Historic visit Historic year

FIU welcomes President Obama

50th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE

Building an FIU Legacy. As FIU celebrates its 50th anniversary and looks to the future, the university will see more and more “legacy families” that boast generations of FIU graduates. This spring the Cancio family assembled on campus to show its Panther Pride. From left are Giselle Marie Cancio ’14; Grethel Lucia Curbelo ’90, MS ’96; current nursing and psychology student Melissa Marie Cancio; Claudia Abohasen Cancio ’91; Janet Abohasen Galdamez ’87; Nemer Alfredo Abohasen MBA ’01; Desiree Abohasen Zeledon MS ’99; Bernardo Antonio Rojas ’98; Patricia Abohasen Rojas ’92; and current biomedical engineering student Eduardo Ivan Galdamez.

Photo by Doug Garland ’10

Read more legacy storiesFIUalumni.com/legacy

21SNAPSHOTSThree important stories, captured in brief and told in full online – about an alumnus, an innovative program and a transformational gift – reveal the spirit of FIU at 50.

26 TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITYThe personal futures of two undocumented brothers shine brightly thanks to changes in immigration policy and their FIU educations.

ONLINE AT MAGAZINE.FIU.EDU• Federal agencies recognize FIU’s

academic offerings in cyber security • Student writers embrace the Everglades in

a series of essays• The Center for Leadership & Service

wishes its retiring founder farewell

Information about additional online stories can be found throughout this issue; just look for

MAPPING THE NEXT FIVE YEARSFIU’s new strategic plan lays the groundwork for continued, high-quality expansion in educational programs, research and more.

8NEXT-GEN FIUFor FIU’s 50th anniversary, we look ahead to coming trends in research, academics, arts, engagement and higher education.9

A VIEW FROM THE TOPPresident Mark B. Rosenberg shares his vision for FIU’s second half-century. 4

ON THE COVER OBAMA AT FIUThe university revels in the presidential spotlight during a campus visit. Cover photo by Doug Garland ’10

24

SUMMER 2015 | 1

What a difference four decades make! Just as South Florida has grown – compare the development back in 1976, above, with what exists today, below – so have FIU and its Modesto A. Maidique Campus. With just five new buildings (plus office space in the original air traffic control tower) and a sixth under construction at the time, FIU served some 12,000 students. Flash forward to 2015, and the campus is home to more than 60 buildings, among them five new academic health-science centers, five residence halls, a sports arena, a performing arts center and a glorious art museum. With the names of benefactors now gracing many of its edifices, the university reflects the generosity and embrace of the community. Turn to the inside back cover to see an old photo of the Biscayne Bay Campus, which opened in 1977. The two campuses, along with several satellite locations, together now welcome more than 50,000 students.

FIU Magazine is printed on 10 percent PCW recycled paper that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council ®

I was searching for a graduate school in late 2001

when I visited FIU for the first time. It happened fast,

falling in love with this university. First, it was the tropical

lushness and the sounds of Caribbean and Latin

music pouring out into the quad. I stood in front of the

fountain staring up at the stunning bronze artwork on

the PC building, “Las Cuatro Razas,” the four races.

The message of unity in diversity spoke to me. The

people and the opportunities made the decision easy.

Then Latin American and Caribbean Center Director

Eduardo Gamarra, for whom I eventually served as

a graduate teaching assistant, told me of FIU as a

vibrant community full of possibilities. His enthusiasm in

recruiting me to apply sealed it.

Yes. I chose FIU and it chose me.

I finished my master’s degree and stayed. I became a writer, speechwriter to the

president, and a journalism instructor. And, for more than a decade I’ve had the privilege

of telling the story of this special place as editor of FIU Magazine. Like Rilke says, I

believed with my feelings and my work that I was “taking part in the greatest,” and the

more I believed in my purpose at the university, the more it was rewarded.

What a joy it has been, at every step telling the story of this university. Our professors

have wowed and inspired me. Our alumni have helped me to understand that a university

is a network of hope that extends far beyond a campus. My colleagues have helped me

learn and grow.

