Dr. Agnes Quiñones was born and raised in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. As an undergraduate student in Amherst, Massachusetts, she was often the only Latina in many of her math and science classes. Dr. Quiñones holds advanced degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in future studies and Multicultural organization development.

For the last 23 years, she has served as Program Manager for state funded after-school programs, Neighborhood Youth Centers Program, and Youth Service Bureaus in the Connecticut State Department of Education. Dr. Quiñones was selected as the 2008 Latina Citizen of the Year by the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission; was named the 2009 Latino de Oro Education Award Recipient by Hartford’s Identidad Latina Newspaper, was selected the 2011 CT After School Champion by the After School Alliance, an nationally recognized organization. In 2013, Dr. Quinones was awarded the Literacy Advocacy Award by the Reading and Language Arts Department at Central Connecticut State University.

Most recently, Dr. Quinones was selected as one of fifty most influential in state and local government after school leader by the National After School Alliance. Dr. Quiñones has contributed more to the growth of afterschool programs in Connecticut than any other single individual. She is committed to promoting academic excellence, and her leadership in the policy arena has significantly improved learning opportunities for young people, both during and after school.

She is a great believer of lifelong learning. Dr. Quinones credits her maternal grandmother for her success and achievements. She is well known for her commitment to equity in education and is very passionate about opening doors for all underrepresented students. Her colleagues regard her as brilliant and visionary, a true and inspiring leader, and they value her expertise. She is one of those who takes a good idea and makes it great, yet she knows how to collaborate and make all the partners feel appreciated.