Rafael ClassDr. Rafael Class II is a distinguished higher education leader whose remarkable journey exemplifies the transformative power of education. Born in the Bronx and raised between New York City housing projects and Fall River, Massachusetts, Dr. Class ovrcame significant early life challenges to become an accomplished educator, administrator, and advocate for educational equity.His transformative journey began during a 3.5-year period of incarceration in the New York State prison system, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Nyack College (now Alliance University). This achievement sparked his lifelong commitment to education and social equity. Upon his release, with rights fully restored through a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities, Dr. Class pursued advanced degrees with extraordinary determination.Dr. Class holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration with a focus on Organizational Leadership from Liberty University (2025), an MBA in Strategic Leadership from the University of the Southwest (2021), and is completing a Master of Science in Real Estate from Fordham University (expected Summer 2025). As a first-generation college graduate, his personal experiences inform his passionate advocacy for educational access and student support systems.Trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Dr. Class brings multicultural competence to his work in higher education. His integrated leadership approach combines Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) principles with Lean Six Sigma methodologies and change management frameworks, creating a distinctive paradigm for institutional advancement that balances operational excellence with inclusive practices. Read More Read Less