland with the support of a fellowship and continued my studies at Arizona State University, where I completed my Ph.D. Achieving this goal—that at times seemed impossible—would not have been possible without a big dream, those role models who validated my dream and showed me the way forward, or the many individuals who believed that I could do it. It was 1997, and at that time, there were approximately 30 million Latinos in the U.S. Less than 1% held advanced degrees.
I was able to return to AT&T to work in capacity planning, now with a focus on
identifying customer trends, forecasting demand, and conducting network reliability simulations. At the same time, I was part of one of the first affinity groups in corporate America: the Hispanic Association of AT&T Employees. It all started with organizing events to celebrate my culture and helping others understand cultural differences, thereby improving communication among peers. I started designing professional development workshops and leadership conferences. I even taught 88 engineers how to dance cha cha at lunch one day.
Little by little, I moved from local leadership positions to national positions. I remember the day I thought I could do more, that maybe I could become the president of this organization, and a new dream was born. At this point, there were 42 million Latinos in the U.S., and of 100 9th graders, only six would actually finish college. I felt there was much more to be done, and being in this leadership position was a way I could contribute. When I was selected president of the organization with 20 chapters across the U.S., it was an achievement. Still, it was so much more: it was one of those moments when you push the boundaries of what you believe you can do and find yourself on the other side—yes, achieving the goal, but with fears and self-doubt, but realizing something in you is changing. You are finding your voice, others believe in your leadership, and then you are empowered to do more.
Then, there was a significant change in the world of telecommunications, and I was charged with bringing two affinity groups together. I envisioned how these two long- standing organizations—one mainly focused on engaging employees and another that had welcomed the engagement of others who were no longer employees—could merge. The merger was a success, meaning that board members from both organizations had seats at the table, that both bylaws and best practices were incorporated into one newly improved bylaws.
This is the moment that led me to envision a future for the 2nd organization. This was the beginning of HISPA, an organization that would recruit, train, and unite Hispanics to inspire students’ performance and achievement. These role models would step into classrooms to share their stories with our youth, especially middle school students in low-income communities. This was the start of the HISPA Role Model Program and yet another dream: to lead this organization and impact as many students as possible. It was 2008, and the Latino population was approximately 47 million, representing 15.4%
of the total U.S. population, but less than 3% with advanced degrees.
This moment was the actual bridge that would lead me to dedicate the next 17 years to mobilizing Latino and other professionals in high-skill careers, and connecting them with our youth in public schools, on university campuses, and at corporate headquarters. These role models validate students’ dreams and show students the educational pathways forward.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
After completing my Ph.D., and while working at AT&T, I recall being invited to speak to students at a school in Newark, NJ. I did not think much of it and said yes. When I arrived at the school and walked into the auditorium, I was amazed. I saw hundreds of students who reminded me of myself—over 95% of the students were of Hispanic heritage. Without much planning, I stood there and spoke to them about my love for mathematics and how, despite being discouraged a few times, I continued to pursue higher education and study a subject that I truly loved. I told them how we used math at work and spoke to them about why I took the time to visit them: the future of our country depends on you.
At the end of my presentation, some students lined up for my autograph. They thought discovering new math was cool, and again and again, each student shared their newfound commitment to education. One student said that because of me, he would now do all his math homework. Another student said that because of me, she would also pursue a Ph.D. This was the moment when the model for the HISPA Role Model Program was born: let’s send role models into classrooms to share their stories, just like I shared mine. If by taking one or two hours of my life, I can be a role model for our students and show them what is possible through education, imagine the impact if we all did this? This was that aha moment that changed my life forever. This was the moment when I discovered my potential.
What are the most valuable lessons you have learned through your work?
In recent years, I have reflected on my journey and begun to see it as a Fibonacci spiral. When a door opens in your educational and professional journey, if you are brave enough to say yes to the opportunity, this brings you to a place where you will learn new things, you will meet new people, and you will have the chance to make a new impact. Then, when the time is right, a new door will open, and a new opportunity to be brave will again present itself. Once again, when you say yes to this new opportunity, you will build on your strengths, you will expand your network, and a new door will open. You
are growing as an individual, your skill set grows, and your network grows--just like a spiral! The lesson here is that perseverance is not only about working hard in a straight line but also about having the strength to be brave to accept new challenges and say yes to unexpected new opportunities.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
My desire to contribute and make a difference stemmed from a deep commitment to the future of our country. When I envisioned what HISPA could be, I had this feeling that if I did not do it right at that moment, who would? I felt - and still feel - a great sense of urgency. Our students and volunteers need role models now; they need to know they have champions and allies. HISPA developed a program to support them so they know how much we appreciate them and want to see them succeed in school and their careers. In a way, we have built a platform for HISPA Role Models not only to inspire and empower our youth but also to inspire and empower each other.
During the first year of the HISPA Role Model Program, I soon understood the power of collective impact. A volunteer can visit one school once a year, but another volunteer may be able to go three times, and another might be able to go once a month. It was my responsibility to envision a model that allowed volunteers to select their school visits in the most convenient way, enabling us to identify patterns in their participation and plan the number of schools we would work with the following year. To date, HISPA Role Models have conducted over 3,600 school visits. Students who participate in our programs get the opportunity to hear from 6-12 role models during one academic year.
In addition, 7th graders participate in the HISPA Imagine Days, where they visit corporate campuses and explore careers firsthand through interactive activities, mentoring, and hearing employees' stories. Those in 8th grade have the opportunity to participate in the HISPA Youth Conferences, where they visit a university campus featuring inspirational speakers and engaging activities.
What are your highest hopes for democracy to unite and uplift and inspire?
My highest hopes for democracy are to unite educated, highly-skilled professionals to share their stories, uplifting and inspiring students to discover their potential and ignite their desire to embrace education and achieve success. My hope is to ensure that every voice is heard and every dream is valued. Democracy is not just about casting a vote—it is about creating spaces where everyone can come together, truly hear each other, and work together for a common goal.
I hope for a democracy that embraces inclusion as its foundation. Where young people—indeed, ALL people—have the opportunity to achieve their own American Dream, where they have access to the same resources and opportunities as everyone else. Democracy can inspire when it reminds us that our differences are not barriers but strengths. Ultimately, I hope for a democracy that instills the belief in students that they matter, that their participation is valued, their contributions have an impact, and their
dreams are worth pursuing.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
First, thank you, GlobalMindED, for the work that you do! The missions of GlobalMindED and HISPA are perfectly aligned, and our organizations complement each other. We both understand the importance of elevating the personal, educational, and professional stories of role models—individuals who showcase the many pathways forward for our youth. Offering me this platform to share my story is already an invaluable opportunity that I know will help advance HISPA’s mission. HISPA’s model is replicable, yet we currently only have programs in five states. To reach more students, collaboration with like-minded organizations is key. GlobalMindED can support leaders like myself by fostering these connections—introducing us to potential partners, educational institutions, and corporate allies who share our vision. You can also amplify our work by highlighting HISPA’s role models and programs on your platforms, expanding our reach to audiences we have not yet touched. By connecting us with like-minded professionals, you help multiply our collective impact and accelerate the change we seek: a future where every young person has role models who inspire them to achieve and believe in their own potential.
To learn more about HISPA's impact, visit https://www.hispa.org/.
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