NALFO Congratulates Monica L. Miranda on Winning the AFA’s Dr. Robert Shaffer Award

NALFO is pleased to congratulate Ms. Monica Lee Miranda, former NALFO Board member and a figure instrumental in NALFO’s creation on being named recipient of the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award by the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA).

As described by the AFA, the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award is presented to an individual in the field of higher education who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to fraternities and sororities. The individual should have demonstrated a commitment to fostering positive change on college campuses through the advisement of the fraternity/sorority community, building partnerships in higher education and the interfraternal community, had positive and lasting impact on both campuses of employment and the profession of fraternity/sorority advising, and mentoring new and seasoned professionals.

Monica is a member of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (OPBSI) having joined the organization at their Alpha Chapter at the University at Albany, SUNY in fall 1993. She has since been a force of growth and development in her own organization and in NALFO. In 1998 she was among the individuals that gathered to unite Latino oriented organizations from the Eastern and Western coasts of the United States in what soon became NALFO. She has always believed in and championed NALFO’s importance to the evolution of Latino Greek-lettered organizations as a whole, and the potential of an umbrella such as this to give voice to a marginalized and sometimes overlooked community.

During her extensive career as a Fraternity/Sorority Life (FSL) professional, Monica has never stopped volunteering her time and effort to the NALFO community and the advancement of FSL at large. In 2001 she was named NALFO’s Rising Professional and then Professional of the Year in 2007. She was awarded the AFA’s Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award in 2008 and in 2014 OPBSI renamed their Image award in her honor as the Monica L. Miranda Image Award. She has served in various national leadership roles within OPBSI, including her role as Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2008-2010. In 2011 she made history as the first person of color to be serve as President of the AFA. Currently, Monica is Director of the Center for Student Involvement at the University of South Florida.

Monica will be presented with this award at the AFA Annual Meeting’s Closing Banquet in Anaheim, CA on December 7th, 2019. This award is only one of four to be presented at the Closing Banquet. Those that wish to, may make a gift donation to the AFA Foundation in her honor and in the notes, request the gift be earmarked for the NALFO Unity Endowment and the Monica Lee Miranda Scholarship, both funds that benefit students and professionals of color in the FSL field through educational programs and
scholarships respectively.

To read the AFA’s award announcement please visit their press release posted on their website: 2019 Individual Award Winners.

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About the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO): Established in 1998, NALFO promotes the advancement of Latino fraternities and Latina sororities. NALFO shares a commitment to fraternal unity, family values and empowering Latino and under-served communities.