Our Rich History
From humble beginnings to a thriving global community, discover the journey that shaped UPRAA into the organization it is today.
From humble beginnings to a thriving global community, discover the journey that shaped UPRAA into the organization it is today.
Introduction
The Association of University of Puerto Rico Alumni and Friends Abroad (UPRAA) originated from the practical need to form alumni associations of the eleven campuses of the University of Puerto Rico. This task proved difficult because it divided rather than unified the alumni in our community.
In February 2003, a group of thirteen alumni and friends of the University of Puerto Rico began the monumental task of organizing the association. UPRAA was organized in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area with the invaluable assistance of the UPR Representative in Washington DC, Ms. Betty Paugh, and the President of the UPR, Lic. Antonio Garcia Padilla.
UPRAA became the first UPR Alumni Association to include alumni and friends from all 11 campuses of the UPR Educational System, breaking down traditional barriers and creating a truly unified voice for Puerto Rican education abroad.
Key Milestones
Board of Directors
These visionary individuals came together to create what would become the first unified UPR alumni association:
Member, Washington DC Hispanic Charity Golf Classic Committee and Member of the Scholarships Committee.
Managing Consultant providing strategic advisory to the Department of Defense and Department of State’s Information Management Bureau
founder of JVR TECH LLC – a management consulting company, entrepreneur, & technologist for over 25 years.
He finished his bachelor’s degree while working as a COOP student in Ethicon, LLC in San Lorenzo Puerto Rico.
Board of Directors
These visionary individuals came together to create what would become the first unified UPR alumni association:
Member, Washington DC Hispanic Charity Golf Classic Committee and Member of the Scholarships Committee.
Managing Consultant providing strategic advisory to the Department of Defense and Department of State’s Information Management Bureau
founder of JVR TECH LLC – a management consulting company, entrepreneur, & technologist for over 25 years.
He finished his bachelor’s degree while working as a COOP student in Ethicon, LLC in San Lorenzo Puerto Rico.
Our Founding Members
These visionary individuals came together to create what would become the first unified UPR alumni association:
Ms. Betty Paugh
Ms. Sara Clemente
Ms. Nalini Lamba-Nieves
Mr. Armando Valdés-Prieto
Mr. Mario Acosta-Vélez
Ms. Grace Dewan
Dr. Jacob Lozada
Mr. José Vega
Ms. Loida Velilla
Dra. Margarita Benítez
Mr. Tomás Esterrich
Mr. Adán Rodríguez-Arroyo
Mr. Javier Vélez-Arrocho
Ms. Betty Paugh
Ms. Sara Clemente
Ms. Nalini Lamba-Nieves
Mr. Armando Valdés-Prieto
Mr. Mario Acosta-Vélez
Ms. Grace Dewan
Dr. Jacob Lozada
Mr. José Vega
Ms. Loida Velilla
Dra. Margarita Benítez
Mr. Tomás Esterrich
Mr. Adán Rodríguez-Arroyo
Mr. Javier Vélez-Arrocho
Presidential Legacy
These visionary individuals came together to create what would become the first unified UPR alumni association:
Dr. Jacob Lozada
UPR Rio Piedras
2003-2008
Lic. Carlos Mercader
UPR Mayaguez
2013-2014
Mr. Jose O. Torres
UPR Ponce
2017-2023
Mr. Tomas Esterrich
UPR Rio Piedras
2009-2010
Mr. Leonardo San Roman
UPR Mayaguez
2015-2016
Mrs. Alexandra Laureano Moenck
UPR Carolina
2023-Present
Mr. John Villamil-Casanova
UPR Rio Piedras
2011-2012
Mrs. Alida Rodriguez
UPR Mayaguez
2016
Alumni & Friends Abroad
Connecting University of Puerto Rico alumni and friends across the globe, fostering excellence, unity, and lifelong bonds since 2003.
Address : 2800 Eisenhower Ave Suite 220 Alexandria, VA 22314
Email: [email protected]
Phone : +1 877-384-5515