Dr. Egli Colón Stephens is deeply committed to social justice and to the transformative power of education. For more than 25 years, she has dedicated her life to education, serving in administrative and teaching roles at the secondary and middle school levels, as well as in higher education. She has taught undergraduate courses at two New York City colleges.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management from St. Francis College, a master’s degree in Urban and Multicultural Education from the University of Mount Saint Vincent, and a doctorate in Urban Education from the Graduate Theological Foundation. As part of her doctoral studies, she completed a fellowship at the University of Oxford in England. She also recently completed a certification in Grief Coping Strategies at Universidad Latina de Guerrero in Mexico.

Dr. Colón Stephens has been invited to speak on human rights at institutions including the United Nations, Fordham University, and Universidad Panamericana in Aguascalientes, Mexico. As a former healthcare professional, she has served as a speaker, moderator, and presenter for organizations such as SHARE Cancer Support and Latina SHARE, addressing issues including advanced and aggressive cancers affecting Latina women, the impact of illness on families, and the importance of honoring patients’ wishes.

Passionate about literature and Latin American writing, she is the co-author, with her daughter Natalia C. Harris, of Unbroken: A Mother-Daughter Journey of Resilience, Faith, and Courage (2019). She is also a co-author of the anthology Mujeres que se Atreven y Superan Límites, Vol. 4 (2023). Her writing has appeared in NBC News Latino, Guideposts Magazine, My LifeStyle Magazine, and Mamás Latinas, as well as in Oprah Magazine. She has been personally interviewed twice by Oprah Winfrey for her platform, Oprah Daily, both times on the subject of resilience. She was also interviewed by Super Canal 33 in the Dominican Republic on the same topic. Her work has been cited or featured in The Observer, La Jornada, The New York Times, Fitness Magazine, SemiPerm Connections, Life Coach Radio Network, Encuentro con Jordi, and 100% Dominicano, among others.

In 2026, Dr. Colón Stephens began bringing her work on grief and migration into literary and community spaces. She taught her workshop on migratory grief at the Dominican Writers Association conference at John Jay College in New York City and later presented the same workshop at the Dominican Book and Culture Festival. Through these workshops, she explores the emotional impact of migration, displacement, loss, identity, and belonging, particularly within the Dominican and broader immigrant experience.

Dr. Colón Stephens is a New York State-certified teacher, consultant, certified life coach, and the founder and CEO of her baking company, Bizcochitos by Egli. She was recently honored by Chase Bank and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden for her work as a small-business entrepreneur. She has also worked as a professional lifestyle model, represented by State Management, and has participated in advertising campaigns for brands including SheaMoisture, JVN Hair, American Express–Lowe’s, and Facet, among others.

She firmly believes that education can transcend barriers and has the power to empower and liberate individuals, just as it has done for her. Her pursuit of excellence began at a young age and has always been grounded in the belief that her achievements are not the result of genius, but of discipline, consistency, a love of learning, perseverance, and a strong sense of personal and cultural identity.

Despite her humble beginnings in Santiago, Dominican Republic, she has accomplished much academically and professionally. Yet, she proudly considers raising her only child, Natalia, her greatest accomplishment. She did so while continuing to pursue her education and build her career, always striving to give Natalia the best life she could.

Throughout the years, mother and daughter found a deep sense of purpose in serving others. Together, they participated in the Mercy Medical Mission, serving as Spanish medical translators with a team from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Peru. For more than a decade, they also helped organize and lead family retreats at the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May.

After the irreparable loss of her daughter, Natalia, in 2020 to renal medullary carcinoma, Dr. Colón Stephens found solace in her deep faith and in the love and legacy they shared. She has committed herself to living her life as a tribute to Natalia—just as the title of this book expresses.