Above all, FIU’s brave, mostly first-generation students have always given me a deep

sense of purpose. Their dedication, their hard work, their struggles and triumphs on the

path of realizing their own potential. I know their story because it was mine. I was in and

out of college between full-time and part-time jobs — then a stint in the Army — all so I

could finally get an undergrad degree at age 26. Later, FIU made it possible for me to go

to graduate school.

This commemorative FIU@50 magazine is my final issue as editor. I could not be more

grateful to all the people — my team, the FIU Magazine Editorial Board, Alumni Relations,

my colleagues in External Relations — who have dedicated themselves to this honored

undertaking of giving voice to a community. I am especially grateful to all the readers

whose constant feedback and support have helped this publication grow and thrive.

I look forward to opening these pages for many more years and celebrating the greatest

that is FIU.

Cheers,

Deborah O’Neil MA ’09

FROM THE EDITOR FIU PresidentMark B. Rosenberg

FIU Board of TrusteesAlbert Maury ’96, ’02 (Chair)Michael M. Adler (Vice chair)Sukrit AgrawalCesar L. AlvarezJose J. ArmasJorge L. ArrizurietaRobert T. Barlick Jr.Alexis CalatayudMarcelo ClaureMayi de la Vega ’81Gerald C. Grant Jr. ’78, MBA ’89Claudia PuigKathleen Wilson

FIU MAGAZINE Division of External Relations

Sandra B. Gonzalez-Levy Senior Vice President

Terry Witherell Vice President

Karen Cochrane Director News and Communications

Deborah O’Neil MA ’09 Editor

Alexandra Pecharich Managing Editor

Aileen Solá-Trautmann Art Director

Doug Garland ’10Senior Multimedia Producer

Writers JoAnn C. AdkinsAyleen Barbel Fattal ’06Joel Delgado ’12Amy EllisSissi Garland, ’99, MA ’08 Evelyn S. Perez

Magazine InternClara-Meretan Kiah

PhotographersMiguel Asencio ’12, MS ’14Chris Granger Eduardo Merille ’97, MBA ’00Roldan Torres ’85

Copyright 2015, 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 305-348-7235. 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-FIU-ALUM. 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.14548_06/15

FIU MAGAZINE Editorial Advisory BoardHeather Bermudez ’06, MS ’12 Marketing Manager South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Gisela Casines ’73 Associate Dean College of Arts & Sciences

Lori-Ann Cox Director of Alumni Advocacy University Advancement

Paul Dodson Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations

Amy Ellis Assistant Director of PR and Marketing Office of Engagement

Stephen Fain Professor Emeritus College of Education

Lazaro Gonzalez Marketing and Branding Strategist Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

Susan Jay Assistant Vice President of Development and Assistant Dean for Medical Advancement Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Nicole Kaufman Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Andra Parrish Liwag Campaign Communications Director University Advancement

Larry Lunsford Vice President for Student Affairs University Ombudsman

Maureen Pelham Director of Clinical Trials Division of Research

Duane Wiles Executive Director Alumni Association

Mark Williams Interim Dean, Robert Stempel School of Public Health and Social Work

Associate Dean for Arts & Sciences Gisela Casines, right, who is retiring, was honored at a recent FIU Magazine editorial board meeting. She is pictured with the outgoing editor, Deborah O’Neil.

FROM THE EDITOR

SUMMER 2015 | 3

4 | SUMMER 2015

“Today it’s clear that FIU’s youthfulness is an advantage. It gives us the opportunity to extend ourselves in ways that are consistent with our mission, in ways that many older universities might be reluctant to embrace because their value propositions are based on exclusivity. Our value proposition is based on engagement and inclusivity. Finding ways to build bridges is who we are and what we do.”

Photo by Doug Garland ’10

Q. You started your teaching career in 1976

at FIU and have been president for nearly

six years. What does this anniversary

mean to you?

A. It symbolizes a coming of age. It’s a

marker in the evolution of the university and

the community. I was used to being around

universities that were created in the 1700s

and the 1800s in this country. It’s unique

to have such a large and impactful public

university that is so young. In those early

days, when I started at the university, we

more often than not cursed our youthfulness

and fundamentally saw it as a disadvantage.

