Their careers reflect Sagrado’s commitment to an education grounded in research for the transformation of Puerto Rico.
By Institutional Communications
Promotion in rank marks the beginning of a new stage in a faculty member’s career—one driven by a commitment to teaching, impactful research, and the generation of transformative knowledge. In recognition of their careers and contributions to the educational mission of the institution, the university community celebrated the Promotion in Rank ceremony for six professors of the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón.
This year, professors Noemí Soto Nieves, Ph. D., Nurys M. Pacheco, Ed. D., and Alba Brugueras Fabre, Ph. D. were promoted to the rank of associate professor. Likewise, professors Carlos A. Muñiz Osorio, Ed. D., Gabriel Paizy Damiani, Ph. D., and Javier J. Hernández Acosta, Ph. D. were promoted to the rank of professor.
Promotion in rank recognizes a sustained record of excellence and contributions to university life. The experiences of these six academics reflect the diversity of knowledge that converges at Sagrado—from economics, science, and nursing to the creative industries, education, and communications. Through teaching, research, creative work, and service, each has contributed to the development of their respective disciplines and to an educational experience connected to the challenges and opportunities of our environment.
Alba Brugueras Fabre, Ph. D.
Associate Professor
School of Business
Dr. Alba Brugueras Fabre holds doctorates in International Business from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, and in Second Language Research from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus. She has been a member of the University faculty since 2015, and her teaching is grounded in a view of economics as a tool for understanding and transforming the world around us. In her courses, she incorporates active-learning methodologies, immersion experiences, debates, podcasts, and interdisciplinary projects that connect economics with the social and environmental realities of Puerto Rico.
Her research agenda brings together economics, sustainable development, gender equity, and pedagogical innovation. She has researched the relationship between English proficiency and foreign direct investment, as well as pharmaceutical supply chains for diabetes in Puerto Rico and their connection to sustainable development. She is a co-creator of Proyecto 78 and outreach initiatives such as “Desde la clase,” and has presented her work at international academic forums. Her career also includes university service and professional leadership within the Asociación de Economistas de Puerto Rico, which she has chaired on three occasions.
Noemí Soto Nieves, Ph. D.
Associate Professor
School of Health and Sciences
Dr. Noemí Soto Nieves has been a member of the University faculty since 2020. She holds a doctorate in Biomedical Sciences, with a specialization in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Immunology, from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her teaching incorporates laboratory experiences, educational technologies, and community-engagement projects. She has led curriculum review processes in Biology and Chemistry, as well as updates to courses in microbiology, immunology, and molecular and cellular biology, seeking to strengthen both students’ scientific competencies and their ability to communicate science to diverse audiences.
Her research focuses on water quality and connects scientific work with the environmental and community needs of Puerto Rico. Her projects include monitoring microbiological contaminants in the San Juan Bay Estuary, studying flooding in communities surrounding Caño Martín Peña, and assessing water quality in community aqueduct systems. These research efforts have generated collaborations with organizations such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, as well as funding and resources to strengthen the University’s research infrastructure. Her career also includes mentoring students in scientific projects and internships, participation in STEM initiatives, and service on various academic and community organizations. In 2023, she received Sagrado’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
Nurys M. Pacheco, Ed. D.
Associate Professor
School of Health and Sciences
Dr. Nurys Pacheco Almonte has 18 years of teaching service at the University and holds a Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University. Her experience encompasses theoretical, clinical, and laboratory instruction in Nursing, with an emphasis on active-learning methodologies, educational technologies, and strategies to strengthen critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and professional ethics. She has also participated in the design and review of courses within the program and in the development of learning experiences for both in-person and online formats.
A significant contribution throughout her career has been her work in distance education and instructional design in nursing, particularly following the transformation of educational modalities during and after the pandemic. She has designed and redesigned courses such as Medical-Surgical Nursing I and II, incorporating evidence-based teaching practices. Her academic work addresses topics such as the impact of COVID-19 on older adults and the challenges of virtual education in nursing. She also holds certifications in virtual education and university teaching practices and has contributed to institutional service through her participation in academic committees and accreditation processes for the Nursing Program.
Javier J. Hernández Acosta, Ph. D.
Professor
Graduate Program
Dr. Javier Hernández Acosta holds a doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in Business and Management Development and has more than a decade of experience as a full-time professor at Sagrado. His teaching and academic work focuses on the arts, creative industries, and entrepreneurship. Among his contributions to the University are the creation of the bachelor’s degree in Arts and Entertainment Business, the development of the Master’s in Creative Design and Production, and the creation of courses designed to prepare students in creative disciplines for entry into the professional world.
His research focuses on cultural policy, the economics of culture, entrepreneurship, and creative industries. As principal investigator of LabCultural, he has led studies on artistic labor, cultural organizations, cultural participation, and the economic impact of the creative sector in Puerto Rico. His projects include the first Census of Cultural and Creative Work in Puerto Rico, as well as research on the management practices of cultural organizations. His work combines research and community action through initiatives such as Maniobra and Leyenda, aimed at strengthening working conditions for artists and cultural professionals. At the University, he has also held various academic leadership positions, including department chair and dean of the School of Arts, Design and Creative Industries.
Carlos A. Muñiz Osorio, Ed. D.
Professor
School of General Education
Dr. Carlos Muñiz Osorio holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Biology. He has been connected to Sagrado as a faculty member since 2005 and has been a member of the University faculty since 2015. His educational practice combines teaching with research, immersion, and community-engagement experiences through courses and projects that connect students with social and environmental issues in Puerto Rico. His work has incorporated initiatives related to sustainable development, agroecology, mental health, gender-based violence, and the communities of Caño Martín Peña.
His research focuses on immersive learning, education for sustainable development, educational assessment, and pedagogies for peace. He was principal investigator of the SUCCESS project, funded by the National Science Foundation, and is co-author of Beyond the Classroom: Immersion as a Methodology for Sustainable Development in Economics, Culture and Environmental Courses, published by Routledge in 2025. Since 2000, he has coordinated Proyecto EcoPaz and participated in international initiatives related to peace education and human rights. His career consistently integrates teaching, research, and community service.
Gabriel Paizy Damiani, Ph. D.
Professor
Ferré Rangel School of Communication
Dr. Gabriel Paizy Damiani holds a doctorate in Latin American, Caribbean, and Puerto Rican History from the Center for Advanced Studies on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean and is a graduate of Sagrado’s master’s program in Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations. His teaching focuses on public relations, integrated communications, and strategic writing, areas he addresses through case studies, workshops, professional simulations, and projects connected to nonprofit organizations. For 16 years, he coordinated the International Experience course in collaboration with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, expanding opportunities for intercultural education among students.
His academic and public outreach work brings together communications, language, and history, with a particular interest in the representation of Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans in the media. He is the author of En buen español: 50 ideas para vivir mejor and the revised edition of Habla y redacta en buen español, in addition to academic publications and an extensive record of media outreach. As director and dean of the Ferré Rangel School of Communication, he promoted projects involving curriculum development, internationalization, and connections between industry and academia. His work also includes mentoring student initiatives such as Elemento 360, coordinating symposiums and projects dedicated to preserving Sagrado’s historical memory, and participating in institutional accreditation processes.
The event took on an even more special significance as it was held at the Graduate Program’s facilities, which this semester launched the doctoral program in Creative Writing and Literature—the first doctoral program in the history of Sagrado and the first of its kind in the Caribbean. With this celebration, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón honors the careers of six academics who have contributed to the transformation of their disciplines both within and beyond Sagrado, while recognizing the calling that comes with this new stage in their teaching careers: to continue advancing the university’s educational mission.