FIU Magazine - Spring 2013 - Hire Me

M A G A Z I N E SPRING 2013 VOLUME 26

What FIU is doing now to help graduates find jobs later

16

Zumba Conquers The World

20

Meet the Homeless Family Next Door

34

Hoops Coach Pitino Shares His Playbook

Panther territory

Catch the cat’s arrival on campus go.fiu.edu/newpanther

II | SPRING 2013

Now guarding the U.S. Century Bank Arena on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus: a 2,000-pound felis concolor coryi cast in bronze. Unveiled in January, this representation of the FIU mascot, including its concrete base, stands nine feet tall and captures the university’s can-do spirit with an aggressive posture and fierce look—something observers say should put fear in the hearts our opponents!

The sculpture will offer a place and an opportunity for students to create traditions, explains Laura Farinas, president of the Student Government Association, which championed and paid for the project. She suggests that students rub the panther for good luck.

“This is a symbol of FIU,” she says, “and it doesn’t get more traditional than that.”

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12 18

28 31 33

Join the Global Conversation

FIU’s first TEDx event—held in November—continues to spark imaginations with engaging talks now available for viewing online.

On the COVER

Getting a Job FIU creates opportunities for students that help lead to employment after they graduate.

The Birds and the Babies

Researchers studying the development of premature infants find a useful model in quail chicks.

500 Years of La Florida Artists celebrate the 500th anniversary of Ponce de León’s landing on our shores.

FIU’s New Museum

The nationally accredited Jewish Museum on Miami Beach makes an impressive addition to FIU’s portfolio of top-quality cultural institutions.

Hit the Sand

FIU women are poised to start their first competitive season in the hot new collegiate sport of sand volleyball.

SPRING 2013

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MAGAZINE.FIU.EDU ONLINE-ONLY STORIES, VIDEOS AND PHOTOS

HONORS COLLEGE STUDENTS took their classroom knowledge to the real world during a winter study abroad trip to Cambodia and Vietnam.

CHOCOLATE SWEETENS THE WORKDAY FOR THE ALEXANDER FAMILY, three FIU alumni and their dad, whose business manufactures bars of the delicious stuff.

A personal journey David Menasche ’97 sets out to rediscover the memories he lost to brain cancer treatments.

Holding history Museum director Jo Ann Arnowitz takes us on a video tour of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU.

Five-hundred flowers Florida artists share their renditions of our state’s native wildflowers to commemorate Ponce de León’s arrival in 1513.

WHENEVER YOU SEE THE PLAY BUTTON, VISIT MAGAZINE.FIU.EDU TO GET MORE WITH OUR ONLINE VIDEOS AND PHOTO GALLERIES •

Learn how chocolate is made, from cocoa to chocolate bar

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Find out how baby quails are similar to human infants

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See more of the families social worker Beth Davalos MS ’94 helps in Orlando

•

Browse our archive of Worlds Ahead faculty profiles

FROM THE EDITOR As the magazine goes to press at the start of 2013, the FIU community is welcoming Ron Turner as FIU’s new head football coach. Turner comes to FIU from the NFL, most recently as the quarterback coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent eight seasons coaching college football at the University of Illinois and San Jose State. Turner made his mark at Illinois in 2001 in a 10-win season capped with a Big Ten Championship win and an appearance at the Sugar Bowl.

Greeting the FIU community for the first time on Jan. 4, Turner made a point of talking to the football players in the room about why he loves being a head coach. “I love the relationships you build with student-athletes and their families. They are ones that last forever,” he said.

Turner also acknowledged the achievements of his predecessor Mario Cristobal, who led the team to its first winning season, two bowl invitations and first bowl victory. He instilled in his players a culture of discipline and hard work. Two of the players were drafted into the NFL, including superstar TY Hilton ’12, who had an outstanding season with the Indianapolis Colts. We, the fans, thank Cristobal and the players for giving us some of the most pride-filled moments in university history.

And now Turner will usher FIU’s football program into the next era of success as we move from the Sun Belt Conference to Conference USA. I look forward to cheering from the stands as FIU football continues to rise.

Finally, we at the FIU Magazine said goodbye in December 2012 to Associate Editor Martin Haro ’05. Martin was my former student in the School of Journalism and, after he graduated, was by my side for many years building the magazine you are reading now.

When I moved to Japan in 2008 for my husband’s Fulbright Fellowship, Martin took the reigns of the magazine in my absence. He wrote countless stories and in the process built lasting relationships with many alumni, students, faculty and staff. I already miss him, as do many others, and I thank him for all his hard work and good humor.

Until next time,

Deborah O’Neil MA ’09 P.S. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook: facebook.com/FIUMagazine

FiU MaGazine editorial advisory Board

FiU MaGazine division of external Relations

Lourdes Balepogi President of Luly B

Sandra B. Gonzalez-Levy

Fred Blevens Professor and Honors College Fellow School of Journalism and Mass Communication Gisela Casines ’73 Associate Dean College of Arts and Sciences

Senior Vice President

Terry Witherell Vice President

Karen Cochrane Director News and Communications

Emmett Young Assistant Director, Marketing & Communications Frost Art Museum Marianela de Armas Assistant Director of Marketing Student Affairs

Deborah O’Neil MA ’09 Editor

Alexandra Pecharich Managing Editor

Aileen Solá-Trautmann Art Director

Paul Dodson Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations

Doug Garland ’10

Juan Lopes Coordinator The Honors College

Digital Media Manager

Senior Multimedia Producer

Angeline Evans writers

Dr. Stephen Fain Professor Emeritus, College of Education Lazaro Gonzalez Marketing and Branding Strategist Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Susan Jay Director of Development College of Engineering and Computing Nicole Kaufman Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations Division of University Advancement

JoAnn Adkins Sissi Aguila ’99, MA ’08 Mari de Armas ’02 Martin Haro ’05 Jim Hellegaard Ryan Jones Lilyvania Mikulski ’02 Robyn Nissim Pete Pelegrin ’96

Photographers Josh Ritchie Angel Valentin Douglas Hungerford Eduardo Merille ’97, MBA ’00

Dr. Larry Lunsford Interim Vice President for Student Affairs FiU Board of trustees University Ombudsman Michael M. Adler Maureen Pelham Sukrit Agrawal Director of Clinical Trials Cesar L. Alvarez Division of Research Jose J. Armas Rafael Paz, Esq. Jorge L. Arrizurieta Associate General Counsel Robert T. Barlick, Jr. Heather Radi-Bermudez Marcelo Claure Marketing Coordinator Mayi de la Vega ’81 School of Journalism and Mass Laura Farinas Communication Gerald C. Grant Jr. ’78, MBA ’89 Mary Sudasassi C. Delano Gray Director of Public Relations, College of Nursing and Health Sciences Albert Maury ’96, ’02 Claudia Puig Duane Wiles Executive Director Alumni Association Dr. Mark Williams Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management Stempel College of Public Health Ruben Rivero Communications Manager College of Law

Copyright 2013, Florida International University. FIU Magazine is published by the Florida International University Division of External Relations and distributed free of charge to alumni, faculty and friends of the university. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. To reach us, call 305348-7235. alumni Office: Write to Office of Alumni Relations at MMC MARC 510, Miami, FL 33199 or call 305-348-3334 or toll free at 800-FIUALUM. Visit fiualumni.com.

Change of address: Please send updated address information to FIU Office of Alumni Relations, MARC 510, Miami, FL, 33199 or by email to alumni@fiu.edu. letters to the editor: FIU Magazine welcomes letters to the editor regarding magazine content. Send your letters via e-mail to alumni@fiu.edu, by fax to 305-348-3247 or mail to FIU Magazine, Division of External Relations, MMC PC 515, Miami, FL, 33199.

Letters may be edited for length and clarity. All letters should include the writer’s full name and daytime phone number. Alumni, please include your degree and year of graduation.

12839_01/13 FIU Magazine is printed on 30% PCW recycled paper that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council

SPRING 2013 | 3

President Rosenberg shares a moment in FIU’s Mastery Math Lab with freshman biology major Mahasha Greffin.

Photo by Douglas Hungerford

PRESIDENT’S CORNER MARK B. ROSENBERG

In November, I had the honor of making a presentation before the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) on how FIU is shaping the future of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education (STEM), particularly among underrepresented minorities. Just as geography is destiny, demographics are destiny. We at FIU are the shape of things to come for higher education in the United States. We have the distinction of being the university that graduates more Hispanics in STEM fields than any other university, and we are one of the top universities in graduating all minorities with STEM degrees. But our success goes beyond size. Our strategies hold great potential for addressing STEM challenges nationwide. In September we opened the STEM Transformation Institute, which brings together faculty from across the disciplines to build a nationally recognized STEM education research group to develop effective instructional techniques for the classroom.

FIU’s innovations in STEM education are in line with recommendations made by PCAST. We established the Mastery Math Lab, a key component of FIU’s five-year Title V project, “Opening the Gateways,” a high-tech, high-touch approach to improving student performance.

Our faculty members have led the way in peer-based learning. By recruiting students as learning assistants to work with their peers, we are creating a dynamic that is conducive to student success and modeling the kind of collaboration our future scientists, mathematicians, engineers and educators will engage in when they launch their careers.

We also are proud of our successful partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Through this innovative collaboration we provide professional development in STEM education techniques to more than 120 K-12 teachers, thereby impacting more than 20,000 high school students.

Our students are at the heart of our STEM success. One terrific example is Idaykis Rodriguez, a Ph.D. student pursuing physics education research. Soon after coming to FIU as an undergraduate, Idaykis met Professor Laird Kramer, founding director of the STEM Transformation Institute, where Idaykis began participating in research projects. That experience led to an invitation—one of only 550 extended to students around the world—to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate meetings in Germany. Once she earns her Ph.D., she hopes to help others discover their passion for science.

Our country needs to keep graduating more STEM students like Idaykis. To do so, we need to create a nationwide network of STEM transformation institutes like ours at FIU; provide GI bill-like support for STEM teachers; and enlist the private sector in new and innovative ways.

We need to support our students from pre-school through Ph.D. if we are to succeed in educating tomorrow’s diverse workforce.

Go Panthers! Go FIU!

President Mark B. Rosenberg 4 | SPRING 2013

Be WorldsAhead

ON THE PROWL the FiVe COURses nOw aVailaBle inClUde: 1. applied Real estate: the course will provide consumers of real estate services the information to facilitate their real estate decision making.

2. entrepreneurship and new Ventures: the course will give students practical tools to help them rapidly assess the potential of a new business idea.

3. legal and ethical Governance: A Roadmap for Florida’s Public Officials and Employees: the course includes both theoretical and practical approaches to ethical issues commonly encountered by public officials and employees, with a particular emphasis on Florida law.

4. Project Management Basics: the course will provide key concepts and techniques for successfully managing projects from planning to completion.

5. Fundamentos para la dirección de Proyectos: the complete Project Management Basics course taught in spanish.

FIU LAUNCHES NEW,

By Deborah O’Neil MA ’09

Now anyone, anywhere can take a course

FREE ONLINE COURSES

self-directed, condensed version of a college-

percent of all FIU for-credit courses are now

level course and takes about eight hours to

taught online.

“We see the opportunity technology provides

at FIU – for free. Not just any class, but one of

complete. Participants can watch a short video

five courses that make up FIU’s initial offering of

of the content of each course as described by

to fulfill our mission of engaging the local and

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), a trend

the instructor before enrolling.

global communities through our open education

that is sweeping the world of online learning.