Today it’s clear to me our youthfulness is

an advantage. It gives us the opportunity to

extend ourselves in ways that are consistent

with our mission, in ways that many older

universities are reluctant to do because

their value propositions are based on

exclusivity. Our value proposition is based

on engagement and inclusivity. Those are

elements of our rootedness and organic

culture that we need to celebrate and be

proud of. Finding ways to build bridges is

who we are and what we do.

Q. A lot has shifted in higher education

during that time. What changes have had

the biggest impact on FIU?

A. I don’t really look at the university without

understanding the broader global and

national context. So, I think the world has

become a lot more complex and diverse and

fragmented. Financial and economic power is

shifting away from the U.S. gradually.

Nationally we are reflecting that

fragmentation. The country is far more

dependent upon new skills and competencies

that, for the most part, can only be taught and

learned through a higher education context,

a university context. It’s a country where

natural resources are less and less central to

competitiveness and human talent is more

central. The university in that context is very,

very well situated to thrive.

At the local level, the community is far more

diversified and complex than it was when the

university was opened. The community is far

more conscious of its potential and its reach,

and it has become mainstream nationally and

globally in its identity. So that carries with it

some opportunities and some obligation and

some challenges that reflect squarely on the

university and how it evolves over the next

few years.

Q. What academic trends are on the

horizon that will be influential for FIU’s

future direction?

A. First, universities have lost their monopoly

on learning. Second, the “massification” of

high-speed digital technologies has had a

major impact upon us. Third, the growing

opportunity that comes about in human

potential as it relates to wellness, health and

performance is almost exponential.

And a fourth trend that I think is very, very

important is China and the willingness of

China and the Chinese people to go beyond

their boundaries and to extend their culture

and extend their economic and financial and

technical wherewithal. That will be a major

driver of 21st century movements.

The other element is the trend toward

disruption and the growing power of

disruptive forces, whether they are

technological or religious or racial. I see that

as a very powerful social element in

the change.

Across time, you will see us moving

away from discipline-based education and

opportunities for people to more cause-based

or mission-based. Whether it’s health and

wellness, or life extension or related to those,

the university will have to respond. It will

be more cause-based and problem-based

education and certification.

Q. What does that mean for the academic

experience of tomorrow’s students?

A. Academic experience will become far more

tailored to individual interests and cognitive

capabilities and mission orientations.

We will move to more personalized

education. Traditionally, we have addressed

massification and expansion of higher

education wholesale, but I think as we move

to greater technological sophistication, we

SUMMER 2015 | 5

President Rosenberg envisions

FIU of the FUTURETo mark FIU’s 50-year anniversary, FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg shared his vision

for the next generation in a wide-ranging conversation with FIU Magazine Editor Deborah O’Neil.

Continues

understanding a country, a formation of that

magnitude demographically, economically,

financially, technologically. The estimate

is, that by the year 2040, China’s GDP will

be $123 trillion. The European Community

and the U.S. combined will be $30-35

trillion. Let’s assume we’re off by even 40

percent. You are still dealing with an entity

that is on the order of three times the size

of the United States and Europe in terms of

production. That is something we need to

come to grips with.

Where we are growing globally relates to

the life of the mind. It is critically important

that we do a better job; and we have staked

out this ground on the Global Learning

initiative. International understanding was

one of the original university goals. We start

with doing a better job of making sure our

students interact more with students from

other countries and with other perspectives.

We also have to find ways to replicate

the look and feel of the world of work that

students are going into by ensuring our

students have important opportunities to

experience different cultures and different

ways of doing things. That can be through

study abroad or cross-national collaborative

design simulations or research projects.

Q. So, let’s talk about engagement. In

a broad sense, what will the “public’ of

public higher education mean for FIU

going forward?

