Nilda I. Cortes is a proud Nuyorican who has a diverse range of experiences in her life and career pursuits. This resulted in part from growing up in Brooklyn, New York, and in the island of Puerto Rico. These experiences inspired her to live a life without bounds.

In academics, as a professor and adjunct, Nilda taught for NYC College of Technology and for Touro College, a private college. She taught courses in ethnic studies, education, and English as a second language, and she counseled students. She became a Dean during her last years of employment at Touro College and worked there for ten years. At NYC College of Technology, Continuing Department, where she taught psychology and education courses in an Assistant Teachers Program. She conducted a number of lectures on business, cultural awareness, domestic violence and child abuse, and violence in our schools. She was employed at this institution for fifteen years.

In early 1980s, she helped establish and worked at the first shelter for women and children who were experiencing domestic violence in New York State in their homes. After this position, she became a lifelong advocate for this problem and conducted workshops. In the past, she worked as an administrator for a home attendant agency under the Department for the Aging and directed a senior citizen lunch program. For a number of years, she contributed articles on education and social issues and also assisted with editing for an English/Spanish magazine, Quality of Life in Loisaida in the Lower East Side. She established and operated a small construction company for five years making her an entrepreneur. She then decided after closing her business to invest in real estate and still owns properties. She also owned a successful daycare business for twenty years.

Nilda is married, has three grown children, and four grandchildren. She likes reading, writing, and traveling. She socializes with family and friends and enjoys dancing. She also likes going to musicals on Broadway. For the future, she hopes for better communication and acceptance of others and celebration of diversity. She also hopes for more awareness towards the elimination of domestic violence. She retired from her adjunct position at NYC College of Technology in 2018 to dedicate herself to writing and taking care of her mother. Nuyorican is her first book.