Diego Tibaquirá, a computer science professor at Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, received the Academia Instructor of the Year Award from the EC-Council on Jan. 12.
The EC-Council, a leading information technology certification award body, recognizes five instructors every year.
“I feel honored to represent Miami Dade College, our students and our colleagues,” Tibaquirá said. “I appreciate the award because it represents hard work and dedication.”
Tibaquirá, who has taught computer science at Padrón Campus for 18 years, serves as the lead advisor to the campus’ Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and is an Honors College faculty member.
In 2017 and 2021, Tibaquirá was selected as an endowed teaching chair. Two years ago, he was chosen to serve a four-year team as a Fulbright specialist at MDC.
Tibaquirá served in the United States Marine Corps from 1996 to 2000 and became an automated information systems (AIS) computer operator in 1997. Tibaquirá also worked as a data analyst for PepsiCo from 2003 to 2004 and he served a one-year stint as an information security specialist for the Naval Sea Systems Command.
In 2000, Tibaquirá earned an associate’s degree in networking technology from Craven Community College in North Carolina. Two years later he received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Tibaquirá has a master’s degree in computer science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a doctorate degree in information technology and distance education from Nova Southeastern University.
