Download the student’s portrait here
Credit: Miami Dade College
MIAMI, Fla. (Sept. 4, 2026) — Miami Dade College (MDC) recent graduate Victoria Gabriela Cuellar, who majored in English & Literature at the Kendall Campus, has been named a 2026-27 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a national recognition honoring college students who demonstrate leadership, service and a commitment to creating positive change in their communities. Cuellar was nominated by MDC President Madeline Pumariega.
Cuellar graduated from MDC in April and is now at Yale University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature. She aspires to a career in law and public service, using storytelling and advocacy to advance justice and civic understanding.
As a 2026-27 Newman Civic Fellow, Cuellar will have access to virtual and in-person learning opportunities, including competitive mini-grant funding for social impact projects, monthly online leadership webinars and a mentorship program with a local mentor. Fellows also have access to exclusive scholarships and postgraduate opportunities designed to support their personal, professional and civic development.
“Being a Newman Fellow is an honor that will provide a platform and the mentorship to continue advocating and showing up for those in need when no one is watching and there is nothing to gain,” Cuellar said. “I have learned throughout the years that education means autonomy. I knew this so intimately that even on the days when my socks got wet from the rain while waiting at the bus station, I was doing homework and planning for community events. While being low-income and a first-generation immigrant are part of my identity, the struggles and tragedies that come with them are not. When I received the Newman Fellowship, I could only hope that it would prove to those in similar situations that dreams can come true through education and inspire them to dream something so reckless, so grand, that even saying it out loud feels blasphemous.”
Born and raised in Venezuela, much of Cuellar’s childhood was shaped by financial hardship. Rather than allowing those circumstances to define her, she turned to her imagination, dreaming of worlds where being low-income did not mean sacrificing dignity, where hardship did not determine a person’s worth, and where circumstances could not dictate the size of their dreams.
A first-generation student who maintained a 4.0 GPA in MDC’s rigorous Honors College, Cuellar dedicated her time to expanding educational access, amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering civic engagement through storytelling, research and service. She was the editor in chief and founding member of StoryBytes Media, a student-run digital publication that builds media literacy and fosters thoughtful, respectful dialogue on local and global issues affecting students’ lives. There, she led a team of more than 40 student journalists and creators producing award-winning projects focused on issues ranging from immigration and human rights to environmental justice.
As founder and president of MDC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter, the national English honor society for students attending two-year or community colleges, Cuellar spearheaded literary initiatives that collected hundreds of books and established the first two Little Free Libraries at Kendall Campus, resulting in more than 800 book exchanges and expanding access to literature regardless of socioeconomic background.
Her commitment to global citizenship extended beyond the classroom through volunteer work with organizations including ENGin, FNE International, Stevens Initiative, Books For You Miami and Love For Our Elders. She contributed more than 660 hours of service supporting students and communities in the United States, Ukraine, Jordan, Nicaragua and Peru. She also conducted undergraduate research examining political propaganda, disinformation and social inequality, interviewing Ukrainian civilians and Venezuelans affected by authoritarian regimes. Her documentary on propaganda in Venezuela and Russia was presented at the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
In addition to being named a Newman Civic Fellow, Cuellar is a Point Foundation Community College Scholar, a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Semifinalist and a recipient of the Gold President’s Service Leadership Award, Academic Service-Learning Student of the Year and Outstanding Student in English, as well as numerous national journalism and academic honors.
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program recognizing students with strong leadership potential and a commitment to creating positive change in their communities. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides participants with learning and networking opportunities designed to strengthen their civic leadership and prepare them to address challenges in their communities. The program emphasizes collaboration across disciplines and supports students in developing the skills and connections needed to create lasting impact.
To see the full list of 2026-27 fellows, visit Campus Compact.
About Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education. As the largest national higher education association focused solely on campus-based civic engagement, Campus Compact supports institutions in strengthening their ability to improve community life and educate students for civic and social responsibility. The organization provides professional development for faculty and administrators, facilitates national partnerships, pilots innovative teaching and engagement models, and cultivates student civic leadership. Learn more at www.compact.org.