As a leading scholar, researcher, speaker, and cross-cultural training consultant, Dr. Santiago brings over 15 years of experience in program development, strategic planning, fund-raising, and leadership training. She writes and speaks widely on the areas of community development, policy analysis, migration of women, diversity management, organizational leadership, and public policy. In 1993, she received the Warren I. Sussman Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest recognition for teaching given to Rutgers ' faculty by the President of the University.

Dr. Santiago designed, delivered, and customized curricula for the following cultural diversity leadership programs: International Development Bank, Internal Revenue Services, Pharmaceutical Industry, Department of Education, Department of Community Affairs, numerous colleges and universities throughout the United States and the world. Dr. Santiago is certified by Personnel Decisions, Inc. (PDI) to provide managerial assessments to assist clients in the following areas: employee promotion, performance appraisal, conflict resolution, diversity management, personnel research, and minority and community development. In addition, she has been an adjunct for the Center for Creative Leadership and provided consultations and services to many corporations and institutions of higher learning.

During her tenure at Rutgers University, Dr. Santiago designed cultural diversity curricula for the following domestic and international programs: The South Jersey Regional Leadership Institute, The Latino Fellows Leadership Institute, The Teacher Development and Performance Institute, The Institute for Best Practices and Innovations in Urban Education, Project LEAP (Leadership, Education, and Partnership) initiative, Leadership Institute with Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dr. Santiago’s most ambitious undertaking to date has been the creation of the LEAP Academy University Charter School and the Rutgers/LEAP Centers of Excellence, hallmarks of a major outreach initiative of Rutgers University . The mission for this comprehensive initiative is to enhance opportunities for the children and families of Camden through the collaborative design, implementation, and integration of education, health, and human service programs and community development. LEAP Academy is a PreK-12 school serving 756 students. The school, which is financed by the state per pupil allotment as well as federal entitlement dollars, feature a variety of innovative instructional approaches including: an extended school year (September - July) and extended day (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.); a strong partnership with Rutgers University, UMDNJ and the Delaware River Port Authority; parental involvement and training; emphasis on mathematics, science, and technology; experiential learning; multi-age groupings; multidisciplinary study units; pre-college focus; continuous professional development for teachers and staff; and, health and human services.

In addition to her work in education and professional development, Dr. Santiago is the author of two books: Breaking Ground and Barriers: Hispanic Women Developing Effective Leadership (Marin 1992) and Organizing Puerto Rican Migrant Farmworkers: The Experience of Puerto Ricans in New Jersey (Peter Lang 1988). Dr. Santiago has also published numerous articles and monographs; most recently, her chapter entitled "Latina Battered Women: Barriers to Service Delivery and Cultural Considerations" appears in Helping Battered Women, edited by A. Roberts (Oxford University Press 1996).