Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto

Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto (born c. 1951) is the first woman and Latina to become the president and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.

Early years Vizcarrondo-De Soto's family moved from Puerto Rico to New York City in the 1940s in search of better jobs. She received her primary education in the "Barrio" before her family moved to Newark, New Jersey. There she received her secondary education and graduated from high school with honors.

Vizcarrondo-De Soto earned her bachelor's degree from Kean University and went on to earn her master's degree in Public Policy and Administration at Columbia University. She continued her education by attending the Harvard Kennedy School, where she received executive training. She then attended the Business School at Harvard University.

In 1989, Vizcarrondo-De Soto was an alumna at the National Hispana Leadership Institute. She later became a fellow in the National Hispana Leadership Program and also in the International YMCA Leadership in Geneva, Switzerland.

ASPIRA In 1980, Vizcarrondo-De Soto became the executive Director of ASPIRA, Inc of New Jersey. She was instrumental in the creation of chapters in different parts of New Jersey serving over 10,000 Latino youth. In 1990 she founded and directed until 1993 the Center for Hispanic, Research and Development at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in Trenton, New Jersey. On November 4, 1993, Vizcarrondo-De Soto was elected to the Board of the New Jersey Council of Grant Makers, thus becoming the first Hispanic to be elected to a countywide post in the history of the Essex County Government.

United Way of Essex and West Hudson Vizcarrondo-De Soto renounced from her position in ASPIRA and joined United Way. On April 1, 1996, she became the first woman to be named president and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson. As president she established two programs which have received national recognition, "Project Leadership" and "Success".

Vizcarrondo-De Soto is pursuing her postgraduate work in the area of public policy and during her free time enjoys diving, golfing and cooking Puerto Rican meals.