A desire to give back to his adopted country led Cuban-born Cesar Perez to enroll in officer training with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Tamara Palmer came to the U.S. from Jamaica at the age of 6 and worked as a singer-songwriter — her music was featured in the movie “Girls Trip” — before deciding to study data analytics and pursue a career in music tech.
In December, Perez and Palmer became the first graduates of Northeastern University’s Miami campus, with undergraduate degrees in interdisciplinary business studies and information technology, respectively.
It is their personal stories that make the graduates so compelling, says Maria Alonso, regional dean and CEO of the Miami campus.
As first-generation immigrants, they are “driven to recognize the access higher education provides to unlocking opportunities for their future growth,” Alonso says. “They embody the ideals and values of our institution.”
Perez, a Northeastern University Huntington 100 honoree, was born in Cuba and came to the United States at the age of 10 with his parents under a family reunification program. His grandparents were already U.S. citizens.
“I had to learn English and make my way,” Perez says.
Miami’s large Hispanic population buffered the transition to a new country, he says. “It was doable. I never struggled.”
After graduating from South Dade Senior High School at age 17, Perez obtained an associate’s degree before moving on to Northeastern University to earn a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in business and social sciences.
Two years ago, he began the application process for the Marines.
“I want to serve. I want to give back for the opportunities I’ve had” since arriving in the U.S., Perez says.
This month he left for Marine officer training in Quantico, Virginia. Upon completion he will graduate as a second lieutenant.
“I want to do something related to combat arms,” Perez says. But “we don’t get to pick the job. It’s based on the needs of the Marine Corps.”
Part of his preparation for Marine Corps training was taking regular runs, and Perez, who in the fall was named to the university’s Huntington 100 list of outstanding students, says he worked in 30 to 50 miles a week.
He combined his love of running with travel to nine different countries last year, with his favorite run taking place in the Spanish-owned Canary Islands.
“It was very scenic and not too hot, with a nice mix of European and African culture,” Perez says.
Palmer, who performs under the name Fyiah, moved from Detroit to Miami to pursue opportunities in music and technology, with a focus on innovation between the two fields.
Her career in music has included placements in films and television, including the mini-series “The Best Man” and the star-studded “Girls Trip,” which features her lyrics and vocals on the Jamaican-inspired song “Addiction.”
Before earning a bachelor’s degree at Northeastern, Palmer worked at a mortgage company, in cellphone sales and for other businesses. She also earned an associate’s degree.
“Higher education was on hold while I worked for various companies, but Northeastern gave me the opportunity to complete my degree and take a significant step toward my goals of working in the music tech industry,” Palmer says.
Alonso says Palmer and Perez “are intellectually curious and committed to lifelong learning as a pathway to impacting our communities, and world.”
During their time on the Miami campus, “Cesar and Tamara never turned down an opportunity to spend time with staff, volunteer in the community or network with regional alumni and partners,” Alonso says.
“They were an extension of our team,” she says.
Among other things, Palmer and Perez joined the staff to serve lunch to the homeless at the Chapman Partnership, while Perez also threw out the first pitch at the inaugural Northeastern Day at the Miami Marlins baseball game.
Palmer further served as a Northeastern global recreation ambassador, engaging peers in tech conferences such as Emerge and Women in Tech while planning arcade evenings, virtual reality game nights, yoga sessions and bike rides.
She also helped out with a campus-led Wynwood neighborhood talk by Miami historian Paul George, whom Palmer calls a “local legend.”
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“Building the relationships on the Miami campus was very fun,” Palmer says. “It was kind of like a family.”
She says her next step is to get a job and possibly a master’s degree in music industry data analytics.
At Northeastern, Palmer says, “I pretty much learned a little bit of everything when it comes to tech. That’s a good thing.”