UNICDA promotes international academic cooperation by hosting binational centers from Mexico and Central America
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – September 15, 2025. The Universidad Domínico Americano (UNICDA) welcomed five distinguished binational centers from Mexico and Central America, in a gathering that reaffirms its commitment to academic, cultural, and international cooperation.
The visiting delegations represented the Mexican American Institute of Cultural Relations (IMARC), the Guatemalan American Institute (IGA), the Sampedrano Cultural Center (CCS), the Honduran Institute of Inter-American Culture (IHCI), and the Specialized Higher Education Institute Centro Cultural Salvadoreño Americano (ICC). Among the attendees were their leading authorities: Luis Alfredo Medina Córdova and José Alberto Castillo López (IMARC), Ana Sylvia Ramírez Toriello (IGA), Francia Quintana (CCS and current President of ABLA), Claudia Margarita Alcerro García (IHCI), and Jorge Alejandro Castrillo Hidalgo (ICC).
The delegations were received by Eng. Ramón Sosa, Executive Director of ICDA and Rector of UNICDA, accompanied by members of the institution’s leadership team.
This meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening academic ties and creating new opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research, and outreach. The presence of these sister institutions not only enriches academic dialogue but also reaffirms our commitment to fostering regional and international partnerships, promoting student and faculty mobility, and developing joint projects.
The diversity of perspectives brought by these delegations contributes to broadening the global vision of our university community, inspiring us to continue building bridges of knowledge and friendship that transcend borders. With this visit, we reaffirm that the future of higher education is built through networks—solid alliances that allow us to advance toward comprehensive, competitive training aligned with global challenges.
As part of the visit, an international cooperation agreement was signed between UNICDA and the Specialized Higher Education Institute Centro Cultural Salvadoreño Americano (ICC), in a ceremony led by the rectors of both institutions: Eng. Ramón Sosa of UNICDA and Mr. Jorge Castrillo of ICC.
The agenda also included working sessions and presentations with the various academic areas that make up the Instituto Cultural Domínico Americano: the Language School, the Domínico Americano School & Preschool, the School of Art and Culture, the Culinary Space, the Teacher Development Center, and Continuing Education. These activities offered a comprehensive view of the institution and its impact on the academic, cultural, and professional development of thousands of students in the Dominican Republic.
All of these centers are members of the Association of Binational Centers of Latin America (ABLA), a network that brings together institutions dedicated to English language education, cultural exchange, and collaboration between the United States and Latin America.
We celebrate our outstanding Students of the Month for August for living with Integrity, Respect, and Good Citizenship
In a heartfelt gathering, we celebrated the students who stood out for living the values of the month of August: Integrity & Respect and Good Citizenship.
This was a special moment to highlight those who inspire by their example and reflect the best of our Cougars community.
We are proud to recognize their commitment and grateful for the way they strengthen, day by day, the spirit of respect, responsibility, and solidarity that defines our institution.
Germán García presents his 28th art exhibition at the ICDA
On September 1st, we inaugurated at the ICDA Art Gallery the 28th solo exhibition of maestro Germán García, an artist with nearly five decades of experience whose work has reached over 20 countries.
Germán, originally from San Cristóbal and trained at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes, returned to our institution after almost 40 years since presenting his exhibition “20 Works for Collectors” here in 1985.
This time, he presents 30 recent pieces, in small and medium formats, where imaginary creatures emerge that reflect nature, pollution, and the urgent need to care for our environment.
The exhibition will be open to the public until September 30 at the ICDA Art Gallery. We invite you to visit and be inspired by the color and creative force of this great maestro!
Dominico Americano School Celebrates its 2025-2026 Parent Night: An evening to strengthen the school community
Last Thursday, August 14th, the Dominico Americano School officially opened the 2025-2026 school year with the celebration of its traditional Parent Night in the Patrick N. Hughson Auditorium.
The event began with a welcome from the director, Linda Mauad, who also presented the new features that will accompany this new period. Subsequently, the specialist in psychology and community integration, Eileen Glass, gave a conference entitled “Building a United School Community,” which offered families valuable perspectives on the role of the educational community in the students’ comprehensive development.
The institutional words of the Executive Director, Ramón Sosa, marked another special moment of the night.
The event concluded with a space for integration in the exhibition hall, where parents, teachers, and members of the Board shared in a close and collaborative environment.
This gathering reaffirmed the school’s commitment to continue working with families to offer a quality education, founded on unity and a sense of community.
The Dominican American Cultural Institute celebrated the Independence of the United States with a Farmers Market
On Wednesday, July 3rd, we held a Farmers Market to commemorate the Independence Day of the United States. The event was open to our entire educational community and welcomed staff members, students, teachers, and visitors, all of whom enjoyed a unique day in true farmer style.
During the celebration, the main campus of our institution transformed into a vibrant space filled with music, recreational activities, traditional food, vendor stations, and a lively, positive atmosphere. The stars of the day were various local entrepreneurs who joined the event to offer natural, handmade products with an authentic flair that delighted everyone in attendance.
Beyond the shopping and flavors, this initiative fostered integration among our community members, supported entrepreneurial talent, and honored a date that holds great significance in American culture—a core part of our identity as a binational center.
