Daniella Long, an assistant teaching professor and alumna of Florida International University (FIU), has received the 2025 Changemaking Education Award from the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida. The award recognizes educators who help students become active and thoughtful leaders in their communities.
Long serves as assistant chair of the Department of Public Policy & Administration at FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from FIU, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, and a certificate in women’s studies from FIU.
“What people might not expect is how personal this work is for me,” Long said. “This recognition is not just about my professional accomplishments; it’s about the communities I represent and the students I serve.”
Her teaching draws on her interdisciplinary background, which includes criminal justice, higher education administration, and women’s studies. In her classes, Long encourages students to view their identities and backgrounds as strengths. She designs assignments that prompt students to move beyond familiar experiences, such as conducting ethnographies in new communities or creating documentaries to highlight untold stories.
Long also leads several programs at FIU aimed at connecting academic learning with community engagement. She is faculty lead for the Volcker Alliance/Next Generation (NextGen) Service Corps Program, co-directs the Undergraduate Leadership Certificate, and serves as a faculty fellow for the Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership.
Looking ahead, Long plans to further integrate public service leadership into undergraduate education by encouraging collaboration across disciplines and engagement with community partners.