The five courses being offered, including

Interested individuals can sign up at www.

open.fiu.edu and complete one or more courses offer courses that build on the strengths of the

entrepreneurship, real estate and a class on project at their own pace any time through April 28. management in English and Spanish, are free

Upon finishing a course, participants have the

and open to anyone with access to the Internet.

option of receiving a certificate of completion.

“Our MOOCs offer a taste of some of the

No college credit will be awarded. Additional

leading academic programs at FIU,” said Joyce courses will be added later this year.

Elam, dean of University College, the home

initiative,” Elam said. “The long-term plan is to

The courses are part of FIU’s new Open

university and engage our alumni and others in lifelong learning.”

“These courses were designed using best practices in delivering online courses,” said Joseph Riquelme, director of FIU Online. “Students will have

of FIU Online. “We look forward to joining the

Education initiative and were developed by

access to valuable content

global exchange of ideas that takes place

FIU Online, the central academic unit for online

that will allow them to gain

among MOOC participants.”

courses and degrees from all colleges and

knowledge to advance their

schools within the university. Approximately 20

careers.” n

Each of the courses in the initial launch is a

treasures: tower The Frost Art Museum recently acquired Joel Perlman’s Tower,, a nine-foot steel sculpture now on exhibit in the museum lobby. Perlman was the featured sculptor at the 2011 Frost Art Museum Breakfast in the Park and has been known since the 1970s for creating complex sculptures out of steel, bronze, copper and aluminum. The angular and circular elements of his raw metal are welded or cast into complicated gravity-defying constructs. His works are also recognized for their central, open spaces that help define the art and, to Perlman, are as important as the sculptures themselves. The sculpture was donated by Patricia and Phillip Frost.

SPRING 2013

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ON THE PROWL EVERGLADES GRANT RENEWED FIU researchers have been awarded a $5.88 million grant renewal by The National Science Foundation to continue their long-term research in the Everglades.

The Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research project studies how climate change and resource management together impact the fresh and marine water supply in the Everglades ecosystem. The work involves interdisciplinary collaboration with more than 160 researchers at other universities and government agencies.

“Our goal is to understand long-term ecosystem transformations,” said Evelyn Gaiser, lead principal investigator and a biology professor. “To be

ClintOn, steineM and MORe Visit FiU

A lineup of international celebrities filled FIU’s fall 2012 calendar.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton shined a spotlight on Sept. 11 with a spirited talk in the U.S. Century Bank Arena that drew national media attention and hundreds of students. The senior statesman of the Democratic Party came to FIU on the sad anniversary to underscore the importance of doing service for the country and to urge students to vote in the 2012 election. “This school – 50,000 strong, the largest number of graduates from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in STEM fields in the United States – all this represents the best of America,” Clinton said.

Clinton’s appearance was followed on Sept. 12 by a visit from david lawrence Jr., a former publisher of The Miami Herald and an early education advocate, who delivered the inaugural Chapman Leadership Lecture presented by FIU’s Center for Leadership within the College of Business. The new lecture series is an annual forum that spotlights successful leaders who have worked to create opportunities for society at large. Lawrence spoke on “The Principles of Power and Leadership: How to get things done in Miami and America.”

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. albright on Sept. 13 praised the late Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel. A one-time dissident who helped overturn four decades of communism in his native Czechoslovakia, Havel spoke on the subject 10 years ago at FIU to an inspired, largely Cuban-American audience. His legacy will live on at FIU with the new Vaclav Havel Center for Human Rights and Diplomacy in the School of International and Public Affairs.

Feminist icon Gloria steinem was at FIU Oct. 23 to urge women to stay involved in the political process. Sponsored by the Women’s Studies Center, her talk focused on women’s issues in the 2012 election. The next day, Archbishop of Miami thomas wenski addressed FIU students and members of the community about “Spirituality and the Contemporary Roman Catholic Church,” as part of the Program in the Study of Spirituality’s annual lecture series.

In November, dipak Jain, one of the world’s leading figures in business, marketing and management, spoke to the FIU community about “spiritual entrepreneurship.” The event was the inaugural Mahavir Nirvan Lecture presented by the Bhagwan Mahavir Professorship in Jain Studies.

6 | SPRING 2013

granted six more years of funding is thrilling. It’s a great feeling knowing we’ve been positively evaluated by people we respect in our field.”

Since the program’s creation in 2000, researchers have produced 425 publications, as well as key findings that have influenced science and policy decisions locally and nationally. Co-principal investigators include Mike Heithaus, executive director of the School of Environment, Arts and Society; Rudolf Jaffe, George Barley professor of environmental chemistry; Laura Ogden, professor of anthropology; and Rene Price, professor of hydrology.

FiU law tOPs diVeRsitY RanKinG FIU’s College of Law was recognized

by National Jurist magazine as the third

most diverse law school in the United states, with a final score of 8.1 – well above the median of 4.83. Of the law schools ranked in the November 2012 honor roll for diversity, FIU Law boasts the highest percentage of Hispanic students (39%), as well as the highest faculty diversity score.

#3

5

Questions

FOR THE WIND ENGINEER

By Jim Hellegaard | Photo by Doug Garland ’10

Engineering Professor Arindam Chowdhury took top honors at the 2012 Faculty Convocation when he received the President’s Council Worlds Ahead Faculty Award. Under Chowdhury’s direction, FIU researchers made international news last fall when they unveiled the country’s most powerful hurricane simulator, the Wall of Wind (WOW), capable of generating a Category 5 hurricane for purposes of testing building materials.

1. wow. no pun intended, you had quite a fall semester. what

4. what’s the biggest misconception people have

was it like to get all that media attention for your life’s work?

about the damage hurricanes can do?

It shows that whatever I’ve been doing for the last six years was

People think that at a low wind speed there won’t be much damage,

important for the community. We have accomplished a lot with

but that’s not the case. Even at lower wind speeds you can have a

our research, so I’m very glad to see that our work as a team has

lot of water intrusion, which is one of the biggest causes of losses

been recognized.

during a hurricane. We also have misconceptions about mitigation.

People still think if you put tape on the glass that’s going to save it,

2. we hear a lot about computer engineers and electrical

but that’s not going to do anything.

engineers. is wind engineering a new specialty?

Wind engineering is certainly not a new specialty, but it is not done

5. the big hurricane event of 2012 was hurricane sandy.

at very many places in the U.S. I think wind engineering is the only

any lessons we can learn from what happened?

discipline that can really make a difference in terms of making

Absolutely. We have to understand that a hurricane is a multi-

hurricane-resilient communities.

stressor event. There are a lot of forces that can act on a structure.

You have the wind, the wind-driven rain, the storm surge, the wave

3. are you afraid of hurricanes?

and, of course, flooding. What Sandy showed us is that even a

I’m not afraid of hurricanes, but I’m concerned about hurricanes. I

hurricane that does not have very strong wind can cause a lot of

didn’t know what a hurricane was like until I came here from Iowa,

trauma and inconvenience to people and cause a lot of economic

which was seven days after Hurricane Wilma struck South Florida in

loss because of the flooding. n

2005. I was very scared to see what had happened even with a very low strength hurricane. All the lights were gone and it was dark. The traffic lights were not there and it looked like a ghost city.

SPRING 2013 | 7

ON THE PROWL

MediCine eaRns FUll aCCReditatiOn

The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine has been granted full accreditation, fulfilling a promise university leaders made to establish a stateof-the-art public medical school in Miami. The announcement assures that the first class of students – who will graduate this spring – are eligible for medical residency programs.

“With this accreditation we honor the commitment we made to the Board of Governors, our governor and to the State Legislature to build a public stateof-the-art medical school dedicated to community health,” President Mark B. Rosenberg said. “This is the most important milestone in the history of our College of Medicine and one of the most significant moments in the history of FIU.” The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical programs leading to the M.D. degree, confirmed that the College of Medicine had met all of the required steps to become a full-fledged medical school.

In April the Wertheim College of Medicine will graduate its inaugural class of 33 students. Interviews are currently under way for its fifth class: 120 physician candidates will be chosen from 3,946 applicants.

“Accreditation allows our students to realize their dreams of becoming licensed medical doctors,” said Dr. John Rock, founding dean of the Wertheim College of Medicine and senior vice-president for health affairs at FIU. “I’m proud of our faculty, our students, our clinical partners and what we have built together – a medical school that educates clinically and culturally competent

Accreditation confirms that the Wertheim College of Medicine offers an education that meets national standards. In addition to high-quality coursework, students such as Allison Holder, left, participate in valuable hands-on training. Here she visits Little Haiti resident Mama Paraison in a program that sends students into low-income communities. Accompanying her is Assistant Professor of Family Medicine Patrice Yang-Sharma, M.D.

21st century physicians.”

Created amid pressing community health concerns and a projected critical shortage of physicians nationally, South Florida’s first public medical school opened its doors to students in 2009 and completed the five-step accreditation process in the fastest time possible.

travels: Cambodia and Vietnam Though small, the Southeast Asian countries of Cambodia and Vietnam play a large role in recent Take an armchair trip to Southeast Asia

American history. The interaction between and resulting influences

upon these cultures and the United States were the subject of an Honors College course last fall. After the end of the semester, students embarked on a 24day trip to Southeast Asia, touring Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hanoi and Angkor, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, where they taught English to students.

Pictured at left: Professor Juan Carlos Espinosa and students Cheelove Cineas and Ruth Maurat enjoy the view atop Marble Mountain in Vietnam. Junior Lorena Bezerra looks through relics at the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam.

8 | SPRING 2013

ON THE PROWL

Remembering one of FIU’s most colorful characters

B

utler Waugh, who helped found FIU and then enjoyed a decades-long career as an English professor, left his mark not only on the university but on individuals. He never sought glory for his accomplishments, but instead impressed people with his genuine interest in others, his love of literature and film, and a cleverness and in-your-face honesty that both delighted and surprised his listeners.

“No other person has so imprinted me for life with his irreverence and wit,” wrote Michelle Dalmau ’97, upon hearing of her mentor’s death in November at age 78. “I was not only shocked and saddened to learn that he passed away, I was also disappointed that his cunningness was overshadowed by mundane mortality.”

“He was a larger-than-life character,” agreed Alex Gil ’99, who recalled the informal education he and friends received from Waugh outside the classroom. “We had the greatest love and admiration for the man. Every chance I could, I would drop by his office in the afternoons to have a chat. He would regale you with the most controversial positions on literature and life.”

The first hire by FIU’s first president in 1965, Waugh

helped draft the university plan. That included creating the College of Arts and Sciences, of which he became dean. It was the lone academic unit when FIU opened in 1972.

“Butler Waugh was a wonderfully quirky and witty man,” recalled retired English professor Lynn Berk, who started then. “He didn’t care much for convention or traditional ways of doing things. Even as dean, he disdained hierarchy and supported the fledgling faculty union. Butler was fun, funny, ironic and fascinating. Without him, FIU would have been a far less interesting place.”

While Waugh was at the forefront of many FIU firsts, his passion resided most deeply in the classroom, where he taught 20th century literature until he retired in 2003.

“Butler was a master teacher, a provocateur and a great risk-taker, qualities that made him most attractive to our most adventurous, curious students,” said James Sutton, chairman of the English Department.

A Pennsylvania native, Waugh earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington & Jefferson College and Ph.D. from Indiana University. After retiring, he moved to Tampa/St. Petersburg to live with his wife, Joanne, a professor at the University of South Florida, and stayed in touch with former students through Facebook.

Waugh is also survived by six children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild, as well as a brother and sister. FIU is planning a memorial on March 26. n

September, 1969: Butler Waugh, far left, and fellow FIU founders (left to right) Donald McDowell, Nick Sileo and President Chuck Perry on the steps of the old Tamiami Airport control tower which still sits on the FIU campus.

