Madeline Pumariega

As the president of Miami Dade College, Madeline Pumariega has championed a new strategic plan for the College developed with input from more than 1,000 stakeholders. The plan focuses on five key priorities: reimagining for student success; accelerating academic excellence and innovation; valuing a culture of care to advance student outcomes; fueling the talent needs of a global economy; and securing the future of the College. 

Pumariega has also prioritized working with business partners to identify the skills needed by key industries and tailoring higher education programs to match those needs. This intentional forming of strategic alliances and job pathways between companies and MDC students accelerates each graduate’s ability to enter the workforce immediately.

She is the first female President appointed to lead Miami Dade College (MDC). Adding to the historic nature of this appointment is the fact that she is also an alumna of MDC. She also serves as affiliate professor of leadership at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Prior to becoming MDC’s President, Pumariega was appointed the first female and Hispanic Chancellor of the Florida College System (FCS). In that role, she designed and implemented strategies to keep college accessible and affordable for Floridians, especially for those entering high-demand job fields.