MARIAN UNIVERSITY FEATURE STORY
Living the American Dream Rebecca Kubacki goes from migrant camp to public servant.
As a young child growing up in a migrant camp in southwest Florida, Rebecca Espinoza Kubacki ’22 (Hon.) never would have dreamed of delivering a commencement address to the Marian University graduating class of 2022. To better understand the 2022 commencement speaker, one must first understand where she came from, the leaders that influenced her, and how she feels compelled to give back and lead within the community. Born to migrant working parents in Immokalee, Florida, Rebecca was one of seven children. Her family spent time working in the agriculture fields of Florida and the Midwest before settling, in northern Indiana. Although the Espinoza family had limited financial resources, Rebecca’s parents instilled a strong work ethic, a deep appreciation for the opportunities granted within the United States, and urged their children to pursue their passions—no dream was ever too big. “I remember as a child that my father always took great pride in being part of the United States and encouraged us to maintain our cultural identity, but to also embrace the patriotism and pride of being Americans. We lived in a very modest home, but my father flew an American flag proudly in our front yard, and that has had a lasting impact on me and my siblings,” states Kubacki. As Rebecca and her husband of 49 years, Mike, pursued their professional endeavors and raised their two children, Katharine and Matthew, she continued to feel a calling to serve. In 2010, Kubacki was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives and became the first Latina Republican in the Indiana General Assembly. “My life as a public servant was such an honor. On the night of the election in 2010, we were gathered at my daughter’s house. We were going to support each other as a family, no matter what the outcome. When the results came in and I had won, there were many tears. The tears were not so much for the victory, but the realization of how far we had come as a family from the migrant camps growing up. We have lived the American Dream.” As a public elected official, Kubacki took great pride representing not only her constituents, but so many Latino men and women who had not been engaged with the U.S. political system. She prided herself in working across the aisle and placing the state’s interest above party and political motivation. Opposite: Read about how Manuela Salazar has been a catalyst to increase enrollment and scholarships for Latino students.
4 | Marian University President’s Report | July 1, 2021 — June 30, 2022
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker