Jimena Pueyo-García, a Political Science major and CHC student, was one of 11 recipients of the 21st Century Leaders Award. These students were chosen in recognition of their strong academic records and exemplary achievements. They also further distinguished themselves through intellectual accomplishments and were recognized at the 2026 commencement ceremony for the prestige and honor they bring to UMass Amherst, both as undergraduates and as alumni joining the larger community.
The graduating seniors who will each receive a 21st Century Leaders Award of $1,000 from the UMass Amherst Alumni Association
Jimena was born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, and raised in Salem. Graduating with dual degrees in political science and legal studies and a minor in Spanish, she is proud to be part of the second generation of women in her family to attend college—and to do so with no student debt. Her honors thesis focuses on the political, gendered and long-term psychological effects of Francoist Spain, integrating legal analysis, feminist history and memory studies.
Pueyo-García’s passion for public service emerged as a high school student in an urban school district, where she regularly witnessed race- and gender-based discrimination. During her time at UMass, she has committed to bettering the lives of others, particularly marginalized communities, through internships and extracurricular activities.
Since February 2026, Pueyo-García has been a legal assistant at the UMass Amherst Student Legal Services Office, serving as a primary point of contact for clients with active legal cases. She has completed internships with the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction, Governor Maura Healey’s Office, and the Massachusetts Trial Court. A 2024 UMass Women into Leadership Fellow, she has also worked as an office clerk at the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success throughout her undergraduate career.
After graduation, Pueyo-García plans to work in public interest law, helping vulnerable populations navigate the U.S. legal system.
Read about all the recipients here.