Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Thursday, September 29, 2011
MDC Now Home to Historic Koubek Mansion and Gardens
I am pleased to announce that the operations of the historic Koubek Mansion and Gardens, located in the heart of Little Havana, have transferred from the University of Miami to Miami Dade College. MDC and UM have had many important partnerships over the last 50 years that have significantly affected our community. We are very pleased to continue that tradition with this important announcement.
The Koubek Center holds a special place in people’s hearts and in the history of Miami. For three decades, it has been the site of important cultural and educational events, meetings and discussions. Throughout this time, UM has utilized the center as a satellite campus for continuing education certificates and other non-credit-bearing courses. The Center also served as the site where refugees who were professionals in their countries received the training to continue their careers in Miami, contributing to economic health and vibrancy of the region.
With MDC’s stewardship, we hope to expand the special feeling our community holds for this cultural gem. Located just three blocks from our InterAmerican Campus, the Koubek Center is a natural fit for the College. As you know, MDC has embraced other iconic buildings and put them to use for the community — namely, the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami and Tower Theater in Little Havana. The Koubek Center comes with a significant endowment that will help maintain this beautiful property.
The transfer of the Koubek Center expands MDC’s mission of providing our residents access to world-class educational and cultural events, and I would like to thank Dr. Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami, and Wells Fargo Bank for making this possible.
Thank you.
Eduardo