Giuliana Cabrera Sanchez

Since her freshman year, Giuliana has been deeply committed to strengthening the FLI (First-Generation, Low-Income) and Latino communities at MIT. She began as a freshman representative for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and has continuously given back through her unwavering dedication to various Latino Cultural Center (LCC) organizations in her executive board positions since. As Vice President of the LCC in her senior year working up to that position since starting as Historian her sophomore year, she prioritized increasing inclusivity, intersectionality, and diversity within the space, ensuring that all Latino students, regardless of background, felt welcomed and represented.

Giuliana has worked tirelessly to amplify the visibility of Latino and FLI students, fostering collaborations with academic departments such as SHASS and the Office of Minority Education (OME). She has also built connections with FSILGs through Panhel and IFC, as well as with key MIT administrators, including the Division of Student Life (DSL) and Chancellor Melissa Nobles, to advocate for the needs of the Latino community. Her ability to voice student concerns and push for institutional support has resulted in stronger programming, increased funding, and a greater institutional commitment to supporting Latino students.

For the past three years, she played a crucial role in supporting Sin Límite, leading events and discussions to help pre-frosh feel at home on campus. Beyond that, she has strengthened relationships between the LCC and other cultural organizations, fostering meaningful collaborations with the Black Students’ Union (BSU), QuestBridge, the Arab Student Association, and the Asian American Initiative. She also worked with the president of the Association of Puerto Rican Students to integrate the organization into the LCC and ensure the LCC took steps to become a more representative community of the Latino population at MIT which encompasses a range of ethnicities and backgrounds. She's made sure an alumni network of MIT Latino Alumni was created with the establishment of an alumni newsletter. She's also strengthened the establishment of the MIT Cena a las Seis by reaching out to a broader network of students to invite their parents into the LCC community.

Giuliana has also championed political activism, advocating for the rights of Latino immigrants and successfully pushing for improvements in the LCC’s space and resources. Her efforts in intersectionality are evident in initiatives such as the Afro-Latinidad celebration, a collaboration with the Black Women’s Alliance, and a natural hair event for Latinas. She also played a key role in designing the now-established LCC sweatshirt, which has become a unifying symbol of identity and pride within the community.

Through her leadership, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to service, Giuliana has left a lasting impact on MIT’s Latino community. Her efforts have not only created a stronger sense of belonging but have also paved the way for future generations to thrive in a more inclusive, supportive, and empowered environment.