NJCU Hosts Centennial Celebration of the Cuban American Freedom Tower
President Acebo Bestows Presidential Medallions on Two Cuban American Academic Leaders
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) gathered leaders, alumni, and community members in a celebration of cultural pride and academic distinction on February 26 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Miami's Freedom Tower — one of the most enduring symbols of Cuban American perseverance and identity.
NJCU President Andrés Acebo bestowed the University's Presidential Medallion upon Madeline Pumariega, President of Miami Dade College, and NJCU alumnus Pablo Pino '91, Vice Chair of the Miami Dade College Foundation, making them the ninth and tenth recipients of the honor since it was established in 2014.
The Presidential Medallion is among NJCU's most prestigious honors, reserved for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the University or the broader community. Presented at Commencement or other special occasions throughout the academic year, the award is bestowed at the discretion of the University president rather than on a fixed annual basis — a distinction that underscores its weight and meaning each time it is conferred.
The event, a celebration of a community's history, was held in the Skyline Room at NJCU's Harborside Campus, and was co-hosted by the non-profit Cuban American Alliance for Leadership and Education (CAALE). It featured distinguished guests from both the Miami and Hudson County communities. The Hudson County area is home to the second-largest Cuban American community in the United States outside of Florida. The Skyline Room framed a clear view across the Hudson River of New York City's own One World Trade Center, also commonly known as The Freedom Tower.
The choice of occasion was deliberate and deeply fitting. Miami's Freedom Tower was completed in 1925 as a Mediterranean Revival landmark on Biscayne Boulevard modeled after the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain. Having celebrated its centennial in 2025, the building recently completed a two-year, $30 million restoration. The project culminated in September 2025 with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark its official reopening to the public
The story of the Freedom Tower is inseparable from the Cuban American experience. Beginning in the early 1960s, the building served as a processing and humanitarian aid center for the hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles who fled the island, offering medical screenings, financial assistance, and a first point of contact with their adopted country. It became known as the Ellis Island of the South — a place where families arrived frightened and uncertain, and left with something to hold onto. Later acquired by Miami Dade College, the Freedom Tower now stands as a museum and cultural center, a keeper of memory for one of the most remarkable chapters in American immigration history.
The evening's most powerful moment came when President Pumariega, herself a product of that history, delivered a sweeping oral history of the Freedom Tower, tracing its journey from a 1920s newspaper hub to a lifeline for displaced people to a crown jewel of Miami Dade College's cultural stewardship. Her words drew a direct line between the building's century of service and the mission that defines institutions like NJCU and Miami Dade College.
The program was opened by NJCU First Lady Janice Acebo (NJCU '08, M.A. '19), a Board Member of CAALE, whose remarks grounded the evening in the pride and purpose that brought the room together. President Acebo then formally presented the medallions, honoring Pumariega and Pino for their exemplary leadership and their commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students who reflect the full diversity of the American story. He provided remarks that bridged the experiences of the exile community and its contributions to American democracy and the cultural ties that connect both institutions and regions with personal anecdotes reflecting his and his family’s own relationship to the Freedom Tower.
Jorge A. Plasencia, Chair of the Miami Dade College Foundation, brought his own voice to the occasion. NJCU announced last month that it will award a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree to Plasencia at its final commencement on May 19, where he will address the graduating Class of 2026.
Adam San Miguel (NJCU '18), founder of CAALE, spoke passionately about the organization's mission to develop the next generation of Cuban American leaders — young men and women who stand on the shoulders of the very history that filled the room that evening.
Among the evening's most poignant moments was a contribution from Silvia Rodriguez-Guibert (NJCU '80, M.A. '93), whose presence underscored the institution's deep roots in the communities it serves. Rodriguez-Guibert is the mother of New Jersey District 33 Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez '04.
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing, welcomed the audience to the event before Milagros Peralta '12, NJCU Chief of Staff, introduced Janice Acebo. Closing remarks were delivered by Lizette Delgado Polanco, Executive Director of the NJCU Foundation.
Madeline Pumariega serves as President of Miami Dade College, one of the largest and most diverse institutions of higher education in the United States, enrolling more than 163,000 students annually. A nationally recognized advocate for educational access and Latino achievement, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that the doors of higher education remain open to all. Pablo Pino '91 is Vice Chair of the Miami Dade College Foundation and a proud NJCU alumnus whose philanthropic vision and sustained commitment to student opportunity have made a lasting difference in the lives of countless learners.
CAALE’s mission is centered on supporting education within the community. Founded by young Cuban American professionals, the organization focuses on bridging the gap between academic success and professional leadership while maintaining a deep connection to Cuban heritage.
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Consistent with our mission, NJCU is recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, ensuring students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey. On July 1, 2026, NJCU is expecting to complete a merger with Kean University to join the Kean University system to become Kean Jersey City.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301