Build something larger than yourself.

This is what it means to be a member of the FIU Alumni Association.

Give Back.

Connect.

Enjoy. fiualumni.com/join • 305-FIU-ALUM

SPRING 2013 | 9

Energy Death

Leadership Disasters Join the Global Conversation Thousands of people around the world are tuning in to the eight talks from the inaugural Experience a new world of possibilities TEDxFIU. The Nov. 15, 2012, go.fiu.edu/tedxfiu event featured professors, alumni and students sharing ideas and knowledge before a live audience hosted

by FIU Alumni Association Board of Directors member Alberto Padron ’98, MBA ’09. All the talks are available online as part of the TEDx global community. Join the conversation by checking out the TEDxFIU videos.

Music

Space

Medicine 10 | SPRING 2013

Disabilities

the Crossroads of space exploration

alleviating energy Poverty in india “If I can replace kerosene lamps with solar powered lighting, I can prevent tons of toxins from being released into the atmosphere. I can save these villagers money. I can increase their quality of life, increase their productivity at night. And I could potentially save lives. All for a small investment of $10. In today’s economy that’s what, two lattes?”

Student Ximena Prugue Founder, Project Green Light go.fiu.edu/Prugue

a new Model for Medical education “I’m embarrassed by the statistics our country has. I’m embarrassed by the fact that my profession, from academic medicine to the implementation of my profession, has failed America. What happened to my profession? When did it become socially acceptable that a physician can refuse a patient because they have no money?”

Dr. Pedro “Joe” Greer College of Medicine go.fiu.edu/Greer

“I take you back to the universe. The answers are out there.

We are explorers. We have always been explorers. We cannot be one-planet wonders. We have to take the right path in this crossroads. We need to fund education. We need to make sure NASA stays healthy. We need to inspire our children to learn about the universe.”

James Webb Physics Professor go.fiu.edu/Webb

when are You Really dead?

“It would be a logical approach to assume life and death are, in fact, opposites. But frankly, under the law, if you make that assumption, pardon the pun, you would be dead wrong. The law does not, in fact, treat life and death as opposites. It treats them completely independent of each other.”

what do You see?

“It’s very easy for us to look at a person in a wheelchair, with crutches or with any kind of device, and that’s the first thing we see. I believe that those devices, rather than being something that stops us from achieving a dream, they’re actually a potential, a challenge that allows you to go anywhere you want to be.”

Ileana Rodriguez 08, M.Arch ’11

Elizabeth Price Foley

Paralympic Swimmer

Law Professor

go.fiu.edu/Rodriguez

go.fiu.edu/Foley

a Global Plan for avoiding disasters “Natural disasters. It trips off the tongue. We say it too easily. Change the inflection: natural disasters? Not so much. Natural events? Yes. Nature provides those. But the disasters, what we put in harm’s way – ourselves, our societies, our economies – well, that’s on us.”

Richard Olson Political Science Professor go.fiu.edu/Olson

Can a 12 Year Old Be a leader?

“I founded and started a nonprofit organization dedicated and devoted to teaching leadership skills to MiamiDade middle school students. I was passionate about leadership and I made sure I was doing something with that passion. Just imagine, now that we are teaching 12 year olds what to do with these skills, what they can accomplish when they are older.”

UnitY: a latin tribute to the King of Pop “We did this to prove to the world how important Michael Jackson is to all of us. Not only his music, but his message of unity. I am Peruvian but grew up here, and when people ask where I’m from, I say from all over the place. We are here for one reason, to unite.”

Student Phillip Koenig

Tony Succar ’08, MA ’10

Founder, Leading Miami

Musician and composer

go.fiu.edu/Koenig

go.fiu.edu/Succar SPRING 2013 | 11

Getting a Job in a lean economy, FiU focuses on creating opportunities that lead to employment when students graduate

By Alexandra Pecharich 12 | SPRING 2013

J

ob seekers today generally have

mentoring and, in the ideal scenario, a

it tough, but college graduates

paycheck.

see the doors open much more

“If it weren’t for the internship, I would not be working at the city now,” says Borrero,

“The value for students is in the hands-on

an Honors College graduate who majored in

often than their less-educated peers. While

application of academic knowledge before

political science. Time spent taking residents’

real challenges remain even for those with

applying for a position,” says Provost Douglas

phone calls, assisting the mayor’s chief of staff

degrees, the picture continues to improve.

Wartzok, the university’s chief academic

and interacting with several city departments

Since the start of the recession, the number of

officer. “Internships also provide students with

eventually led to a full-time post as a grants

jobs for those holding a bachelor’s or higher

unique connections to professionals in the

administrator. “The hands-on experience

has increased by 2.2 million.

field and potential employers.”

I obtained as an intern is what made me

Nationally, just one in two new college graduates will find full-time work within a few months of walking across the commencement

internships Irma Becerra-Fernandez, interim vice

the most qualified for this position when it opened,” he says.

Miami-Dade County government also looks

stage, and many of those will take jobs that

president for Engagement, emphasizes

to FIU as a source of potential hires. Each

do not require bachelor’s degrees. At FIU,

that students participate in many different

semester internship administrator Lee-Ann

statistics for recent graduates mirror the

kinds of internships. These include activities

Dizon comes to campus to interview students

national numbers.

that offer a taste of what a student might

with majors as varied as English, public

like to consider in a future career, as well

administration and civil engineering to fill as

position to land the best jobs, the university

as activities, such as in the colleges of

many as 25 internship slots.

is fostering new opportunities to help them

nursing and education, that are required for

stand out. Going beyond the traditional

graduation. Some the university helps find,

to hire these students in the future as

career fairs and resume writing workshops—

and others students research on their own. “In

opportunities arise,” says Dizon, who

important staples that students increasingly

self-reported data,” Becerra-Fernandez says,

encourages students to stay in touch after

rely on in a tight economy—FIU is placing

“nearly 40 percent say they had an internship

their semester with the county ends. “We give

greater emphasis on providing the kind

before graduation.”

priority to our interns. Our top management

To put future grads in an even better

of hands-on, real-world experiences that

A university-wide initiative aims to

“An underlying goal is really, hopefully,

was once interns.”

In the fall the university held its first-ever

resonate with prospective employers across

increase that number by consolidating and

all sectors.

centralizing information about available

internship fair, and in November it introduced

internships. The goal: establish, as early

its newest opportunity: the Connect for Good

partnerships with public and private

as May, an online portal that will give

internship program. That collaboration with

organizations, FIU is creating pathways to

employers seeking talent and students

Catalyst Miami will pair up to 50 students

employment. The new Office of Engagement

seeking opportunities access to a single

each semester with 30 local nonprofit

was established, in part, to help students to

resource that can result in a perfect match.

organizations.

Through internships, fellowships and

go into the community and hone marketable

A student’s foray into meaningful work

Corporate Partnerships

knowledge and skills. Building on the type

can pay off big. Approximately 60 percent

of collaborations that academic units and

of 2012 college graduates who took part in

the Office of Career Services have often

paid internships received at least one job

customized university-corporate partnerships

tackled, Engagement is actively tapping local

offer, according to a study by the National

to advance shared goals. FIU’s central Career

and national companies, governments and

Association of Colleges and Employers.

Services office and the various academic units

nonprofits that welcome student talent while offering training,

Jesus David Borrero ’12 understands that progression well. He was one of ten students who went to work for the city of Sweetwater in the fall of 2011 as part of an ongoing agreement that FIU brainstormed and struck with the mayor’s office.

FIU actively develops innovative,

have established relationships to help facilitate organizations’ engagement with students.

Insurance giant State Farm, for example, has for several years supported activities that align with its corporate Continues

SPRING 2013 | 13

Continued mission while promoting invaluable hands-on learning opportunities.

employers are paying attention to our

quality candidates.

“We have an ongoing need for the best

In 2010 the company provided a grant to the College of Business for the State Farm Literacy Lab, which gives FIU students

students,” Ponte says. She stresses that only

talent,” Dye states, “and FIU’s is a top-five

those with some fieldwork in their background

computer science program.”

have any hope of securing paid positions,

Over in the School of Journalism and

as on-the-job training no longer exists in the

a chance to work directly with local high

Mass Communication, a university-corporate

school students to teach them the skills to

collaboration has essentially turned FIU

make informed personal financial decisions.

students into experienced reporters with the

more than the basics,” Ponte says. When it

In 2012 the company made a donation in

goal of helping them obtain proficiency—and

comes time to meet with interviewers, “Unless

support of FIU’s Discovery Lab in the School

clips—that will lead to paying jobs. The Miami

you have good hands-on experience, you

of Computing and Information Sciences,

Herald, The Palm Beach Post and The South

won’t even get a call.”

where computer science majors conduct

Florida Sun-Sentinel have together partnered

research and develop programming to solve

with the school to create the South Florida

jobs as a direct result of their work for the

real-world challenges.

News Service, a source for student-produced

news service, and still others have parlayed

news. In a typical semester, more than 40

that experience into internships and freelance

journalism industry.

“New graduates have to come in knowing

Already several students have acquired

assignments.

The mutual benefits of corporate

“if it weren’t for the internship,

partnerships are further visible in the creation

i would not be working at the city now.”

—Jesus david Borrero ’12

of the Florida Power & Light customer-service center on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus, a satellite call center that is staffed solely by students. The unique operation allows FIU students to begin a career path with one of the

Don Dye, a college relations recruiter for

articles and 20 videos by students are printed

state’s largest employers while still in school.

State Farm, says the company’s monetary

or posted online by the newspapers, and the

Entry into the program is competitive and

contributions come without strings. “State

plan is for students to expand their coverage

rigorous—applicants give formal presentations

Farm’s culture is, when we make a gift, we

from strictly local happenings to national and

as part of the interview process, and only

don’t expect anything from it. It’s not a quid

even international news in the near future.

15-20 percent will make it—but once

pro quo; it’s good will,” he explains. But

Participation in this and other opportunities

accepted, students can look forward to

he agrees that the awareness that comes

at the school—such as the Hispanic Media

high-level mentoring and a chance to shadow

with having a name on campus serves the

Futures program, a partnership with Spanish-

professionals in the local corporate office.

company well at recruiting time.

language broadcaster Telemundo that

This summer 12 FIU students will be

Such situations provide an ideal learning

offers training and mentoring to journalism,

environment for students, but employers

among a national group of 200 that participate

advertising and public relations majors—

likewise reap huge rewards. While many feel a

in State Farm’s internship program at the

has become critical to finding work after

civic responsibility to support the training and

headquarters in Bloomington, Ill. Half of the

graduation, explains Teresa Ponte, chair of the

career aspirations of the next generation, all

FIU contingent will work in the IT department,

departments of journalism and broadcast.

keenly understand that giving hungry young

an area the company is eager to fill with high-

search

“Through the South Florida News Service,

help for alumni job seekers

Alumni looking for employment can get a boost from the FIU alumni-to-alumni mentorship program, which matches job seekers with those already established in the workforce.

“The idea is to provide personal attention to those who need advice,” says Shawna McNair, associate director, Career Services for Alumni. “This provides an opportunity to have someone to touch base with.”

All activities are conducted online. Reviewing resumes, 14 | SPRING 2013

Keywords

people a solid trial period in which to prove

Find Jobs

clarifying career goals, and sharing useful tips and possible leads are among the common types of exchanges. Already several success stories have come out of the program, which continues to grow.

To date 30 pairs of alumni have participated, and the relationship can last anywhere from six months to longer. To apply for mentoring or to serve as a mentor, go to career.fiu.edu. n

themselves is simply good business.

In FPL’s case, setting up the call center has

a Culture of work And while internships and fellowships

proved invaluable for the company. “The main

provide the type of concentrated activity that

reason we did this was to create a student

helps a student stand out at interview time,

pipeline from FIU to FPL,” explains Andres

“regular work” has its place too.

Martinez, manager of operations. More than 20

The Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism

students have already been offered positions

Management has an office charged with

as managers and business analysts upon

keeping its more than 2,000 majors employed

graduating.

throughout their academic years at a wide

Federal Connections FIU’s Washington D.C.-based Office of

array of companies within the industry. Oneon-one career development training, industry networking events and a dedicated job-

Federal Relations in the past year has stepped

search engine provide year-round support for

up efforts to help meet students’ growing

a student body that must work 1,000 hours

interest in serving in federal agencies.

as part of graduation requirements and an

“We’re doing what we’re doing at the right

additional 300 hours for internship credit. The

time,” says Carlos Becerra, director of the

school places great emphasis on real-world

office, who cites President Obama’s August

exposure, with the goal of putting students on

signing of an executive order calling for the

track to land management-level positions after

hiring of more minorities. “We have a diverse

completing the program.

student population, so we’re positioned well.”

FIU leaders have met with officials at the

“We encourage them to get a job as soon as they can,” says Diann Newman, assistant

Department of State to explore stronger

dean for Student Services. “The sooner they

research and fellowship opportunities and will

prove how great they are to their company or

do the same at the departments of Homeland

industry, the sooner they will be able to move

Security and Defense, among others. The

to a higher position.”

goal is to attract federal grants similar to

Most FIU students, regardless of their

FiU Ph.d. Recipients leap into Jobs Those about to complete their Ph.D.s at FIU, or who have recently earned them, are landing their “dream” jobs at a rate higher than the national average.

The good news comes courtesy of the Survey of Earned Doctorates, an annual poll conducted for the National Science Foundation and five other federal agencies.

Statistics for the most recent year available – 2010 – indicate that more than two-thirds, or 67.6 percent, of newly or soon-to-be graduated FIU Ph.D.s looking

two of the university’s largest: one from the

majors, work throughout their academic

Department of Energy (DOE), the other from

years, some of them full time. Even when the

NASA. These support not only high-level

work does not correlate directly with their

faculty research but also student fellowships

career aspirations, the time invested can

Such positions typically include either

that combine on-campus education with work

pay dividends in terms of instilling discipline,

professorships or research appointments

at government sites.

acquiring job references and building a

at colleges and universities.

Seventy-eight students to date have participated as DOE fellows, including Rosa

professional network.

That work experience, when coupled with

specifically for positions in academia are successful in their job searches.

This compares with a national average of 53.6 percent.

FIU’s success is due to three important

Elmetti ’08, who majored in biomedical

any “educationally purposeful activities” can

engineering. She spent a semester at DOE

lead to new graduates’ eventually finding

factors, explains Lakshmi Reddi, dean of

headquarters in Washington, D.C., an

employment in their area of interest, says

the University Graduate School.

experience that helped her land a full-time

Engagement’s Becerra-Fernandez. She

“First, the quality of incoming doctoral

job with the agency, where her work today

includes in the latter category everything

students is excellent. Second, many of the

involves identifying appropriate technologies

from study abroad programs, service-

fellowships that our doctoral students enjoy

for environmental cleanup abroad.

learning courses and undergraduate research

allow them to be trained as classroom

“I felt I was given the right tools to go into

opportunities to, for arts majors, participation

instructors, which gives them an edge

that environment,” says Ramirez, who adds

in on-campus performances and exhibitions.

in their pursuit of academic careers.

that her insider knowledge of the DOE’s mission was a plus when vying for the highly

“As part of a broad category of experiential learning, all of that counts.” n

competitive job. “If you’re not confident in what you know and what you can provide to the organization, then the opportunity is going to go to somebody else.”

Employers interested in hiring interns or recruiting FIU students or graduates to fill open positions should contact FIU Career Services at 305-348-2423.

And third, we prepare a diverse group of doctoral students, and that diversity is very important in the academic job market.”

In the 2011-12 academic year, FIU awarded 151 doctoral degrees. n SPRING 2013 | 15

the FiU alumnus behind the world’s latest fitness sensation

By Lilyvania Mikulski ’02 Hear from Zumba’s disciples at FIU

Ripped up, colorful t-shirts on sweaty bodies of all ages, sizes and walks of life, burning calories as they dance in sync to music so energizing that fitness seekers feel like they’re in a nightclub. That’s what you’ll find in a Zumba class.

Originally created with the goal of selling fitness DVDs—think Billy Blanks and Tae Bo in the 1990s or Richard Simmons and “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” in the 1970s—the Zumba Fitness brand took its “Ditch the workout, join the party” motto to another level when it spawned arms and morphed into an estimated $500 million international empire. Today some 14 million people in more than 150 countries participate weekly in live classes, and the potential for continued DVD sales and other

16 | SPRING 2013

complementary opportunities for growth

offers a directory of classes to help fitness

Another complementary income stream

seem almost limitless.

seekers connect with the nearest outlet. To

comes from the brand’s role in promoting

Not a bad comeback for Colombian-born

keep motivation high, the company makes

music and creating CD compilations. Music

FIU alumnus Alberto Aghion ’99. The Zumba

available continuing training and, more

artists are recognizing the scale of Zumba’s

Fitness president and COO always wanted

recently, has started giving instructors the

audience and approaching the company

to be an entrepreneur but in 2001 found

opportunity to earn a percentage of the sales

about giving their music some air time. “We

himself without a job after his previous

of Zumbawear workout clothes purchased by

are a marketing vehicle for them,” Aghion

venture—supporting online companies—

their students.

says. “We are like a radio station that plays

went bust. Today he and his two co-

FIU student Alicia Jimenez, 23, teaches

all over the world, and people listening to it

founders have made it big by, essentially,

Zumba classes at the Recreation Center

helping others become entrepreneurs.

on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus. “The

The company also produces and licenses

atmosphere in a Zumba class is stress-free

original music—rhythmic, upbeat and totally

gyms, we gave the license to the instructors,

and positive, making it easy to socialize and

danceable—that is finding a life beyond the

and told them to run with it. And it’s worked,”

come back for more,” Jimenez says. “In

gym. “We recently released two albums that

Aghion says.

class, students are told to let go, have fun,

went platinum in France,” Aghion explains.

“Instead of selling our programs to the

cannot change the dial.”

“Every business decision is made with the instructors’ success

“That’s a clear indication of

College of Business graduate Alberto Aghion ’99 is

our reach.”

Another indicator of that

in mind. The biggest

co-founder and COO of Zumba Fitness, a growing

reach: Zumba’s potential to

challenges were finding

international empire based in Hallandale, Fla.,

help raise funds for charity.

the right opportunities

whose exercise programs each week reach some

“Zumbathon” charity events

for instructors and

14 million people in more than 150 countries.

have already collected

building value for them

millions for various causes,

to be successful.”

and this year the company

That approach earned the Hallandale, Fla.,

be confident and act like no one’s watching

is contributing cash for meals to Feeding

company Inc. magazine’s coveted “Company

for that one hour where the perks include

America based on the estimated number of

of the Year” title in December 2012.

losing weight.”

calories that participating class-goers burn in

“Zumba doesn’t make money by helping

And while college students are a likely

a workout session.

people get fit. It makes money by preparing

audience for the fast-paced, let-it-all-hang

people for a trade—by licensing and

workout, people from CEOs to homemakers

company with additional capital, Aghion

supporting the folks who teach Zumba

gravitate to it. With eight different types of

shows no signs of letting up.

classes,” writes Leigh Buchanan, an editor at

classes—including “Zumbatomic” for children,

Inc. magazine. “These instructors understand

“Zumba Gold” for senior citizens, and “Aqua

opportunities in Russia, India, China and

...that Zumba is not some organic cultural

Zumba” for those who prefer the pool, to

Latin America,” he says. “The future is also

import like salsa or yoga, but rather a U.S.

name three—there is something for everyone.

understanding how to interact with new

company with a multifaceted business model

Outside of the traditional spaces, classes

platforms and content delivery, understanding

and an aggressive growth strategy.”

are taught in church meeting halls, school

how consumer behavior is going to change

gymnasiums and even at the Pentagon.

and how we are going to adapt to it.”

Sixty-five percent of Zumba-trained instructors work for fitness facilities, and

The company generates revenue from a

With investors last year infusing the

“There are still huge global expansion

An inductee of the FIU College of Business

the rest open their own Zumba-based gyms

variety of sources, foremost among them the

Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, Aghion

or rent space in which to lead classes.

licensing and other fees paid by instructors.

credits his alma mater with giving him the

The corporate office supports the startups

Fitness DVDs—the original concept around

base from which to lead the burgeoning

by providing marketing materials such as

which the company started—have sold to the

Zumba nation.

logos and images to use in advertising and

tune of 12 million and counting. But all that is

ready-to-print signage. Zumba’s website

just the start. Interactive fitness video games

diversity in the student body exposed me

and a line of branded workout apparel and

to many cultures and helped me to better

accessories have increased the bottom line.

understand how different people think.” n

“Being part of a school with such a high

SPRING 2013 | 17

Watch these babies hatch while the experts explain go.fiu.edu/quail

offer clues on the development of human infants

By Robyn Nissim

E

very week, 150 bobwhite quail eggs from Strickland Game Farm in Georgia arrive at FIU for psychology Professor

Robert Lickliter.

The eggs go immediately into an incubator set

at 99.5 degrees and rotate on a regular basis to mimic a mother bird’s movements. In exactly 23 days, they will hatch.

After spending a brief period of time in the lab, the bobwhite quail, a species native to the state of Florida, will move further south and live out their days on a quail preserve. And Lickliter’s team, which includes five graduate and seven undergraduate students, will have more data for their work on studying premature human infants and their sensory development. “With the bobwhite quail, we’ve developed a good animal model of sensory development of premature infants,” Lickliter says.

Premature human infants, that is.

Lickliter is a developmentalist – someone who studies the process of development and how it progresses. He began his academic career asking the question: How do we get from a single fertilized cell to a fully actualized human being? And just like developmentalists have since the field began, he ran up against an age-old conundrum. “How do you ask questions that can’t be answered? Going 18 | SPRING 2013

back to the beginning is impossible. Anything

But precocial animals, like a duckling, are

darkness, to complete stillness, constant

you do with a fetus is invasive, so your

born resembling miniaturized adults. They

visual stimulation and constant noise. And

knowledge is going to limited,” he notes.

are able to move right after birth. Humans, of

the question becomes—what is the impact

course, are neither precocial nor altricial but

of these changes in experience on their

are a hybrid of both.

development?”

But using the bobwhite quail as an animal model, decades of research have made it possible for Lickliter and his research team

“With a precocial infant, it is possible

Younger and younger infants are being born

to note certain patterns that have also been

to ‘ask’ questions to see if perception has

preterm, Lickliter said, and they tend to have

empirically applied to preterm infants. Since

changed,” says Lickliter. “So we use birds,

more visual problems and are at risk for a

1991, the project has received $2.9 million

which come in an egg, and the embryos are

host of problems. Lickliter would like to know

in research funding from the National

readily accessible before they hatch. This way

if those problems begin before birth or as a

Science Foundation and the National

we can trace the origin of how things start; we

result of preterm birth.

Lickliter’s lab

Institutes of Health.

Lickliter’s findings have helped hospital neonatal intensive care units introduce modifications, such as chairs for mothers to hold the babies in the unit and

“With the bobwhite quail, we’ve developed a good animal model of sensory development of premature infants.”

