MARCELLA MONTESINOS 2025
MARCELLA MONTESINOS HELPS STUDENTS, BOTH AT THE LOCAL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB AND PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE
STORY BY MIKE MAY | PHOTO BY COASTAL CLICK PHOTOGRAPHY
During the day, Marcella Montesinos serves as the director of the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College at Palm Beach State College. After hours, she spends much of her volunteer time serving on the board of directors of the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington. That is in addition, of course, to her role as mother to daughters Emily, Gabby and Olivia, and wife to Dr. Tyson Tabora, a local podiatrist. At home, her oldest daughter, Emily, is a senior at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, while her two younger daughters, Gabby and Olivia, are enrolled at Wellington Landings Middle School. According to Montesinos, one of the highlights of being a mother has been her involvement with the local Girl Scouts. “I was able to be a troop leader for a few years for Troop 24217 with my daughters in Wellington. That was fun,” Montesinos said. “I would have loved to have been a Girl Scout, but my parents didn’t know much about these things when they immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s.” Montesinos, a native of Palm Beach County, has had roots in Wellington since 1987. While at Wellington High School, she met her future husband during their senior year. Both graduated from WHS in 1997 and later wed in 2005. Montesinos graduated from the University of Central Florida, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication. After college, work opportunities took her to Washington, D.C., where she worked at the Washington Workshops Foundation, which focused on educating young students through experiential learning and empowering them to be impactful citizens. In the early 2000s, she returned to South Florida, earning a master’s degree in management with a focus on leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2005. Montesinos has worked at Palm Beach State College since 2003, and she has served as director of the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College for last 15 years. It’s a job which she has referred to as “a privilege to oversee.” 18 September 2025 | WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE
“The Honors College has given me far more than a professional role. It has given me a true sense of community,” said Montesinos, who is also a graduate of Palm Beach State College. “As the director of the college-wide program, it is a privilege to guide students who dare to ‘dream big’ and to support their development into thoughtful, compassionate future leaders. It is deeply meaningful to be part of their journey as an alumnus.” The Honors College is a program that focuses on its commitment to academic excellence and service learning. It serves more than 380 students and provides nearly $200,000 in scholarships for students who are studying at Palm Beach State College. The Boys & Girls Club also has special meaning to Montesinos. “My brother, Marcelo, was part of the Boys Club of Palm Beach County in the 1980s, and the club was a true anchor for our family while my parents worked so many hours,” Montesinos said. “Seeing the impact of the club first-hand, it inspired me to give back to an organization that provided so much for us, to help create the same kind of support and opportunity for other families.” As a result, Montesinos has been a member of the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club in Wellington since 2018. She served as the chair from 2022 to 2024. In addition to serving on the board, Montesinos has carved out her own niche at the local club. “A couple years ago, I created the birthday club at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club to celebrate our kids monthly,” Montesinos said. “Nothing makes me smile more than to see their smiles and get excited about their birthday month. I have become the ‘birthday lady,’ which I am very proud of!” When she gets a break from her duties at home and at work, Montesinos enjoys unwinding with a good movie or book. “I appreciate the simple moments that bring balance to a busy life,” Montesinos said. “I try my best to slow down but truly enjoy being part of my community in any way I can to serve.”