President of Fundación Eduardo León Jimenes and General Director of Centro León, institutions that encourage the improvement of Dominican’s quality of life through education, arts, and the respect for the environment.
She has led an active career in the field of education in the Dominican Republic, especially in the areas of Literature and Philosophy. She holds a Philosophy Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) in Philosophy and Language from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain), as well as a degree in School Administration and a diploma in Group Dynamics. Graduated in Education with a minor in Philosophy and Literature from the Pedro Henríquez Ureña University (Dominican Republic); co-founder of the Lux Mundi Educational Community, where she served as Academic Director for 25 years.
Member of the Board of Trustees of the Reina Sofía Museum Foundation (Spain), member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Dominican Studies of the City University of New York (CUNY DSI), active member of executive councils of important institutions in the Dominican Republic such as: National Council of Culture, Symphony Foundation, Board of Directors of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña University Foundation (FUDPHU), Friends of the National Theater Foundation, the Poveda Family Integration Center and member of the Founding Council of Friends of the Colonial City Foundation (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic). She was also part of the Board of Directors of the Salomé Ureña Higher Education Institute for Teachers Training (ISFODOSU) from 2008 to 2017, Pro-Education and Culture (APEC) from 2011 to 2017, Institutionalism and Justice Foundation, Inc. (FINJUS) from 2011 to 2014 and the External Advisory Council to the Ministry of Education between 2000 and 2006.
Some of her noticeable publications include: “When the Wind Speaks”(children’s fiction, short stories from the Biosphere Reserve, 2009); “Foundations, A Voice of Solidarity”, on Human Rights at its Origin: The Dominican Republic and Antón de Montesino (Complutense University of Madrid, Spanish Cooperation, Quinta Dominica, 2011); “Genesis of a Miracle” (children’s tale, fiction from the collection “A Star, A Path and the Portal”. BHD León Art Book Collection 2015) and “The Values through Literary Symbolism”, edition of her doctoral thesis at the Complutense University of Madrid, which will soon be released.
For María Amalia, her greatest satisfaction is to be a pathway to other’s dreams through arts and education.
