Breaking the mold: How Haitian-born Yves Salomon-Fernández forged her own path in higher education

By Asar John
When Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández arrived in the United States at 12 years old from Haiti with her mother, father and four siblings, she was keenly aware of what may be expected of her in terms of career trajectory. It’s a common cliché for children of Haitian immigrants to be pressured into one of two career paths – a doctor or lawyer – a feeling familiar to Salomon-Fernández, now president of Urban College of Boston.

During high school in Boston, Salomon-Fernández initially set out to become an attorney. However, as she progressed in her education, she realized there were possibilities beyond the only coveted career choices she knew. 

“My path is not what I envisioned and I am living a life of impact,” said Salomon-Fernández. “I had great mentors, great sponsors, people who pushed me, who had a vision for who and what I could become, and presented that vision.” 

“I am sympathetic to those institutions, however large and resource-rich they are,” Salomon-Fernández told The Haitian Times before the announcement of Trump’s executive order, responding to federal cuts to schools like Columbia.

“Even for her [Carole Berotte Joseph], she didn’t always see other statisticians that were people of color,” Salomon-Fernández said. 

While studying abroad at the London School of Economics Salomon-Fernández saw firsthand how the field of statistics was dominated by white men. Just like her mentor Joseph, she didn’t see much of herself in professional spaces. Fast forward to 2025, she’s setting students on a path at Urban College to develop the skills and networks they need to thrive in their careers.

“We also understand the limitation of higher education [and] that we need to help you develop those networks and amass even more social capital [than] you came in with,” Salomon-Fernández said. 

Urban College recently launched an executive-in-residence program, which allows students and alumni to connect with executives across a range of industries and develop mentorships.

The college president echoes the core of Urban’s mission around keeping education affordable for underserved communities. It’s just one of the ways that Salomon-Fernández tries to embrace those who have a similar journey as her. 

“People leave because the conditions are so bad and they want to work hard to imagine and actualize a different future for themselves,” said Salomon-Fernández, as she railed against stereotypes often cast upon Haitian immigrants as barbaric or lazy. 

On the week of Inauguration Day, Salomon-Fernández issued a personal statement to the Urban College community, promising to lead with “love, courage, and inclusion,” a symbol of the school’s values. 

“With so many communities under attack, we want to hold space for love,” said Salomon-Fernández, addressing the statement. “I don’t want when you open your email for it to feel like you’re turning on the television.” 

While the Trump administration pulls funding from Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University, concerns are being raised about the future of federal education funding including a recent attempt by the Trump administration to dismantle the federal department of education through an executive order on March 20. While Urban College’s funding structures aren’t the same as schools like Columbia or Johns Jopkins, Salomon-Fernández said she still understands the implications that follow the cuts.  

“I am sympathetic to those institutions, however large and resource-rich they are,”   Salomon-Fernández told The Haitian Times before the announcement of Trump’s executive order and in response to federal cuts to schools like Columbia. 

“They provide a key function and these are research institutions that help not just the creation and dissemination of knowledge in this country, but worldwide.” 

While Salomon-Fernández said she’s not concerned with a major drain in funding for Urban College, she ensures the school can support students even if it goes through a rough patch.

“For me, that is the point of contingencies and good business planning – any enterprise should be concerned in doomsday planning,” said the college president, using her experience leading Greenfield Community College during the pandemic as an example. 

“Our worst case scenario should be planned around the most disadvantaged because then you know you will not be leaving anybody behind.” 

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