A. “Public” will connote a certain value

proposition that the public university is the

platform for addressing the challenges and

opportunities that come about through

social change. Public universities have the

obligation to make sure there is broader

awareness of those challenges and

opportunities and to make sure there’s a

capability to address them.

know where the traditional human being

ends and life forms that are manufactured

or fabricated begin. You are already seeing

that with artificial limbs and the whole

debate over whether people with artificial

limbs have an advantage. You are seeing

it with cataract removal and lenses that

are manmade and are very effective. I see

incredible things happening there. That will

involve, as well, emphasis and people who

are more skilled in dealing with normative

sociology issues.

Obviously environment, the enhanced

skills to maintain environmental

reconstruction and the whole issue of

sustainability are major. Water and energy

increasingly will be even more major. We

have to do a lot more work in those areas.

Q. Let’s talk global. What are the major

international and global trends that

matter to FIU?

A. I do think China is a major, major area

that we have to do a lot more work on, just

will have much more specialized modules

and modalities that will fit specific interests

in a more personal fashion. Education will

become far more fragmented based on

technical competencies, based on personal

mission orientations and interests and far

more normalized within the life span of the

human being.

Our university in particular is moving into

partnership-solution logic to bring value to

our community, to bring value globally as

well. That increasingly will be the wave of

the future.

Q. How about trends in research?

Where are we going?

A. The research will be far more solutions-

oriented, far more applied, far more driven

by team-based multidisciplinary groups

and far more data driven as a consequence

of large data sets and big data. You will see

not just classic researchers. You will see

also individuals with specific competencies,

in terms of experience, solutions and

applications.

You also will have research teams that

include people with anthropological and

sociological competency. So, I’m not

worried about the humanities disappearing

or the social sciences disappearing.

The more we aggregate data, the more

we will need the involvement of those

who understand family matters, family

organization, community organization,

sociological and political dynamics.

The areas we have aligned around in

generic terms include arts and entertainment

from a consumer orientation, which is going

to require serious research. In terms of

health, we’ll have significant moves forward

in life extension and quality of life. You

are also going to see blending of human-

machine cognition, where you really won’t

6 | SUMMER 2015

“Where we are growing globally relates to the life of the mind. International

understanding was one of the original

university goals. We start by making sure our students interact

more with students from others countries and

with other perspectives.”

Continued

Q. At a core mission level, what are we

doing today that will ensure we thrive

tomorrow?

A. One, we are becoming far more student-

centric and far more committed to how

to improve student performance. Within

the next 10 years, we are going to have

individualized cognitive measures that

will allow better understanding of where a

student enters into the learning curve and

measures how much a student is able to

learn. That will be aggregated by programs

and disciplines and institutions and globally

benchmarked.

Two, our ability to survive is going to

be based on our willingness to depart

from traditional approaches to access

and traditional measures of success. If

we continue to base admissions on SAT

scores and ACT scores, we are going

to miss some of the truly unbelievable

talent in this community that just wants a

chance to be in an embracing and intense

learning environment. I don’t believe in

open admission as such, but I do believe

that admission should be a function of

measuring talent and talent potential as

opposed to more traditional indicators of

success that are completely misaligned with

our demographics and our geography. We

have a sacred obligation to advance that

human potential.

I mentioned in the 50th anniversary prayer

meeting that in many ways our divinity is

hope and opportunity. We must never forget

that’s what we bring to the table: hope for

people who might not otherwise have the

opportunity to get an education and learn

at such a dynamic place, and opportunity

in that there’s a perception out there that

FIU students are well prepared and that

opens incredible opportunity they might not

otherwise have. That’s who we are. n

and labor; and people are social animals

who feel the need to gather and share their

learning and experiences. Even if we do a lot

more education in a personalized, just-in-

time, modular fashion, there will be a need to

bring people together to share learning and

benefit from the serendipity of one-on-one,

face-to-face relationships.

In the case of the Maidique campus, our

academic health center has the potential

to become a billion-dollar stand-alone

enterprise in 20 years. That is my vision for it

because of the exponential improvements in

health and advances in health research that

will take on a logic of its own. That in part is

why we need the additional acreage to the

south of us.

We will probably see more specialized

centers and sites out there across time

similar to Brickell or South Beach or I-75 or

China. We will see more as we can develop

business models that work. That provides

value in communities that might not be able

to access our main platforms.