–Professor Robert Lickliter

has explored these questions by conducting experiments, such as scoring the tip of the bobwhite quail’s egg to enable more light to come in, or exposing the eggs and/or newborn chicks to

tents to minimize direct light exposure. With 12 percent of all births in

are able to track the embryo throughout the

unusual light patterns to note the impact on

the U.S. occurring before the fetus reaches 36

prenatal experience.”

their vision. The team has also tested sound

weeks, it is critically important to investigate what could affect the overall development of these babies—and even more important—to learn what we can do to help. Still, it takes

patterns and noted where increased noise

Measuring a shock to the system Because Lickliter could now see what was

might impact development.

With Lickliter and others’ sensory development work as a foundation,

a very long time and a lot of research to

happening in the embryonic process, he

researchers are now looking at different ways

determine and translate findings from a

began to wonder about specific factors that

of building an environment that has the least

bobwhite quail to a newborn, and vice versa.

may impact the outcome of development.

impact on a preterm

“What are the experiences prenatally that can

infant’s future

integrate or synthesize internal or external

growth. In turn,

factors, and how can we influence the

Lickliter uses

development of the sensory systems – to the

their results

primarily for its distinctive whistle—have in

degree that these kinds of changes can be

to test other

common with a human infant born 14

made,” he wondered.

hypotheses in

asking precocious questions So what does an eight-inch bird—known

weeks early?

All babies experience a shock to the system

bobwhite quail

Not much, on the surface of it.

when they are born. But that experience is

about sensory

There are two kinds of infants in nature:

intensified for preterm infants.

development.

precocial and altricial. Altricial infants, like

“The NICU environment is wildly different

But, as Lickliter points

newborn mice, “are not very finished—they

than that normally available in utero, where

out, “If you want to study

don’t look anything like an adult. An altricial

sensory stimulation is buffered by mom,”

human development, you have to

bird is incapable of moving around on its own

says Lickliter. “Preemies go from having

study humans. Animal-based research

after birth,” explains Lickliter.

regular movement, and relative silence and

informs human-based research.” n SPRING 2013 | 19

The

See the faces of homelessness turn hopeful

homeless children next door

FIU alumna Beth Davalos MS ’94 leads a support network that brings hope to homeless children in central Florida

By Sissi Aguila ’99, MA ’08 Photos by Doug Garland ’10

Gregg Byero and his son Jason share what little they have with other families at the Remington Inn. Their hotel room serves as a safe haven for many of the local children.

20 | SPRING 2013

Davalos checks in on Denise Solomon at the Remington Inn, one of the most dangerous motels the FIT program uses to get families off the streets.

Social worker Beth Davalos MS ’94 listens

provide opportunities for both the children and

to have a liaison like Davalos to serve homeless

intently to the frantic mom on the line: “We’re

their families. In recognition of her work, she is

children. For the school year 2010-11, Florida

staying at a camp site. I don’t have enough gas

receiving the 2013 FIU Alumni Association Torch

school districts identified some 57,000 children

to make it home tonight!” Davalos scribbles

Award for Community Leadership.

as homeless statewide.

down the woman’s number and her current location and interrupts, “It’s OK.

Do you

Davalos says the solution to the homeless

The 60 Minutes segment opened a lot of

epidemic is to “invite more people into the

eyes. Before “Hard times generation: Homeless

process.” Started in 2003, Davalos’ FIT

kids” aired, FIT had $20,000 in its bank account;

now is to get a gas card. I’ll call you back when I

program creates wraparound support services;

after the show that balance jumped to $1.4

figure this out logistically.”

the program has been highly effective in

million – all from donations by individuals and

Seminole County having helped more than

companies wanting to help.

have a plan? I hear your urgency Davalos does have a plan, and a team,

to help this mom and 762 other families in distress.

Florida is “home” to a third of the nation’s

10,000 children.

Lorraine Husum Allen, director of the

Davalos and her five-person staff work out of a 20-by-20 office in Oviedo at the edge of a

Florida Department of Education’s Homeless

middle school. A handful of desks are scattered

homeless school-aged children. After the

Education Program, says Davalos runs a

around the room. A well-stocked pantry serves

construction industry collapsed in the Sunshine

program that is a national model. “What is so

as the heart of the office, providing food, clothes

State in 2008, many families found themselves

special about Beth is her dedication. She’s

and school supplies to cash-strapped families at

falling behind on bills, literally one paycheck

a tireless advocate for those children. Her

a moment’s notice.

away from the streets.

awareness activity has been wonderful.”

The staff spends most of its day following

This is where Davalos comes in. As the

Last year, 60 Minutes aired two programs

coordinator for the Families in Transition (FIT)

on Davalos’ work in Seminole County, bringing

team member gets a new call about a family

Program for Seminole County Public Schools in

national attention to the child homelessness

in need, the phone tree is activated. First,

central Florida, the FIU alumna works with more

crisis. Nationwide, the problem is addressed

do they have a place to stay? If not, they are

than 80 agencies and organizations as well as

through the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless

placed in local motels where the children can

the community to get their basic needs met and

Assistance Act, which requires school districts

up on families they’ve helped. But when a

Continues SPRING 2013 | 21

Davalos shares some of the FIT program’s success stories from the office pantry.

The perishable goods are given to families in crisis.

HELP, a Christian job placement organization, assists more than a dozen adults each month in finding work.

Continued still catch the bus to school. The program

guided through all the resources that are

pays for a few weeks at a time. Davalos

available to them. “We are really Beth’s

routinely checks in on the families for added

hands and feet,” says Maria Penzes, an

help and to ensure they are keeping their end

administrator at Northland.

of the bargain – looking for a job, if one or

The church is building housing for the

both of the parents are unemployed. Seventy-

poor and has offered the 37 families in the

five percent of the parents in the FIT program

pilot program first dibs on a place. Davalos

are unemployed or underemployed.

says this exemplifies what connections and

Next, the families are referred to support services like Christian HELP, which assists in

strategic relationships can accomplish.

The value of collaboration has informed

finding jobs for the adults and The Sharing

Davalos’ work ever since she completed

Center, which assists with basic needs

her master’s thesis at FIU. Her research

such as food, clothing, bus tokens, costs

focused on the most effective ways to help

of prescriptions, a place to shower and

homeless children.

even haircuts.

“What I love about this is that there are

Recently, FIT partnered with Northland

answers! We can figure it out. We have

Church in a program that pairs a volunteer

enough resources to be able to do it,”

with a family for 90 days. The families are

Davalos says.

What is Miami-Dade County doing?

Miami-Dade County has its own FIT program – Project Up-Start, which helps some 4,400 homeless children, the most in the state. The organization works with the MiamiDade County Homeless Trust and its private-sector partner, the Chapman Partnership, established by FIU benefactor Alvah Chapman. The Homeless Trust administers proceeds of Miami-Dade County’s one-percent food and beverage tax.

22 | SPRING 2013

Although grateful to Davalos for a place to live, Denise Solomon says life at the Remington Inn is tough. She’s been solicited and approached by drug dealers on several occasions.

The Remington Inn It’s the perfect storm. You fall behind on your light bill. Then the truck breaks down. The final blow: your husband breaks his leg and can’t work. Jennifer Byero can’t believe this is her story. She and her husband Gregg had struggled for a few years but they always got by.

The family of five – which includes Alyssa, 13, Michael, 8, and Jason, 7 – first connected with Davalos when they needed help paying the light bill. After Gregg’s accident, FIT put them up in the Remington Inn – one of the least safe motels the program uses, admits Davalos. “There are stabbings here.”

“Sometimes it gets to you,” Jennifer says. “We probably wouldn’t had made it through without Beth. Her and the community help take a lot of stress off. I wouldn’t be able to think about what do we do next.” With the help of several programs, Jennifer has been studying to take the GED. And the Byero family, whose motel room is a safe haven for other kids staying at the motel, has been able to save money for a down payment on an apartment.

The Byero family (parents Gregg and Jennifer and their three kids – Alyssa, 13, Michael, 8, Jason, 7) has been living in a one-bedroom motel room while saving money to move into an apartment.

Denise Solomon has been sick with what she thinks is the flu for several days. She can barely speak. The light bothers her. But she stops to say hello to Davalos, who is dropping off a couple of Publix gift cards.

Solomon has been working at Winn-Dixie nine hours a week trying to bounce back after losing her house a year ago. She and her children lived with a neighbor for a while but eventually needed to move and ended up at the Remington Inn. Davalos says 70 percent of the homeless live with friends and family. This time is the most effective time to help a family, rather than waiting until they are on the street.

For Solomon, Davalos was the lifeline she needed. Her life was

quickly deteriorating and someone gave her Davalos’ number. “If she hadn’t have called me back, I wouldn’t have anybody,” says Solomon tearing up. “You gave us a place to stay.” Davalos quickly interrupts and adds with an infectious smile, “But you know I have a team behind me, right?

“I want them to know this is from the community – folks that believe you can get through this,” she says.

Today, Davalos gives Solomon the number to The Sharing Center that will help her see a doctor.

Continues SPRING 2013 | 23

Jake Cruz outside of AI’s Army/Navy store after Davalos and he shop for his ROTC uniform.

24 | SPRING 2013

Continued

The Cruz Family The Cruz children are ambitious. Daughter Connie is in all Honors and AP high school classes; she sings in the choir and plays clarinet in the band; she wants to be a psychologist to help other children. A junior in high school, Jake wants to be a military man and is in ROTC. Making minimum wage, the parents have always struggled to support the family of six.

They have had to give up a lot: the house they were renting was foreclosed on; their car broke down; their cat and two dogs were given away to shave expenses; all their stuff was thrown in storage. And Jake almost had to give up ROTC. During one of Davalos’ visits, while making small talk, it came up that Jake had an ROTC event the following day but wouldn’t be able to participate because he didn’t have a uniform – couldn’t afford one. He shrugged it off in front of Davalos and his family. There are bigger problems to worry about.

Davalos went into action, accompanying father and son to AI’s Army store to purchase his uniform with FIT funds.

This is where the money goes. Visibly uncomfortable with all the attention, but excited, Jake slipped into his uniform and imagined his future as an officer.

New face of homelessness When Davalos first started as a social worker, many of the people she helped were single mothers. Now they’re entire families. Americans have been slow to change their perception of homelessness. The 60 Minutes special changed everything, says Davalos, who is the single mother of a 10-year-old girl who last year sent President Obama a letter asking him to build more shelters. “It’s important to expose our children to what is going on with their peers, to develop empathy. Be a part of the solution,” she says.

Davalos often makes presentations to schoolchildren about the crisis. A few times homeless kids have come up after the presentation asking for help.

“They’re very thankful to have someone walk that journey with them,” she says.

Twenty-one percent of homeless children become homeless adults. The key to improving this statistic is education, Davalos says. This is Davalos’ life work: Do everything possible to improve these kids’ chances of success in school and give them a shot at a better life.

“I’m on the ground with families, and I will never give it up.” n SPRING 2013 | 25

Photo by Angel Valentin

26 | SPRING 2013

antoinette smith Associate Professor School of Accounting College of Business

GOING FOR IT As a professor, you bring to the table something other than your ability to do research and to teach. You bring

a personal aspect. Even as a little girl

starting out in low-income housing, I had the biggest ability to dream and always believed that, despite obstacles, staying positive would allow me to more. As a

nontraditional student

achieve

with two small children and a job

as a secretary, I completed my undergraduate degree at night. While working toward a master’s degree, I heard about an organization that

minorities

encourages

to pursue a Ph.D. in business. I attended a conference on the

subject, called the Ph.D. Project, and soon after applied and was accepted to several schools. Getting a Ph.D. allowed me to fully understand that the world is

an ocean of knowledge

into which I should continuously

cast my fishing line to discover more. Today I facilitate seminars for FIU’s College of Business under a new program for undergraduates called the

Ph.D. Pipeline.

