Verónica Colón Rosario

Verónica Colón Rosario advocates for racial and gender justice, anti-colonialism, and human rights. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Women’s Foundation in Puerto Rico.

Verónica began her career in the health industry at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) after earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras. She later obtained a master’s degree in Latin American Studies and Democracy from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.

After completing her degree at Georgetown, Verónica joined the Latin American Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. In this role, she oversaw different regional projects and research. In 2016, she joined the National Science Foundation as a Social Scientist in the Directorate for Social and Economic Sciences.

Verónica returned to Puerto Rico in 2018, after Hurricane María. She started as Program Manager at Grupo Guayacán Inc., joining the island’s thriving startup ecosystem. She later partnered with two local investors to establish Holberton Puerto Rico, a software development school, where she served as Director for one year. In this capacity, she played a crucial role in strengthening the tech sector and promoting economic mobility among young students by forging partnerships and connecting them with high-profile companies.

Verónica is a board member of Women’s Funding Network, a global community of philanthropic funders for gender equity, and True Self, a nonprofit organization in Puerto Rico that works with trans communities, providing them with education and economic mobility. She is also a member of the advisory committees of Haitian Women’s Collective and Mentes Puertorriqueñas en Acción.

In addition to her work at the Women’s Foundation in Puerto Rico, Verónica is a fellow of SOAR Women and Girls at the Aspen Institute and a fellow of Leaders at Hispanics in Philanthropy. These opportunities allow her to collaborate with other visionary leaders committed to transforming the systems and structures that affect the lives of women and girls around the world.

Verónica is originally from San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, close to the communities she now serves. She is an outdoor enthusiast, ecofeminist, mother of two dogs, and plant collector.