Irene Encarnación, Distinguished Leader in Education and Community Outreach

The Hispanic Chamber of Cincinnati’s “Kudos Corner” recognizes Irene Encarnación for her exceptional contributions as a distinguished educator and for successfully leading educational and community outreach initiatives in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati regions.

Irene Encarnación has dedicated her life to advancing social justice and has made significant contributions to the Latino community. She is one of the founders of the Esperanza Latino Center, which she helped establish in Northern Kentucky. Her vision and leadership have been instrumental in the center’s success. Professor Encarnación’s enduring legacy and profound impact on our community are truly remarkable.

Irene Encarnacion, a native of Puerto Rico, holds a BA from the University of Puerto Rico and an MA from the University of California-Berkeley. She has been a distinguished educator with a remarkable 40-year career, including 33 years at Northern Kentucky University. Professor Encarnación recently retired from Northern Kentucky University after an exceptional career of service and leadership. Late this year, she was appointed faculty emeritus at the Department of World Languages and Literatures at Northern Kentucky University.

As an educator, she consistently strives for inclusiveness and dedicates herself to serving underrepresented and underserved students, ensuring their representation and voice on campus. Her efforts to eliminate barriers that hinder Latino students’ access to educational opportunities are evident both on and off campus.

Irene’s enduring legacy and profound impact on our community are truly remarkable. Her Leadership is distinguished by unwavering courage, grace, empathy, confidence, competence, dignity, a robust ethical compass, and exceptional performance in boardrooms, committees, and task forces.

Throughout her career, Irene Encarnación has received numerous accolades, including the UC Clermont College Faculty Award for Promoting Good Student/Faculty Relations, the Centro de Amistad & St. Mary’s Basilica Alma Latina Award, the NKU Faculty Excellence Award for Sustained Outreach and Public Engagement, the Dolores Huerta Social Activist Award, the College of Arts and Sciences, Humanities, Big Dog of the Month Recognition, the SPARK Commitment to Diversity Award, the ELL Foundation Educator of the Year Award, the LULAC Ohio Rosa Caskey Leadership Award, and the Teacher Diversity Matters National Symposium Recognition.

We express our gratitude for her enduring legacy and the profound positive impact she has had on the lives of students, families, peers, and friends. Irene Encarnación, despite her imminent retirement from the workforce, remains an integral part of our lives. Irene Encarnación is the “abuela” of Rhodes, who has brought immense joy to her family members, Patricia, Drew, and Cameron.

Written by Lorena Mora-Mowry, host of the Latina Today Podcast and Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati Foundation Board Member. Image and post information sourced by Leyla Peña, Esperanza Latino Center, and the NKU website.