The board of trustees of Miami Dade College in Florida has announced today the selection of Madeline Pumariega as the college’s fifth president. When she takes office in January, Dr. Pumariega will be the first woman to lead the college.
Miami Dada College is one of the largest educational institutions in the country with enrollments of more than 51,000, according to the most recent data offered by the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 58 percent of the student body.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected to lead Miami Dade College, one of the country’s finest higher education institutions and a true beacon of hope for this community,” Pumariega said. “I look forward to serving Miami Dade College, its students, faculty, and staff and working together to achieve more than we ever thought was possible.”
In her most recent role, Pumariega has been serving as executive vice president and provost at Tallahassee Community College in Florida. Pumariega was appointed as the first woman and first Hispanic chancellor of the Florida College System in 2015. Prior to that, she was president of Take Stock in Children, a statewide nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of poverty through education.
Pumariega is a graduate of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Florida Atlantic University and completed doctoral course work at Barry University in Miami.