In any organization you want diversity, and currently

minorities are severely underrepresented on the faculty of business schools across the country. Our primary message is that getting a Ph.D. is challenging

but

also rewarding. I believe that if you are self-disciplined and self-motivated and can persevere, you have the needed foundation. Everything else can be learned. I don’t go into class talking about my background or race. I teach the same material as everyone else, but I think

seeing me gives all of my

students another image of what a professor can look like and perhaps a vision of what they might achieve.

Be WorldsAhead SPRING 2013 | 27

By Marianela de Armas ‘02

J

uan Ponce de León served as governor of Puerto Rico for a tumultuous five years. During that time,

the native Taínos tried unsuccessfully to overpower him,

but, in the end, it was the son of Christopher Columbus who unseated him during a political struggle for power

in the New World. Ponce de León’s new “asiento,” or

assignment, from Spain’s King Ferdinand II, was to set sail and find – not the Fountain of Youth as is widely thought – but the island of “Benimy.” After being at sea for nearly a month, he finally sighted land, but it wasn’t Bimini.

28 | SPRING 2013

The cover of this volume co-edited by FIU Professor Sherry Johnson features Florida artist Jackson Walker’s depiction of the first landing of Ponce de León titled, They Called It La Florida. The work has been purchased by the Florida House on Capitol Hill, the state’s embassy in Washington, D.C.

O

n a warm and humid April day in

subject. The Frost Art Museum will host

1513, Juan Ponce de León saw the

a yearlong series of exhibitions on the

of Ponce de León’s unfulfilled search

vibrant colors of a blooming landscape

theme of the anniversary. And the Office

for a legendary spring that gave people

and dense greenery from his ship. He had

of Engaged Creativity in the College

eternal life and health didn’t appear until

found a new land to conquer. A land he

of Architecture + the Arts is hosting a

many years after his death. The origin of

supposed had riches and resources to no

large-scale participatory art project called

the legend is traced back to the docks,

end. A land that he would claim for Spain,

Flor500.

where Spanish sailors exchanged tales

“la madre patria.” And, most importantly, a

While Ponce de León’s time in Florida

Historians note that written history

of battles and riches. Perhaps it was

land that he would give a Spanish name,

was short, his impact was significant.

a rumor created by ship captains to

to commemorate “la Pascua Florida,” in

In 1521, on his second attempt to sail

encourage would-be sailors to enlist in

honor of the Easter season.

through the modern-day Caloosahatchee

the sometimes treacherous and deadly

River to establish a colony, the Calusa

journey to the New World. What is known

was home to nearly 350,000 native

denied entrance to the conquistadors.

for sure is that the legend has endured

people that belonged to more than two

This battle proved deadly for Ponce de

almost as long as Ponce de Leon’s arrival.

dozen tribes, including the Seminoles,

León, who was wounded by a poisoned

the Ais, the Tequesta and the Mayaimi. It

arrow and retreated to Cuba, where he

*Special thanks to Sherry Johnson for

is suggested that Ponce de León landed

later died.

contributing to this article

“La Florida,” as he named the land,

somewhere between Cape Canaveral and

The Spanish explorer and soldier is

Jacksonville and was most likely met by

credited with establishing the oldest

the Timucua, who were a peaceful and

European settlement in Puerto Rico,

agricultural society.

being the first to arrive in the continental

This year, Florida commemorates the

U.S., discovering the Gulf Stream, and,

500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de

most importantly, introducing the great

León’s arrival with cultural and artistic

influence of Spanish culture and language

events across the state. At FIU, award-

that is still prevalent in the state of Florida.

winning historian and Professor Sherry

Yet, Ponce de León’s name has become

Johnson has released a book on the

synonymous with the Fountain of Youth.

SPRING 2013 | 29

Conmemorando en FIU

latin aMeRiCan and CaRiBBean CenteR the Voyages of Ponce de león: scholarly Perspectives To mark the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de León’s voyage to Florida, this volume brings together essays that reconstruct the journey and Ponce de León’s reasons for making it. Contributions include English translations from the original Spanish records, with commentary and analysis. Edited by Sherry Johnson, associate professor of history and director of academic programs at FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Center, and James Cusick, curator of the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History at the University of Florida. The book is published by the Florida Historical Society and is available at Amazon.com.

the FROst aRt MUseUM Eugene Savage Orchid Pavilion, 1935 Oil on canvas adhered to aluminum and wood Courtesy of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Mae W. Schultz Lead Trust

eugene savage: the seminole Paintings American artist Eugene Francis Savage made the first of many journeys into the Florida Everglades to study the Seminoles. Inspired by his observations, he created the most extensive painted record of the Florida Seminoles from the early 20th century. These works reflect Savage’s concern for the plight of native culture as tourism, land development and other environmental encroachment threaten traditional ways of life. This exhibition is traveling from the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens in Jacksonville and is on display through May.

Archangel Miguel Peruvian School 17th Century Oil on canvas Courtesy of the Jay I. Kislak Foundation

spanish Colonial art: the Beauty of two traditions The art of Spain reached the Americas on board the ships of the explorers, on the banners of the conquistadors, in illustrated bibles and in the form of small devotional images and portraits. Colonial art of the 16th through the 18th centuries represents a synthesis of imagery from Spain with that of the Americas, especially in areas with rich indigenous traditions and popular art forms, and embodies the blending of native traditions with those of Europe. The exhibit will be on display April through August.

OFFiCe OF enGaGed CReatiVitY Flor500 Flor500 is a large-scale participatory project created by FIU artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada. It features the depiction of 500 native wildflowers by 500 Florida artists. These

Admire the painted beauties for yourself go.fiu.edu/Flor500

flowers were identified by a team of botanists and scientists as the same flowers Ponce de León encountered on his arrival. The end result will be a collection of 500 original art pieces that will be on permanent display at Flor500.com. n

Adria Bernstein FLOR 204: Scarlet Rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus).

Acrylic, 2012.

30 | SPRING 2013

A New Cultural Institution Joins the FIU Family

By JoAnn Adkins | Photo by Douglas Hungerford

M

The museum’s exhibits and archival

ore than 20 years of research, 150,000

preserve an important part of our history while

miles traveled, 17 years of operation

enhancing the global learning experience we

materials are already enhancing FIU’s Judaic

offer our students.”

Studies and Sephardic Studies programs. This

and an historic partnership have given rise to

FIU’s assumption of the museum will

semester, professors Nathan Katz and Tudor

leverage the resources of both institutions,

Parfitt are exploring the Jewish experience in

of photos, artifacts and oral histories that

igniting a new era of interdisciplinary education,

Asia and Africa in a course taught exclusively

chronicled Jewish life in Florida and visited 13

research and outreach. The focus of that work

at the museum to both degree-seeking

cities over a four-year period today stands in

will begin with the museum’s original mission

FIU students and community members

two adjacent Art Deco former synagogues in

of telling the story of the Jewish experience in

participating on a non-credit basis.

Miami Beach. The one-time traveling collection,

Florida. Under FIU’s guidance, the focus will

the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. What started as an exhibit of thousands

The School of International and Public

amassed by hundreds of volunteers

expand to examine that experience

Affairs likewise plans to take advantage

beginning in the mid-1980s, opened

in context of the nation and the

of the unique location and the chance

as the Jewish Museum of Florida in

world and, finally, to investigate the

to welcome learners with a variety of

immigrant experience shared by all

backgrounds and experiences.

1995, obtained accreditation from the American Association of Museums in

Join the museum director for a guided tour

2002 (a status awarded to fewer than 5 percent

ethnic groups in Florida.

In addition to the two Art Deco buildings,

“The addition of the museum is a perfect complement to the work being done in our

of a nation’s museums) and last year became

listed on the National Register of Historic

School of International and Public Affairs,” said

part of FIU.

Places, the museum’s assets include

FIU College of Arts & Sciences Dean Kenneth

historical collections, a research library and

G. Furton. “Combining our expertise in the

an endowment.

social sciences as well as the humanities,

“There’s an immense richness of research housed within the museum that explores 250 years of Jewish art, culture and history,” said

“This step launches us into our next phase

we’re creating deeper conversations about

FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “Through

of growth,” said Jo Ann Arnowitz, museum

history, culture, religion, literature, political

this generous gift, FIU will expand our reach

executive director, “by strengthening

science and international relations. The Jewish

into the South Florida community, helping to

awareness of our institution and its mission,

Museum of Florida-FIU will help us broaden the

broadening our academic offerings and

conversation in all of these areas.” n

increasing scholarly research of our collections.”

SPRING 2013 | 31

S n a p s h o t s i n E x ce l l e n ce f r o m U . S . C e n t u r y B a n k A r e n a

Athletes. Fans. Community.

FIU recently completed interior renovations at the U.S. Century Bank Arena, home territory for volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball, the location for summer camps that cater to local schoolchildren, and site of both FIU and Miami-Dade County public school graduations. U.S. Century Bank is pleased to associate its name with a facility that serves as an important hub of sports activity and community life. Through our partnership with FIU, we proudly support the education of young people in South Florida.

Florida International University and

Partners in Education

SAND FIU’s newest student-athletes hit the

in ’96 | Photo

By Pete Pelegr

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. A light breeze swirled and tropical beach music played in the background as Kate Stepanova

won a third straight gold medal for the United States.

“A lot of people tell me it’s a great sport.

e

by Josh Ritchi

when she was an FSU undergrad.

“I felt I had an advantage when I got here because I had already played a year of sand

(pictured above) and freshman Emily

It’s in the Olympics,” said Podschweit, a

volleyball,” Stepanova said. “With that extra

Podschweit played a casual match at the new

freshman. “For the most part, when people

year, you learn how teams play and what I

FIU sand volleyball courts.

find out about beach volleyball at FIU, they’re

need to improve on.”

Not too shabby a way to go through college – playing sand volleyball.

excited to see what it’s all about.”

When FIU officially starts its first season

None of that is lost on Stepanova’s teammates.

in March, the Panthers’ five doubles teams

“She is amazing. I have learned so much

the rest of the inaugural FIU sand volleyball

will be led by coach Rita Buck-Crockett, a

from her,” Podschweit said. “Personally, I like

team will play this spring is a far cry from the

two-time Olympian and 2011 Volleyball Hall

playing against her because that makes my

bikinis and golden tans that some might have

of Fame inductee.

defense better. She knows exactly where the

The brand that Podschweit, Stepanova and

“We have everything,” Buck-Crockett said.

defender is going every time she puts the ball

established it as a collegiate sport last year,

“We’ve got small players that are really crafty.

away. So I’ve made it a point before I go up to

modest clothing was regulated. And, as the

We’ve got big players that can bang the ball,

swing to look across the court to see where

world discovered during the Olympics (when

and then we have players that can do both.”

the defenders are.”

it was called “beach volleyball”), this is a fast-

A key asset the Panthers have going into

envisioned. For starters, when the NCAA

The Panthers will play most home matches

moving sport that demands high endurance.

the first season is three-time All-American

at new courts on the Modesto A. Maidique

Unlike indoor volleyball, which has each team

Stepanova, an FIU graduate student in

Campus, and FIU will also host some “home”

sending six players onto the court, sand

recreation and sport management who is

tournaments on South Beach.

volleyball is a killer two-on-two game.

originally from Latvia. Also a seasoned indoor

“South Beach is huge,” Stepanova

player, she brings a wealth of experience,

said. “People are going to be there and

during the 2012 Summer Olympics when

including competitive play in the first-ever

see there is sand volleyball at FIU. So

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings

NCAA sand volleyball Final Four last year

we’re excited.” n

The sport captured international headlines

SPRING 2013 | 33

the

oneday plan

New basketball coach Richard Pitino is rebuilding the program with hard work, one day at a time.