Q. What do you see happening in terms

of the funding aspects of public higher

education and how we sustain the

university in the future?

A. I’m not one of those people who is going

to curse the darkness in that sense. Times

change, and we have to change with them.

We are perfectly situated to change and

prosper because we have the human talent

and values proposition and the organizational

culture to successfully thrive in this much

more complex and ambiguous environment.

Therefore, we should expect as we do

that we are able to, and we must diversify

our financial base. There will always be

some funding coming from the state as a

public institution, but we should expect

across time that as we become more

successful and larger, that funding will

diminish in size and scale and percentage.

Why? If we are creating value, we’re able to

monetize that value in a way that enables us

to have sustainability.

This country is enormously wealthy, and

this country is full of dreamers and people

who are able to turn dreams into reality and

then want to help others. I’m confident that

as we become more successful, we will see

more philanthropy and more purposeful

giving coming into the university on one

hand, and we will be able to monetize that

value in a way that will enable us to maintain

a cadre and corpus of talent that will

enhance the institution.

Q. We’ve built out the MMC and we have

the opportunity to go bigger with the

additional fairgrounds acreage. What will

FIU look like for the next generation?

A. It’s the next generation that expansion

to the fairgrounds is all about. I do still see

the need for brick and mortar. Traditional

research requires state-of-the-art facilities

SUMMER 2015 | 7

“Times change, and we have to change with

them. We are perfectly situated to change and prosper because we

have the human talent and values proposition and the organizational culture to successfully

thrive in this much more complex and ambiguous

environment.”

funding will not arrive unless we perform.”

Thirty of 50 states now use performance-

funding models, according to Furton, who

called the paradigm “the new normal.” The

model demands increased accountability

and efficiency, focusing on nine metrics of

undergraduate student success outcomes

and one metric on percentage of graduate

degrees in areas of strategic emphasis.

Universities are ranked and can potentially

receive (or lose) funding based on their score

using the BOG model.

Within the context of this new normal,

architects of the plan ensured that the goals

were inherently FIU.

Implementation

A plan is only as good as its

implementation, and leaders acknowledge

that reaching the goals set forth in

FIUBeyondPossible2020 will not be easy.

At the January town hall, Rosenberg said it

would require “soul searching” and faculty

support. But ultimately, he told attendees,

“This is a shared responsibility. No one

is exempt.”

The provost has created multiple

implementation committees with a steering

committee to oversee the process. The

committees will meet over the course of the

summer and throughout the next five years to

ensure that the goals are met and adjusted to

reflect changing conditions.

Says Furton, “We need to ensure that our

plan is actualized. Through its achievement,

FIU will be stronger for our students, faculty,

staff and community. I encourage everyone

to read the full plan, stay engaged and

remain informed of our progress by visiting

stratplan.FIU.edu. n

have potential for significant and sustained

growth as well as myriad opportunities for

engagement at the local and global levels.

For the skeptics who believe the plan is

too ambitious, Furton has a message: “At

FIU, we have a history of accomplishing

things that seemed impossible at first. We will

do it again.”

“The New Normal”

A fundamental difference between this

plan and previous plans is the purposeful

alignment of metrics with the Florida Board

of Governors Performance Funding Model,

which tracks 10 performance goals and

awards dollars based upon each university’s

ability to do well in those areas.

“We have a responsibility to make sure that

we stay on the edge of responsiveness,” said

Rosenberg in January at a town hall meeting

to introduce FIUBeyondPossible2020. “The

By Karen Cochrane

When university leaders began thinking

about FIU’s next strategic plan two years

ago, they knew it had to be comprehensive.

Higher education was in the midst of historic

change. The students, faculty, staff, alumni

and community leaders who participated in

the planning process viewed it as a chance

to embrace the opportunities inherent in

this seismic shift.

The result is FIUBeyondPossible2020,

the university’s bold vision for the next

five years.

President Mark B. Rosenberg tapped

Provost Kenneth G. Furton, then-dean

of the College of Arts & Sciences, to

lead the effort. The plan focuses on

improving student success, identifying

and supporting preeminent programs,

expanding the research enterprise and

achieving greater financial sustainability.

