Iris Eduarda Gutiérrez

Iris Eduarda Gutiérrez is an Adjunct Faculty member and higher education professional affiliated with Polytechnic University Puerto Rico – Orlando, FL Campus. Her academic work is centered on teaching, mentorship, and supporting adult learners across business and management disciplines. She is committed to helping students strengthen critical thinking, leadership ability, communication skills, and ethical decision-making in preparation for real-world professional environments.

Her path to becoming a professor was unconventional and shaped by diverse experiences across education, the arts, and management. After graduating from college in Puerto Rico, she changed academic paths multiple times before ultimately earning a degree in education with a minor in theater in 1987. Although she initially prepared for a traditional teaching career, she spent the next 16 years working in professional theater as a coordinator and stage manager. When she relocated to Orlando in the 2000s, she transitioned out of the arts industry and moved into administrative and management roles within Orange County Public Schools and higher education institutions connected to Puerto Rico. In May 2004 she completed a master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources.

In 2007, she joined Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico’s Orlando campus as an administrative assistant, later advancing into academia as a professor in August 2010. Since then, she has taught courses in communication, leadership, human resources, entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and business ethics in both online and in-person formats. She is especially passionate about working with adult learners balancing careers, families, and education, and finds fulfillment in guiding students through challenges and celebrating their academic milestones. Over the years, she has mentored a diverse range of students, including military personnel, individuals with disabilities, and future educators, leaving a meaningful impact through her dedication to teaching and student success.