“EDUCATION AND PHILANTHROPY ARE CRUCIAL FOR SUCCESS”

HHighly dedicated, passionate, and goal driven, Smilka Melgoza is a successful businesswoman, a warmhearted philanthropist, and a single mother of two.

What made you get into the field of Higher Education?

I was born into a hard-working, Mexican family, which led me to realize at a young age that education and giving back were keys to success. My father was the president of Save the Children in Mexico and through the people he knew, I was given the opportunity to get an education in the United States. I was fortunate to receive a scholarship. I learned how important it is to be given an opportunity that opened the doors to endless possibilities, and it changed my world.

What do you do for the FIU Foundation?

I am the Associate Director for the Development Office for Student Success within the FIU Foundation, and I raise funds for student success.

I love working at the FIU Foundation and it is truly the best workplace I have worked at. I am so passionate about making our students dreams a reality which uplifts our community. There is no better feeling than giving.

How do you continue to grow professionally?

Continuous self-development and constant learning are key to advancing and exceling. After graduating from an executive leadership development program from FIU’s Center of Leadership, I realized the importance of aligning our values with the institution’s mission and vision and the responsibility to lead and influence others in the process. What is the driving force behind your passion?

Besides my two daughters, it is extremely important to have a clear vision of our values and a very strong why. I believe upward mobility can be achieved through education, by being a change agent for our international students. Higher Education is the most sustainable and greatest gift that changes lives that change the world.

How do you balance work and personal life?

This is tricky and often an interesting challenge. Being a mother of two teenage girls, I learned that working, being a busy parent, and just trying to do everything right, is almost impossible. I learned to say “no” in my personal life, and to organize my time in a way that allows for self-care, as well as conscious decisions to navigate parenthood with my professional and philanthropic endeavors.

Gabriela