FIUBeyondPossible2020 reflects the

input of more than 150 members of

the university community. Endorsed by

the Board of Trustees in March, it is 68

pages of history and context, strategies

and goals. Its powerful message is

stated simply in two sentences early

in the document: “The plan’s name,

FIUBeyondPossible2020, reflects the fact

that these are precedent-setting goals. We

plan to be the first public, majority-minority

research institution to achieve these goals

because in achieving these goals, FIU will

better serve our students, faculty, staff

and community.”

The plan reaffirms the areas of focus

identified in the previous strategic plan: arts,

environment, globalization and health. Each

of these areas is related to FIU’s mission, and

university leaders believe these areas still

Mapping the next five yearsNew strategic plan sets ambitious goals for student success and research

Key Measurable Goalsn Improve the first-to-second-year retention rate

of first-time-in-college students from 76 to 90 percent

n Boost six-year graduation rate among first-time-in-college students from 53 to 70 percent

n Increase four-year graduation rate of state college (AA) transfer students from 64 to 70 percent

n Increase enrollment to 65,000, and increase use of digital technologies to enhance face-to-face and distance learning

n Expand experiential learning opportunities for students, to include growing student internships from 4,637 to 6,000 annually

n Increase research expenditures from $130 million annually to $200 million annually

n Increase by 30 percent the number of Ph.D. degrees granted to more than 200 annually

n Nurture an expansion in patents and startups from an average of two per year to 20 annually

n Grow philanthropic giving to achieve the Next Horizon capital campaign goal of $750 million

8 | SUMMER 2015

FIUin the

Next Gen

In the 50 years since its founding, FIU has made a dramatic impact on the economic and social well-being of South Florida. So, what will the next 50 years bring? FIU Magazine spoke with university leaders and educators to understand where some of

our strengths will take us in the coming decades and how FIU will continue to influence the world at home and beyond.

Stories by Joel Delgado ’12, Evelyn Perez, Ayleen Barbel Fattal ’06, JoAnn C. Adkins, Alexandra Pecharich, Deborah O’Neil MA ’09, Amy Ellis, Clara-Meretan Kiah

Photography and artwork by Doug Garland ’10

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

—Eleanor Roosevelt

SUMMER 2015 | 9

Educationfor the Next Gen

10 | SUMMER 2015

“We look like the future,” says Vice

President of Student Affairs Larry Lunsford.

“Other universities have goals for what we

have already accomplished. We want to be

well represented in our diversity in the future.

We want to be proud of our diversity over the

next 50 years.”

International andpublic affairs

Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger

in Haiti. Combating malaria and other

diseases in Africa. Ensuring environmental

stability in India. Unifying the Korean

peninsula. Establishing peace between

Israel and Palestine.

Such far-reaching and forward-looking

aspirations represent the global vision for

FIU’s newly renamed Steven J. Green School

of International and Public Affairs in the

College of Arts & Sciences. Supported by a

transformational $20 million gift, the school is

now poised to become one of the world’s top

academic centers dedicated to international

understanding, economic development,

peace and security.

“This gift reinforces FIU’s destiny as a

preeminent center for international education

and global problem-solving,” says FIU

President Mark B. Rosenberg.

Researchers working within the

auspices of the six-year-old school have

The students of tomorrow

What will the next generation of FIU

students look like?

Currently, FIU’s demographics mirror that

of the surrounding community of Miami-Dade

County. According to the Office of Planning

& Institutional Research at FIU, Hispanic

students make up 63 percent of the student

population, women make up 56 percent and

12 percent are black or African-American as of

the Spring 2015 semester.

And while FIU currently enrolls a

large number of first-generation college

students, 50 years from now, many of the

university’s students may be their children

and grandchildren.

“There will be fewer first-generation

students as a growing number of those who

enroll will be the sons and daughters of

our alumni,” says Jody Glassman, director

of Undergraduate Admissions. “It will be a

different kind of Miami we serve in 50 years.”

