Year Honored: 2009

Born in: The Philippines

Biography

Theresa del Tufo is a community leader, an educator, an organizational consultant, and a technical and motivational writer. She is currently the CEO, principal consultant, and researcher at Del Tufo Consulting, LLC, and until recently worked as Deputy Director for an organization serving people with disabilities. Del Tufo served as the Deputy Director for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Director of Women’s Vocational Services for the Delaware Department of Labor, where she championed the rights of persons with disabilities and women. As the Statewide Coordinator for the Displaced Homemakers Program, she and her staff launched three employment centers for women in 1979, and their pioneering efforts increased the number of women entering the labor force. In 1978, she was elected by the women of Delaware to serve as an alternate delegate to the first international women’s conference in Texas. For decades, she served as a commissioner for the Delaware Commission for Women, advocating for and promoting equal rights for women and girls in all areas of life. As Deputy Director for DVR, she planned, implemented and evaluated employment and training services for people with disabilities. Most recently, she designed the successful LaunchSpace Self- Employment program for people with disabilities and designed curricula and virtual workshops for Students in Transition for an Independent Living Center for youth with disabilities.

Dr. del Tufo’s recent projects include working with state and community organizations on an executive coaching and employee engagement projects, evaluating organizational performance using the Balanced Scorecard system, facilitating retreats/strategic planning sessions, and facilitating conflict resolution interventions. She has served as a consultant for the Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of Correction, Department of State, Division of Libraries, Division of Corporations, and the New Castle County government on performance consulting projects and quality initiatives. She has worked as a consultant for the Easter Seals of Eastern Shore, The Freedom Center for Independent Living, Inc. (FCILDE), Independent Resources, Inc. , and the Delaware Association for the Blind.

Dr. del Tufo has worked in the Philippines as an educator and a sociological researcher; worked in Japan as an exchange administrator/manager; and has worked in the United States as a director, educator, researcher, and as an organizational consultant.

Dr. del Tufo’s love of learning and books, and her partnership with Delaware librarians inspired her to become an author, and share her experience and knowledge. Her works include ‘Women Powered! A New Paradigm of Influence and Equity,’ ‘Behind the Golden Door: The Resilience of Today’s Immigrants,’ ‘The Fullness of Nothing: Discover the Hidden Joy that Surrounds You,’ ‘SoloPower: How to Harness the Secret Energy of Living Alone,’ and ‘The Measure of Library Excellence: Linking the Malcolm Baldridge Criteria and the Balanced Scorecard to Assess Service Quality.’

Dr. del Tufo is a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines. As a child, she survived the ravages of war during the Japanese occupation of the country. As her father had published anti-Japanese propaganda, the family was forced to escape to the mountains. After her husbands untimely death, del Tufo, raised two young sons and put them through college, while working on her doctoral degree and holding a full-time job. Out of the struggle, darkness, and loss in her earlier life emerged strength of character, light, and a deeper appreciation of the inherent goodness of life.

In recognition of her work, Dr. del Tufo has received the Outstanding Service Award from the Developmental Disability Council and the Women’s Vocational Services. She was also recognized in 2009 and 2012 as one of the Top 100 Business Entrepreneurs in Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
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Sources and Additional Readings

TEDxTalks. (2015, November 30). The fullness of nothing | Theresa Del Tufo | TEDxWilmington. YouTube. Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjC7MzYAzvs

This Delaware author empowers women through her writing. Delaware Today. (2021, June 10). Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://delawaretoday.com/life-style/theresa-del-tufo-author/?_hsmi=142161426&_hsenc=p2ANqtz---JGVf6WlRie7mFTJse9oK_I2qiPnUq6NevlbZnzl_ygrN4IZ3zcI-KtLi66Xv0wsiQQhTCcNIe_rRsHmOp66tydnElw