Throughout his life, Alfredo Santiago was devoted to ensuring that Latino youth had access to an education. He was the driving force behind the creation of the ASPIRA Center in Camden, New Jersey, as well as a strong advocate for education and leadership development of youth. Alfredo Santiago was a gentle person with an enormous compassion for the powerless and the energy and commitment to make a difference in his community. He was a caring and effective leader who had a special talent for bringing people and culture together.

Mr. Santiago served as assistant dean for academic and student affairs at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cook campus; pre-college program director of minority affairs admissions at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine; assistant director of admissions of Rowan University; academic counselor at Rutgers-Newark; equal opportunity fund admissions coordinator at Rutgers-New Brunswick; and director of the Essex County Center, ASPIRA of New Jersey.

Later, Mr. Santiago became director of development for the Cook College/New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers. He was responsible for major gifts acquisition and related fund development activities in coordination with the Rutgers University Foundation. His efforts led to the establishment of a $500,000 endowment for the Reich Minority Access Project, which provides scholarships for African-American/Latino students. He led efforts to establish the Ramon Emeterio Betances Latino Scholarship and secured a major endowment for the Stephen and Lucy Chang Science Library.

Very active in civic and professional organizations throughout the state, Mr. Santiago received fellowships from the New Jersey/National Society of Fund Raising Executives and the National Urban Fellows Program. He was a member of the Board of Directors of New Jersey/National Society of Fundraising Executives (NSFRE), now known as the Association of Fundraising Professionals; a member of the Princeton Area Planned Giving Council; and an associate member of Hispanics in Philanthropy. He also was the chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Center for Hispanic Policy, Department of Community Affairs; the chairman and founder of the Camden County Hispanic Advisory Commission; and an allocation panel member of the United Way of Camden County.

Through the Alfredo Santiago Endowed Scholarship Fund, his family, friends, and colleagues are keeping Alfredo's legacy and great commitment to students' development alive for many generations to come.

Center for Strategic
Urban Community Leadership
321 Cooper Street Camden, NJ 08102
Telephone: 856-225-6348
Fax: 856-225-6500