Every Peter Pan child has an important story to tell. Carmen Álvarez-Breckenridge, who left Cuba at age 12 as one of the children of Operation Peter Pan (the flights that carried over 14,000 Cuban children out of Cuba during the early years of Castro’s communist dictatorship), has shared her amazing stories and her love for spirit and freedom for the past 30 years here at The Ohio State University. OSU has been lucky to have had her here as the coordinator of Hispanic Student Services and as the spectacularly spirited Cuban woman that she clearly expresses through her colorful personal style and warm greetings to those around her. And now it is time, in her retirement, to wish her well on her next voyage to new life adventures.*
“Keep your faith and your education” are very familiar words that anyone who knows Carmen has heard. These important words are the driving force behind her fierce devotion to the lives of Hispanic students on campus, and her devotion to infusing the multicultural landscape of the entire OSU community with Hispanic cultural awareness and traditions. These words will be heard over and again as she moves forward in what we know will be new circles of people whose lives will be enriched by her extraordinary presence.**
“I have three main heroes: My mother and father and Carmen Álvarez-Breckenridge … Without Carmen, I wouldn’t be where I am. She knew about my insecurities and self-doubt, and yet she saw my potential as a leader at The Ohio State University. Her motivation to be involved on-campus has not only led me to be a leader in several organizations, but it has also directed me to meet wonderful people, travel across the country, and learn who I really am as a Cuban-Colombian woman and as a scholar of the world.”
-Elizabeth Pages, 4th Year Senior, Biology Major, Minor in Philosophy, received the 2006 Outstanding Senior Award
“Carmen’s retirement brings to an end a wonderful creative 30-year legacy of cultural and community support that has enriched our OSU community. She will be greatly missed.”
- Normando Caban, Director Undergraduate Programs, Office of Minority Affairs
“Carmen’s spirit and ‘Students First’ values will continue on for future OSU generations. I have found that there are those rare people you encounter in life…individuals who support and inspire you to be the best you can be…and Carmen is one of them. I have been privileged to work with her, and I can’t wait to see what she does next!”
-Rebecca Nelson, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director, Multicultural Center
“Carmen made a collective impact in the university community through cultural heritage programming offered for many years on the Hispanic Awareness Week. At the individual level, Carmen impacted the lives of many students who sought support, care, and advice.”
-Víctor Mora, Associate Director, Undergraduate Admission and First Year Experience
“We are all going to miss Carmen very much. For more than 30 years, she’s been a valued colleague and a model for the Student Affairs motto of putting ‘Students First.’ All of us, but especially the hundreds of students she has mentored and lovingly mothered through the high and low points of their college experience, have been uplifted and encouraged by Carmen’s passion for education and her compassion for all. Always positive, always caring, Carmen leaves a legacy of students who have succeeded in reaching their goals in large part because of her love and nurturing. She’s one of a kind and we wish her much happiness in her retirement.”
- Rich Hollingsworth, Vice President for Student Affairs
“Carmen has made such significant impact on Ohio State during her many years of service. She is the force behind many Latino oriented programs and serves as the surrogate mother of many OSU students who are far from home. Her love and dedication have inspired students to do great things at this university. She will dearly be missed.”
-Luis A. Sánchez, Chapter President, Alpha Psi Lambda
**Of the thousands of stories of the Cuban exodus, this one must be told. It’s the story of the biggest exodus of children ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, but is largely unknown. From December 26, 1960 through October 22, 1962, 14,048 unaccompanied children between 6 and 18 years old left Cuba for the US. There were many valiant and dedicated people in Cuba and in the US working for the success of this secret operation. It was coded: Operation Peter Pan. (Excerpted from http://www.nocastro.com/atrocities/opeterpan.htm).
