Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega received the Latina Pioneer of the Year award at the 22nd Hispanic Women of Distinction Charity luncheon in Davie, Florida, on Aug. 25.
Founded in 2001 by the late Erwin M. Vazquez, a Venezuelan-born cardiologist, philanthropist and publisher of El Herald de Broward, the annual celebration honors 13 Latina women for their leadership and community service throughout South Florida.
Pumariega, who graduated from MDC in 1987, is the first female president in the school’s 63-year history. Throughout more than 23 years at the College, she has held stints as academic advisor and adjunct faculty at Kendall Campus, dean of students at Wolfson and Medical Campus, and president of Wolfson Campus.
Prior to her appointment as president, the 55-year-old served as president and CEO of Take Stock in Children of Florida—a non-profit organization that helps low-income students graduate high school and college and succeed in the workforce—for two years.
In 2015, she was selected as the first female and Hispanic Chancellor of the Florida College System, serving 28 colleges for more than three years. From May of 2019 through January of 2021, Pumariega served as the executive vice president and provost of Tallahassee Community College.