We’re grateful to everyone who made this experience possible, from the organizers to each participant who brought the event to life.
Domínico Americano School recognizes its outstanding students
With great joy and satisfaction, we close the 2024–2025 school year with an honors ceremony for our students who demonstrated academic excellence throughout the year. From 1st to 11th grade, each student received recognition for their dedication, effort, and commitment to learning.
The ceremonies were filled with emotional moments, applause, and immense pride as we witnessed how our educational community continues to grow and achieve important milestones.
We congratulate all the students and encourage them to keep working enthusiastically to continue building a bright future.
We closed the school year with the traditional Summer Bash
At Domínico Americano School, we celebrated the end of the school year with our highly anticipated Summer Bash 2025—an event filled with joy, fun, and loads of Cougar spirit.
Students, teachers, and staff enjoyed a day packed with games, great music, burgers, pizza, ice cream, and most of all, countless smiles. It was the perfect occasion to come together, unwind, and say goodbye to a year full of achievements, learning, and growth.
Positive energy filled every corner, proving once again that our school community knows how to create lasting memories.
We’re grateful to the organizing team, our dedicated teachers, and our beloved students for making this day an unforgettable finale. We’re proud to wrap up the year with so much excitement and togetherness.
See you next school year!
“I Can Read Now!”: A Touching Tribute to Our Students’ Achievement
The Domínico Americano School joyfully and proudly celebrated the traditional recognition ceremony “I Can Read Now!”, a meaningful event that marks the beginning of our students’ wonderful journey into reading.
The ceremony began with the students’ parade, followed by the national anthems of the Dominican Republic and the United States. Our director, Ms. Linda Mauad, offered warm words of welcome that led into an emotional program full of talent and heart.
During the activity, teachers Lía Hernández, Odaliza Rodríguez, Mariana Mercedes, and Laura Méndez shared farewell messages, highlighting the growth and dedication of their students.
One of the most special moments was the reading presentation in English, “This Is My Story”, performed by the students.
It was followed by the Spanish reading “I Am the Author”, where the students also shone on stage.
The event also featured a heartfelt video titled “When I Grow Up…”, presented by first-grade students, and a walk down memory lane reflecting on the school year. The final artistic performances, “I Am Marching” and “Live Your Story”, were a beautiful closing filled with enthusiasm and confidence.
Director Linda Mauad gave the final remarks, emphasizing the value of reading as the foundation of learning and celebrating the milestones reached.
We congratulate our students on this great step and their families for being with them on every page of this story that is just beginning!
The Domínico Americano Holds Its 2025 General Ordinary Assembly of Associates
Last Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the Instituto Cultural Dominico Americano held its General Ordinary Assembly of Associates, a space for dialogue and accountability in which the institutional advances of the year 2024 were presented and new members of the Board of Directors were elected for the period 2025–2027.
The activity was presided over by Mrs. Darys Estrella, president of the Board of Directors, who offered opening remarks highlighting the impact of initiatives developed during the past year and reaffirming the commitment to responsible leadership that guides the mission of Dominico Americano.
During the day, Eng. Ramón Sosa, Executive Director, presented the institutional management report; Mr. Frank Abate, Treasurer, shared financial information based on audited statements; and Mrs. Hilda Patricia Polanco, Secretary of Council, conducted the voting process and validation for the new board composition.
The Executive Committee Board that begins its functions with immediate effect is composed of:
Darys Estrella – President
Lucy Threan de Lamarche – Vice President
Hilda Patricia Polanco – Secretary
Francisco J. Abate Franjul – Treasurer
Darío Lama Reyes – Vice Secretary
Robert Valdez – Vice Treasurer
Additionally forming part are:
Francisco J. Abreu Vitetta, Bassa Isaac Castañeda, Enrique A. Fernández Malla, Marielle Garrido, Jeffrey Johnson, Mari Carmen Orizondo, Leonardo Santoni, Arthur Valdez
We thank all associates who participated actively in this assembly, contributing to strengthening our institution’s mission to promote cultural exchange between the Dominican Republic and the United States.
Kindergarten celebrates its graduation under the theme ‘Creating the Stories of Our Lives’
Our Kindergarten students experienced an unforgettable ceremony, marking the end of a stage full of discoveries, learning, and magical moments.
The celebration began with the parade of the students, followed by the singing of the national anthems of the Dominican Republic and the United States, a solemn moment that highlighted the importance of the event.
Our principal, Linda Mauad, offered a warm welcome speech, recognizing the growth and dedication of each of the little ones.
During the ceremony, certificates were awarded to the students of Kinder A and Kinder B, along with special recognitions that highlighted their effort, creativity, and development.
One of the most emotional moments was the farewell reading by the students themselves, followed by the touching poem “We Are Ready to Grow” and the song “Ready to Go”, which reflected the spirit of this generation as they prepare for new adventures.
The ceremony concluded with farewell messages from the Kindergarten teachers, who shared words full of love and hope for the steps ahead.
Congratulations to our Kindergarten Class of 2025! The first chapter is already written… and what’s coming will be even more amazing.