Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

The Honorable Debbie Mucarsel-Powell currently serves as the Executive Director of the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM). As the first Ecuadorian-American and first South American–born immigrant elected to the U.S. Congress, she represented Florida’s 26th District from 2019 to 2021. She subsequently served as a senior advisor to Giffords, leading national efforts to advance gun violence prevention and was appointed Special Advisor to the President for the 2022 Summit of the Americas.

In addition to her service in Congress and the executive branch, Mucarsel-Powell brings a distinguished record of leadership in higher education, having served in a senior administrative role at Florida International University for more than a decade. Her extensive experience in academic leadership, program development and student engagement was a significant factor in her selection.

She also has a proven track record as a highly successful fundraiser, having led multimillion-dollar philanthropic campaigns that expanded access to education and strengthened institutional impact.

Mucarsel-Powell is multilingual, holding a Masters in International Political Economy from Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Pitzer College.