The Queen Sofia Spanish Institute Appoints Begonia Santos as its New Executive Director
The new director has stated that, “the Institute wants to be a key player in fostering an understanding of our rich Hispanic cultural heritage, and education is fundamental to achieve this.”
Begonia Santos has been appointed the new Executive Director of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, a New York based non-profit that promotes cultural ties between the U.S., Spain, and the greater Spanish-speaking world.
After an illustrious career in the financial industry, where she developed a strong business acumen, Santos moved towards the realm of language and culture. Santos has extensive experience in the world of education, which will be key for upcoming projects at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute. She has been a teacher of Spanish language and cultures throughout New York and has actively collaborated with entities such as the Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Consulate in New York, and NYU for the promotion of Spanish in the USA.
For Begonia Santos, “it is an honor and a great responsibility to have the opportunity to be the new Executive Director of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute.” She recalled that, in the U.S., a country with changing demographics and where the Spanish-speaking population is growing and significant, “the Institute wants to be a key player in promoting the understanding of our rich Hispanic cultural heritage, and education is fundamental to achieve this.”
Santos succeeds Patrice Degnan, Executive Director of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute for the past four years. Degnan reflects that “the Institute is at a high level of activity, especially focused toward education, bringing the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world to young minds.” She considers that “Begonia is the right person to lead the next stage of the Institute.”
Begonia Santos will begin her role at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute with a trip to Spain to strengthen the relationship with the Institute’s partners and to present the Institute’s objectives and initiatives.
La nueva directora ha señalado que “el Instituto quiere ser una pieza fundamental para fomentar el entendimiento de nuestra rica herencia cultural hispana y la educación es fundamental para lograrlo”.
Begoña Santos ha sido nombrada nueva Directora Ejecutiva del Queen Sofía Spanish Institute,entidad que promueve los lazos culturales entre EEUU, España y el mundo hispanohablante.
Tras una ilustre carrera en el sector financiero, donde desarrolló una gran visión empresarial, se orientó hacia el ámbito de la lengua y la cultura. Santos tiene una amplia experiencia en el mundo de la educación, que será clave para los próximos proyectos del Queen Sofia Spanish Institute. Ha sido profesora de lengua y cultura española en Nueva York y ha colaborado activamente con entidades como el Instituto Cervantes, el Consulado de España en Nueva York y NYU para la promoción del español en Estados Unidos.
Para Begoña Santos, “es un honor y una gran responsabilidad tener la oportunidad de ser la nueva Directora Ejecutiva del Queen Sofía Spanish Institute”. Asimismo, ha recordado que, en EEUU, un país con una demografía cambiante y donde la población hispana está creciendo y es cada vez más relevante, “el Instituto quiere ser una pieza fundamental para fomentar el entendimiento de nuestra rica herencia cultural hispana y la educación es fundamental para lograrlo”.
Así, Santos toma el relevo de Patrice Degnan, Directora Ejecutiva del Queen Sofía Spanish Institute durante los últimos 5 años. Degnan ha considerado que “el Instituto se encuentra en un gran nivel de actividad, especialmente centrado en cuestiones educativas para acercar a los más jóvenes la cultura del mundo hispanohablante”, por ello considera que “Begoña es la persona adecuada para liderar la próxima etapa del Instituto”.
Begoña Santos comenzará su andadura en el Queen Sofía Spanish Institute con un viaje a España para fortalecer la relación con los aliados del Instituto en este país y presentar las principales iniciativas del Instituto.
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About the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute:
The Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1954 to stimulate Americans’ interest in the art, culture, customs, language, literature and history of the Spanish-speaking world. We strive to promote, among the Spanish-speaking peoples of the world, knowledge and understanding of ideals, culture and customs of the people of the United States, to the end that ties of friendship may be formed, mutual understanding promoted, and bonds of peace strengthened.