By Ryan Jones | Photos by Doug Garland ’10

34 | SPRING 2013

Richard Pitino calls it the “one-day plan.” It is not a complicated thing.

guy; he has a smile all day.”

“For us, it’s not so much his name, but the

cities in the world. When I came on campus, I was blown away by how developed it was,

experience he has,” adds senior forward Tola

how big it was, how many students, just how

time head coach, treating each game, each

Akomolafe. “He’s energetic, he’s extremely

many opportunities there are for these kids.”

practice, and each drill as an opportunity

well organized. But he’s a really fun coach,

to improve is the only sane option. That’s

too. He’s putting the spirit of fun back into the

next season, and recently renovated facilities

especially true at a young, ambitious

game for us.”

on par with any in the nation, the Panthers

It may be a sports cliché, but for a first-

program, where tradition is being built right

It’s the template for any successful coach

With Conference USA play set to begin

have plenty to offer potential recruits.

before fans’ eyes. Whatever Pitino’s long-

in modern college athletics: One who can

Now, they have one of the brightest young

term goals, he insists that success this

strike the ideal balance between pushing his

coaching minds in the game. Pitino, who

season, and for the foreseeable future, will be

players to excel and letting them find the joy

spent last season as Louisville’s associate

measured in 24-hour increments.

in teamwork, competition and victory. For

head coach, is eager to do his part. “Going

Pitino, finding that balance is about work

through last year, where I had a lot of

ethic, preparation and execution; it’s also

responsibility, I just had a confidence about

career, the younger Pitino has worked as

about style. “I want to play a fast, high-

me,” he says. “It was the first time that I felt I

an assistant for both his father and for Billy

octane style—I want to press, I want to run

was really ready.”

Donovan, the University of Florida coach

up and down the court,” he says. It’ll be fun

“People ask about my five-year plan, but I’ve got a one-day plan,” says Pitino, who in April 2012 became the seventh head coach in FIU hoops history. “We’re trying to build a culture of hard work, and we’re going to do it the right way. We’re just trying to take it one day at a time.”

It’s a philosophy that seems to fly in the face of impatient, impetuous youth, and thus might seem unlikely from one of the youngest coaches in Division I basketball— unlikely, at least, until you remember Pitino’s lineage and experience. A 2005 Providence College graduate (he served as a student manager with the Friars), he’s the son of Rick Pitino, the University of Louisville head coach with more than 600 career victories and an NCAA championship to his name. And in his relatively brief coaching

Now settled in Miami with his wife, Jill,

who has won a pair of national titles with

for fans and players alike—and if he can get

and their young daughter, Pitino has his

the Gators. If genetics and time spent under

the right student-athletes to fit that style, it’s

chance to prove it. Yes, it’s his first time

top-notch mentors are any indication, Pitino

likely to win a lot of basketball games.

in charge, but he’s learned beside two of

His credentials make clear why President

the best coaches in the game. Yes, he’s

And while it’s far too early to judge by

Mark Rosenberg and Athletic Director Pete

young, but he emphasizes the benefit of

results, Pitino’s players are happy to vouch

Garcia chose Pitino; knowing how he wants

being not far removed from the stresses

for their new coach.

his teams to play, and the sort of players

and expectations of the young men he now

“On the court, he’s always on us trying to

he needs to do it, helps explain why Pitino

leads. And no, FIU basketball isn’t yet on the

get that little bit extra out of you. He always

chose FIU. “I didn’t know much about FIU

level of Louisville or Florida. But as Pitino

pushes you to the limit,” says Gaby Belardo,

when Pete called, but I always knew with

said upon his introduction, “The sky is the

a senior guard who transferred from Canisius.

my first job, I wanted a place that could be

limit with this university.”

“But he really is that person that transforms

attractive for recruiting,” Pitino says. “With

knows what he’s doing.

every time he gets off the court. He’s a great

Miami, you’re talking about one of the best

The plan is to get there by reaching a little higher every day. n

SPRING 2013 | 35

FIU 2012-’13 alumni association Board executive Committee

FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

Gonzalo acevedo ’91, MBa ’10 President Frank Javier Peña ’99 Vice President elizabeth Cross ’89

Dear friends and fellow alumni,

Secretary

The start of a new year is the right time to pause and reflect on what FIU has accomplished, and yet be confident that we have so much more ahead of us. The future looks bright for your FIU. I want to share with you some of the Alumni Association’s major accomplishments of 2012.

sharon Fine ’99, MsF ’11 Treasurer eduardo hondal ’88, Ms ’00 Parliamentarian

•

The Alumni Association finished the year with 19,539 members – 10 percent growth over the previous year.

•

We started five new alumni networks – Tampa, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and internationally in Kingston, Jamaica.

•

Hosted nine football tailgates connecting more than 9,800 alumni and friends, including the Silver Pride 25 Year Reunion and 2nd Annual Black Alumni Weekend.

•

Members of the Alumni Association traveled to far-off destinations, including international cruises and the inaugural FIU Wine Country Weekend in Napa and Sonoma featuring vineyards and hotels owned or operated by FIU alumni.

•

We elevated our presence in social media by connecting more than 5,300 on Facebook, 7,800 on LinkedIn and 3,000 on Twitter – with much more to come on this front.

•

Members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors along with Alumni Relations staff met in Key Largo for our annual retreat and planned the association’s course for the next few years.

a. Celina saucedo ’99, MPa ’11

•

During the retreat, the Board agreed that its focus over the next two years would be membership growth, events and alumni experience, and fundraising and financial sustainability.

_________________________________

•

We have regrouped as a board and placed more rigor and accountability on our activities while continuing to have fun with what we do. We will report continued success in the future.

Joaquín “Jack” F. González ’97 Past President

Officers Gabriel albelo ’93 Gus alfonso ’02, MsF ’08 stewart l. appelrouth MBa ’80 tony e. Crapp Jr. ’95 isabel C. díaz, esq. ’01 anastasia Garcia ’89 Maria d. Garcia ’05, Jd ’08 Jorge F. hernández ’95 Michael a. hernández ’04, MPa ’11 samuel C. Jackson MPa ’90 Miguel larrea ’96 Jaime n. Machado ’01, MBa ’10 Michael P. Maher ’97 ana l. Martínez, CPa Macc. ’92 alberto Padrón ’98, MBa ’09 Pedro Pavón, esq. ’04 enrique Piñeiro ’03 alicia M. Robles de la lama, esq. ’98 Ralph Rosado ’96, Ma ’03

duane wiles Executive Director Alumni Association

Indeed, the future looks bright at FIU. I encourage you to stay active and connected. Attend the many events and social gatherings, especially the Torch Awards. Return to FIU and see what’s happening on campus. Log on to alumni.fiu.edu and take advantage of the many member benefit opportunities. Friend us, link up with us and send tweets our way – we want to hear from you. And lastly, tell others about what is going on at your FIU. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Gonzalo Acevedo ’91, MBA ’10 36 | SPRING 2013

The 2012 Silver Pride inductees: Edward Montoya ’87; Ana Behar ’86; Thais Pomenta ’87; Raul Concepcion ’87; Maria Denis ’87; Cindy Dwyer ’86; Diana Castellanos-Vogel ’87; and Annabelle Rojas ’87, MBA ’98. Also inducted, but not pictured were Joseph Martin ’75 and Blanca Stella Mejia ’83

One of the most important FIU Alumni Association membership benefits to date

newest aa member benefit: healthcare access

offers Panthers and their families a way to address their healthcare needs. The program offers convenient patient care at the Faculty Group Practice on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus and facilitates expedited access to physicians and healthcare services elsewhere in South Florida. Here is a complete list of what you receive: •

Same-day appointments with primary care providers and priority appointments with specialists at the Faculty Group Practice

•

Expedited access to other physicians and specialists affiliated with the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and leading local hospitals and healthcare providers (subject to insurance plan benefits, limitations and provider networks)

•

Access to the FIU Premier Care program for assistance with healthcare and insurance coordination

•

Invitations to medical lectures and other events

•

Subscriptions to the FIU Health e-ewsletter and FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Pulse newsletter

•

Complimentary patient parking on campus

•

Discounts for medical services not covered by insurance

Enrollment in the Panther Care Advantage Program is complimentary to all valued members of the FIU Alumni Association through September 30, 2013.

To redeem this benefit, alumni should call 305-FIU-DOCS for appointments at the Faculty Group Practice and mention their membership in the FIU Alumni Association.

The membership card should be presented upon arrival at the appointment.

Get career help from leading authorities FIU alumni seeking employment or looking to transition into new jobs can get helpful advice at no charge.

FIU’s Career Services offers a series of webinars that feature nationally noted career experts addressing a variety of job-related

2013 Golden Panther Getaways Join your fellow Panthers and discover the world with these special travel offers through the Alumni Association.

• Peru: a Privileged destination, May 23 – 29 Itinerary includes Lima (City of Kings), Cuzco (The Imperial City), and Machu Picchu (Wonder of the World). Pricing: $3,100 per person. Visit pantrav. com/peru.

• Mediterranean 7-Night Cruise, June 23 - 30 Hosted by the FIU

topics, among them “personal branding” and

Alumni Association’s Assistant Director of Chapters and Young

using social networks effectively.

Alumni Amanda Wood, the cruise departs and ends in Barcelona

You are invited to participate in the

person. Visit pantrav.com/cruise, or contact Panorama Travel at

that have already taken place. A related

reservations@pantrav.com or call 305-220-0977.

• The America’s Cup 10-Night Cruise, Sept. 13 – 23 Hosted by

questions and communicate with others

Alumni Association Executive Director Duane Wiles, this cruise

also seeking advice.

departs from Seattle, WA and ends in Ensenada, Mexico. Travelers

To get started, go to

Opt in for FIU Alumni Association texts, and you’ll never miss another exclusive promotion or memberonly event. Simply text “FIUalumni” to 313131 to start receiving the updates.

on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas. Pricing: From $1,099 per

webinars live or to watch recorded sessions forum provides the opportunity to ask

STAY

CONNECTED

text

“FiUalumni” to

313131

will view the world famous America’s Cup race aboard the

expertwebinarseries.com/fiualumni to see

Celebrity Solstice with an overnight stay in San Francisco. Pricing:

the schedule of speakers and to register.

From $1,373 per person. Contact Bob Zweig at Cruise Planners/ Cruiseland at Bob@Cruiseland.com or call 866-946-2732.

SPRING 2013 | 37

Class Notes 1970s Carlota M. Van der Eijk ’77 is the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management representative to the FIU Alumni Association.

1980s Raj K. Singh ’80, the general manager of the Sea View Hotel in Bal Harbour, Fla., was appointed chairman of the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association.

Craig A. Hulford ’83 is the area general manager for the New Orleans Hotel Collection, which includes the Bourbon Orleans, Hotel Mazarin and the Hotel Le Marais.

Gonzalo E. De Varona ’85 is the president of Viva Gaming LLC, which recently opened an office in Miami.

Carlos J. Martinez ’85, Miami-Dade County public defender, received the UM Law Leadership Award last fall in recognition of his dedication to public citizenship and leadership.

