Since arriving at Princeton University as a member of Princeton's first cohort of transfer students since 1990, senior Daniela Alvarez has left an indelible mark. Originally from Miami and a Spanish and Portuguese concentrator, Alvarez is the 2021 recipient of the Priscilla Glickman ’92 Memorial Prize, which is given to a Princeton senior who has demonstrated independence and imagination in the area of community service, seeks knowledge and purposeful adventure in unfamiliar cultures and maintains strong academic work. 

"Daniela is creative and committed, enthusiastic and humble, generous and justice-oriented," said Kimberly de los Santos, the John C. Bogle '51 and Burton G. Malkiel *64 Executive Director of the Pace Center, as part of virtual Class Day ceremonies on May 15. "As she strives to make her own mark and shape her own future, she is doing so in ways that lift up others."

Alongside junior Alejandro Garcia, Alvarez co-founded the Princeton Transfer Association as a space for transfer students to engage with the broader undergraduate community. As a co-leader of El Centro, a Student Volunteers Council service project where she taught English as a Second Language to adult immigrants in Trenton, she also led curriculum development workshops for her fellow volunteers and gathered data on ESL students’ experiences.

A member of Whitman College, Alvarez  served as a Writing Center Fellow, supporting students in their writing and academic work, as well as faculty in the transition to virtual learning this past year during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"Beyond her many academic gifts, Daniela is a kind, charismatic, and motivated student and citizen," said Dr. Keith Shaw, director of transfer, veteran, and non-traditional student programs at the University. "She is invested in research for its own sake, but also to make a difference in her community and country. She has made a tangible difference at Princeton."

Her thesis adviser, Javier Guerro, associate professor of Latin American Studies and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, echoes these sentiments. "Daniela is an outstanding student, but also a Latinx leader who embodies the excellence and core values of our University," he said. "She is a devoted student who will become an important voice for democracy, equality and liberty in the near future."

Hear more from Alvarez about her experiences at Princeton and beyond in our latest episode of the Let's Talk About ... podcast:

Let's Talk About ... with Daniela Alvarez (PDF transcript)