Maggie Fresen Zulueta is the Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Academica, one of the nation’s most successful education service and support organizations. Established in 1999, Academica currently serves approximately 200,000 students in 28 countries. Charter school networks supported by Academica serve 200 schools and are among the nation’s highest achieving. The schools have earned 20 National Blue Ribbon Awards and have been noted for their work serving low income families.
Maggie is the Board Chair of Amigos for Kids, a non-profit organization established in 1993 to help prevent child abuse and neglect by valuing children, strengthening families, and educating communities. Maggie joined Amigos as a volunteer 25 years ago. She has assisted the organization in establishing partnerships, programs, and events to provide a safer community for children.
Maggie’s commitment to service includes roles in Florida International University’s College of Education, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools of Choice Advisory Committee, the South Florida School Choice Resource Center, and the Tri-County Partnership for Charter School Accountability Task Force. Most recently, she served as a judge for the YASS Foundation’s Education STOP Awards.
Maggie has been recognized for her achievements as an advocate on a state and national level for high quality charter schools. The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools awarded her the Charter School Pioneer Award in 2014. For her impact on the community and business sector, she received the Women Extraordinaire Award from Business Leader Magazine in 2011. Her performance in the study of Women and the Law earned her a Book Award from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2000.
Maggie attended American University in Washington DC and Florida International University. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. She resides in Coral Gables, Florida with her husband and their 4 children. Her children currently attend or graduated from a charter school she helped establish in her community. She is an active volunteer at their schools.