Martinez was recently re-elected, unopposed, to a second term. He has instituted numerous programs to help troubled youth and been active in addressing the crisis of minority children going to prison.

Raimundo Lopez-Lima Levi ’86, the founder and managing partner of Lopez Levi, a Coral Gables-based boutique international tax and consulting firm, oversaw the company’s acquisition of the Homesteadbased firm of Pierce & Bowen, CPA. Lopez Levi & Associates’ new addition will enable the firm to serve its “growing commodities and agriculture practice.”

Margaret A. Benua MS ’89 is general manager of the Dream South Beach Hotel.

1990s Michael Cooper ’91 was promoted to hotel manager of the three InterContinental properties serving the Cleveland Clinic.

Faith Amon ’96, owner of the graphic design firm Frecklefoot Creative, appeared on the Today Show in a segment about entrepreneurs who employ their mothers. Amon hired her mom several years ago to handle accounting and other tasks. The two have set the foundation for a successful business.

38 | SPRING 2013

Suria D. K. Plante ’96 is the area manager for South Florida and the Caribbean for the InterContinental Hotels Group.

Rafael E. Martinez-Pratts ’97 is assistant director of the Small Business Development Center at UCF. He is responsible for managing the center’s satellite office in Kissimmee, Fla., and providing consulting services, seminars and workshops designed to assist clients in Osceola County with starting or growing more successful businesses.

2000s Matthew J. Kuscher ’00 opened LoKal Burgers & Beer on Commodore Place in Coconut Grove, Fla.

Viviana Leyva ’01, MS ’03 is director

Janet Dacal ’07, whose Broadway credits include Wonderland (she played a grown-up Alice) and In the Heights (she originated the role of beautician Carla), recently wowed South Florida audiences with what one reviewer called her “glorious voice” during a musical production at the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables.

Jouvens Jean ’08 is the chef de cuisine at the Atlantico Restaurant at the new St. Regis resort in Bal Harbour, Fla.

Paul McCall ’08, MS ’10, a former starting quarterback for FIU, is working toward a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering at FIU and has earned recognition for his scholarly work from the Air Force Research Laboratory at the Kirtland Air Force Base. His dream is to be an astronaut.

Christopher E. Crenshaw ’09 is the vice president of Strategic Development at Smith Travel Research.

of HR Operations for the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach.

2010s

Michael A. Hernandez ’04, MPA ’11 and his wife Christine welcomed a

Stephanie Navas ’10 and sister Kristine Navas ’11 have combined the skills

son, Brian Michael, on Sept. 26 in Pembroke Pines.

Duty D. Greene ’05 and Kristina D. Medina ’07, both College of Business graduates (and Greene an Honors College alumnus as well), were married on April 14, 2012, at St. Jude Catholic Church on Brickell Ave. in Miami.

Mfonobong Essiet ’06, a secondyear medical student at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago Medical School, has completed her reign as Miss Black Florida 2012. She went on to compete in the Miss Black USA pageant and says the pageant experience helped her come out of her shell. It was an opportunity “to reach a wider audience with a positive message about making progress in society.”

Heather RadiBermudez ’06, MS ’12 and her husband Mark welcomed their first son, Endre Christian, on July 26.

they learned at the College of Business Administration and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, respectively, by launching Closet Deep, an online clothing boutique that combines the sisters’ “trendy, edgy and classic styles.”

Stephany Alvarez-Ventura ’11 earned a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for her first place finish in the Outstanding Thesis in Food and Agricultural Sciences Competition 2013.

Alvarez-Ventura studied “colony collapse disorder of pollinators,” which occurs when worker bees abruptly disappear from a hive.

The topic is an emerging issue in agriculture and food security as bees serve a critical role as other pollinator populations have declined.

Juan Sebastian Gil ’11, who majored in political science and graduated from the Honors College, has embarked on graduate studies and research at the prestigious Oxford University, where he will pursue a master’s degree in Latin American studies. His long-term plans include obtaining a Ph.D in international relations and dedicating his career to diplomacy.

New Alumni Association Lifetime Members Diana Castellanos-Vogel ’87 James Donnelly ’89 Carlos Duart ’94 Miguel Gonzalez ’79 Leandro Gonzalez ’08 Florence Greer ’95 Meschelle Huether ’97 Alfonso Iglesias ’03 Miriam Machado ’07 Colette Major ’88 Cesar Martinez ’08 John Mcfarland ’89 Nicolas Oliva ’92 Susan Pinckney ’79 Lourdes Pineda-Garcia ’91 Ramon Quintana ’97 Vivek Raghunathan Sherry Rojo ’86 Mario Rojo ’85 Faye Roth ’87 Marisol Sierra ’09 William Sullivan ’76 Michelle Thompson ’02 Catherine Torres ’05 Alice Washington ’99 Aisha Williams ’10

In MeMorIaM: Cristina Orth ’86 FIU alumna and Miami teacher Cristina Orth lost her battle with cancer on July 10, 2012. A graduate of the College of Education, she was an educator for 25 years. She was an elementary teacher at Rockway Elementary School in Miami and received numerous recognitions for her outstanding performance as a teacher and mentor. Among her accolades: Teacher of the Year, Math Teacher of the Year and Science Teacher of the Year. For six years she was the United Teachers of Dade steward at her school and was nominated Outstanding Steward in 2005.

She is remembered by family, friends, colleagues and students as an educator of distinction and a person of great compassion, friendliness, honesty and loyalty.

Chandler williams Former FIU receiver Chandler Williams passed away in January 2013 at the age of 27 while playing in a flag football tournament in South Florida.

He was a seventh-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2007 and also a member of the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs, and he was preparing to start his first season in the Arena Football League at the time of his death. FIU fans will remember him as FIU’s leading receiver in 2005 and 2006 and for the several school records he set. He leaves behind a fiancée and a daughter.

support FiU’s Future. leave a legacy.

Make a philanthropic investment that will benefit generations to come and secure your legacy through a planned gift to FIU. Learn about the many ways that you can make a difference, provide for the future and save taxes. Call us at the FIU Planned Giving Office at 305-348-6298 and visit us at

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SPRING 2013 | 39

Employees build the FIU community through giving back

By Steve Fain Professor Emeritus Honors College Fellow

In February 2012, we

the School of Music. The staff in Human

allows students with intellectual disabilities

launched the Ignite

Resources created the Berta D. Villares

to audit classes at FIU and experience

campaign, the first

Book Scholarship Award to honor a special

college in ways many previously thought was

university-wide internal

colleague and to help purchase textbooks for

out of reach. So far $20,000 has been raised

fundraising effort in FIU

FIU faculty and staff using FIU tuition waivers.

to support the students of Panther LIFE.

history. Today, we

Others earmarked their gifts for specific

There is a group committed to a five-

celebrate the fact that 2,313 employees raised

funds and endowments, including $83,652

year development plan for improving and

more than $2 million in a few short months.

directed to the First Generation Scholarship

sustaining the 11-acre Nature Preserve on

Fund by 228 members of our FIU family.

the west side of the Modesto A. Maidique

to make a commitment to supporting our

Those dollars support students who are

Campus. This band of passionate FIU

university through donor-directed giving.

the first in their families to attend college

citizens have thus far raised in excess of

This program allows faculty and staff to

and donations are matched by the state.

$5,000 in support of their vision.

identify areas within the university they

Last year marked the first time since the

wish to support and direct their gift to that

program’s inception that FIU surpassed the

of giving something back to the institution

precise area. But, more than that, faculty

state match allocation for the First Generation

that not only employs them, but also

This campaign asked faculty and staff

FIU’s “Igniters” understand the importance

and staff were encouraged to unleash

contributes to a quality of life experience

their imaginations and passions to create

unique to FIU. I have derived great

and support meaningful projects as giving

satisfaction from working with those who

opportunities within the campaign.

were excited about igniting a dream, a cause, or a project through directed giving.

I agreed to chair this campaign because

Today, I believe that the spirit of

I believe in community and I believe in

philanthropy is rising within FIU. Strengthened

giving back. In my office there is a poster

by our success, I believe that as we begin to

on the wall posing three questions raised by the Talmudic scholar Hillel: “If I am not for

Scholarships. In all, FIU raised more than $1

move into year two of the Ignite campaign

myself, who will be for me? And when I am

million and, through Ignite, FIU employees

more and more of our colleagues will

only for myself, what am I? And, If not now,

were essential to that success.

recognize that they do make a consequential

when?” As chair of the Ignite campaign, I

In every corner of the university, passions

difference when they give back. I believe we

consider these challenges regularly; and in

were ignited as 100 new fundraising projects

enrich our community when we Ignite the

one way or another, I pose these questions

were created by individuals and groups

spirit of philanthropy across the university.

to our FIU community.

committed to advancing particular efforts

These are exciting times at FIU and the

There were many who understood the

and interests. For example, the College of

Ignite campaign is one energy source that

significance of the Ignite campaign and the

Architecture & The Arts created a fund to

fuels this excitement. At the launch of

idea of giving back. School of Journalism and

support the FIU Debate Team, as well as 10

the campaign, President Mark Rosenberg

Mass Communication Dean Emeritus Lillian

scholarship funds to support students in an

observed that although other major

Lodge Kopenhaver committed $1 million and

array of majors. They have already raised

universities often conduct faculty and staff

established The Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver

nearly $9,000. Building on a grant secured

fundraising campaigns, FIU never had. He

Center for the Advancement of Women in

by Professor Diana Valle-Riestra, faculty

went on to explain that we were afraid to

Communication. Provost and Executive Vice

and staff in the College of Education have

ask. When we did finally muster the courage

President Douglas Wartzok and his wife Sue,

established a collaboration with Miami-Dade

to ask, we were gratified to find so many

who is a university librarian, contributed to

County Public Schools and Parent to Parent

who participated with enthusiasm and

sustaining the Amernet String Quartet in

of Miami called Panther LIFE. This project

generosity. n

40 | SPRING 2013

VIP:

Very Important Panther

Donovan Campbell ’00 • Sports Reporter, WSVN Miami • Lifetime Member, FIU Alumni Association • Bachelor’s in mass communication (broadcast journalism)

Q. what are your fondest memories of FiU? a. A fond FIU sports memory is FIU’s upset of Michigan in basketball in 1998! I’m glad I was there to witness it!

Q: when did the news bug bite you? a: I’ve always loved sports, and when I realized I wasn’t the strongest or fastest, I thought, “Why not do the next best thing?” That’s when I decided I wanted to cover the fastest and the strongest athletes and get paid for it.

Q: You got your first tV job at esPn as a production assistant. what was it like to step into that world for the first time? a: Everyone knows it can be tough to break into this business.

I took that job with a plan and a gamble to get in front of the camera, and it worked out. I worked my tail off to get to the next level, and it totally paid off.

Q: which stories do you find the most satisfying? a: The human interest stories are by far my favorite. I really enjoy reporter involvement stories where I’m in the trenches.

Q: has covering sports taught you anything about human nature? a: Yeah, people like it when you are yourself and not a big stiff. I do my best to relate to whomever I’m interviewing and it seems to work for me.

Q: You served our country in the U.s. army for three years. how, if at all, has that influenced the way you work? a: Serving in the U.S. Army has helped me be a more rounded and responsible individual. I can honestly say that my discipline was instilled by my parents but refined by the U.S. Army. Every good reporter must have more than talent.

Patience and discipline are important professional traits in this business.

Q: Is there a sport that – in your dreams - you would have liked to take up professionally? a: Growing up I always wanted to be a professional baseball player. I really wanted to be Darryl Strawberry.

Photo courtesy of WSVN Miami SPRING 2013 | 41

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42 | SPRING 2013

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