UNF graduate alumna named among Michigan Chronicle’s 2026 “40 Under 40” honorees

Damiana Sorrell, a 2018 graduate of UNF's Master of Science in Higher Education Administration program, has been named one of Michigan Chronicle's 2026 "40 Under 40" honorees.

Sorrell is chief program officer for Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, where she leads strategy around programming, partnerships and career readiness to help girls develop into confident leaders.

"The 40 Under 40 recognition is incredibly meaningful because it celebrates impact relatively early in our careers," Sorrell said. I'm still growing, learning and figuring out what my ultimate contribution will be, so to have the work I've already done recognized by the Michigan Chronicle is both affirming and motivating.

Leading with high expectations and compassion

Sorrell's career centers on educational access and helping people get the support they need to succeed. While completing her graduate degree in the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services, she worked in Residence Life and later as an academic advisor, applying what she learned in class to her work with students in real time.

She was also a single mother working full time, and she said the support she received at UNF shaped her approach to leadership.

"UNF helped teach me to lead with both high expectations and humanity," she said. "My professors and supervisors never made me feel as though being a mother made me less committed to my education or career. They treated me like a whole person."

That experience continues to guide how she supports others.

"I believe we can hold people accountable, challenge them to grow and still recognize the realities of their lives," Sorrell said. "I try to bring that balance into my leadership every day."

Mentors who stayed with her

Sorrell credits Dr. Luke Cornelius and Dr. Cheryll Albold with having a lasting impact on her professional and academic journey. Cornelius' passion for higher education and support of students made an impression on her. Albold taught Diversity in Higher Education, a course that aligned with what Sorrell cared about then and continues to care about today. Albold also continued to support her after graduation by writing recommendations for new professional and academic opportunities.

Research rooted in lived experience

Sorrell is also a doctoral candidate at Wayne State University in Michigan, where her research focuses on educational equity and the experiences of Black families navigating school choice. Her research and professional work share a commitment to understanding people's experiences and using those insights to improve the systems that serve them.

She said that commitment comes from a belief that her work is connected to who she is.

"I don't approach anything as 'just a job,' 'just school' or 'just a task,'" Sorrell said. "I show up as my authentic self because I believe the work I'm doing is connected to who I am and what I've been put here to do.'

Advice for current students

Sorrell encourages current and prospective students to keep an open mind about where their education may lead.

"I entered the Higher Education Administration program thinking about a career specifically within higher education, and my career ultimately evolved in ways I couldn't have predicted," she said. "The skills you develop translate far beyond a college campus."

Read more about Sorrell's recognition from Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan: https://www.gssem.org/en/news/2026/gssem-michigan-chronicle-honoree-damiana-sorrell-100626.html