This Women’s History Month, Southern Connecticut State University proudly celebrates the achievements of Seila Mosquera-Bruno, ’97, a trailblazer who has redefined what’s possible in public service and housing advocacy.
A 1997 graduate of Southern’s College of Health and Human Services, Mosquera-Bruno earned her degree in Urban Studies and has spent her career advancing affordable housing solutions and building stronger communities. In a historic appointment, she became the first Latina to lead the Connecticut Department of Housing — a milestone not only for the state, but for generations of women and Latinas aspiring to lead.
“All Connecticut residents should have a safe, secure, affordable home that provides them with the opportunity for education, an adequate income and the fulfillment of their families’ dreams,” she said in a 2019 interview upon her appointment.
Born in Ecuador and raised by her grandmother, who believed education was the path out of poverty, Mosquera-Bruno moved to Connecticut at the age of 24 and earned her master’s degree at Southern. She began her career in housing with a nonprofit, where limited resources forced her to learn grant writing and development on the fly — a skill set that would later help her lead large-scale housing initiatives across the state.
Learn more about her inspiring story via NBC Connecticut.
