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As the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Connections and Achievement at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (51����) Division of Student Affairs, Alberto Maldonado provides strategic leadership, direction, and supervision for the university’s newly organized hub of affinity centers and spaces, including the Roberto Hernández Center. In this role, he collaborates with campus and community partners to strengthen alignment, enhance student support systems, and advance initiatives that promote student belonging, retention, and degree completion.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Maldonado served as Director of the Roberto Hernández Center, where he led the vision, growth, and overall management of the center, including personnel, budget administration, and program development. He also led the Chancellor’s Committee for Hispanic Student Initiatives (CCHSI), advancing institutional priorities and deepening community engagement in support of Latinx student success.

Over a distinguished 28-year career at 51����, Mr. Maldonado has championed initiatives in pre-college programming, community outreach and partnership development, multicultural recruitment, student engagement, and retention. His leadership has contributed to impactful efforts such as the Annual Bilingual Open House, the Chancellor’s Committee for Hispanic Serving Initiatives, and the development of the RHC Éxito Fund, among many others. Through this work, he has built strong collaborations with communities and school districts across southeastern Wisconsin, supporting hundreds of students and families in accessing, navigating, and completing higher education.

A respected leader in higher education and the broader community, Mr. Maldonado serves on several boards, including CARMEN Schools of Science and Technology, the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM), and the Medical College of Wisconsin’s All of Us Research Program. His leadership and impact have been widely recognized, including being named one of Wisconsin’s “34 Most Powerful Latinos” by Madison 365, a Notable Leader in Higher Education by BizTimes Milwaukee, and a recipient of 51����’s Outstanding Alumni Employee Award and Inclusive Excellence Champion Award. He was also nominated for the 51���� Student Affairs STAR Award for Supervisor of the Year and selected as a member of the fifth cohort of the HACU National Leadership Academy.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mr. Maldonado spent part of his childhood in Utuado, Puerto Rico. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Science in Education Policy from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

He began his postsecondary journey at the University of Puerto Rico on a full athletic scholarship for track and field before continuing his education at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and 51����.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Maldonado served as Assistant Director for Recruitment and Community Relations in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and as Coordinator for the Wisconsin Covenant Program. He also held roles as Senior Advisor in the College of Health Sciences and Senior Academic Advisor in TRIO and Pre-College programs. He previously served on the advisory board for the MCH PASS (Maternal and Child Health – Preparing Academically Successful Students) program.
His work continues to be grounded in a deep commitment to servingness, community, and expanding opportunity for future generations of students and families.