University leaders believe that FIU will

maintain its status as a majority-minority

institution as many other universities may

begin to mirror FIU’s diversity. The Pew

Research Center predicts that by 2050, the

Hispanic population in the U.S. will triple to

128 million. Miami, as a gateway to Latin

America, is expected to continue to be a

metropolitan city that boasts a Hispanic

majority – and FIU will reflect that.

for the Next Gen“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

—Nelson Mandela

Continues

SUMMER 2015 | 11

dedicated their careers to understanding

the complexities of our transnational and

globalized society and how to fill a broad

range of basic human needs, including

health, education and equality, according

to Associate Director Shlomi Dinar. Through

the disciplines of sociology, economics,

politics, law and criminal justice, religion and

others, they study the wide range of issues

that make up how countries, governments

and societies relate to one another. The

school brings together experts to analyze

problems and find sustainable solutions

through an interdisciplinary lens.

The recent contribution has created

an endowment in support of academic,

research and public affairs initiatives

focused on transnational studies,

international institutions and security

policy in the Americas. The gift also will

support the construction of a state-of-

the-art building that will unify the school’s

resources and researchers to foster

collaboration, interdisciplinary innovation

and student success.

FIU’s approach to the social sciences

integrates theory and practice at every level.

Students are taught inside the classroom

using innovative curriculum and cutting-

edge research. Their classroom learning

is paired with real-life, global-learning

experiences, including study abroad and

internship opportunities. Those who master

particular issues in the social sciences also

gain a wide range of transferable skills,

including analytical, management and

leadership, communication, consensus-

building and negotiation.

Situated in Miami, the school will educate

leaders who can not only connect the

Americas but bridge them with Africa, the

Middle East, Asia and other regions poised

for growth in upcoming decades. With a

diverse student body, the Green School will

graduate leaders who drive the innovation

needed to establish global cooperation,

economic equality and peace in the

next generation.

Specialized and online education

As master’s degrees become more

important for graduates to stand out in

crowded job markets, the future will see

more and more working professionals taking

classes at FIU part-time, probably through a

wide variety of online programs available.

Popular “4+1” programs, which allow

undergraduate students to pursue an

accelerated master’s degree in addition to

their bachelor’s degrees, will grow as will

high-level professional certificates. A number

of “niche” majors tailored toward specialized

topics and subjects also could become the

norm at FIU, attracting specific types of

students to FIU.

“Universities become important in the

way they open the door for careers,” says

Benjamin Baez, a professor of higher

education at the College of Education. “You’ll

see more of a focus on STEM (science,

technology, engineering and math) and

specialized majors to attract specific groups

of people rather than generic degrees.”

With the rise of online programs, virtual

classrooms and other technologies in recent

years, many wonder whether or not the

“traditional” college campus will become

obsolete. But university leaders believe that

technological advances and a more traditional

college campus will be a part of FIU’s future.

As online programs and other technological

advances improve access for a larger number

of students and more student housing

facilities are built both on campus and in the

surrounding area, there could be an uptick

in both students living on campus and also

those taking classes part-time or fully online.

Section continues12 | SUMMER 2015

Continued

SUMMER 2015 | 13

“The great aim of education is not knowledge

but action.”—Herbert Spencer

SUMMER 2015 | 13

Researchfor the Next Gen

14 | SUMMER 2015

Disaster mitigationand urban resilience

As climate change and urban population

growth create stress upon the natural

environment, FIU researchers are looking at

ways to help government agencies and other

stakeholders understand related challenges

to our built environment. The goal: to support

better design, improved construction and

long-term management of resources.

Predicting the future is never easy, but the

Infrastructure System-of-Systems Research

Group within the OHL School of Construction

aims to introduce a degree of clarity in a

climate of uncertainty. The team is developing

computational models that will demonstrate

how physical infrastructure might perform

under a variety of conditions. The term

“systems-of-systems” refers to a holistic

approach that looks at infrastructure as

complex and interdependent. To underscore

the value of a wide view, Professor of

construction management Ali Mostafavi gives

the example of frequent inland flooding, which

can lead to pumping station failure, sewage-

system backups and contamination of the

water supply. “From one event,” he says, “you

can see the cascading impacts.”

This and other studies complement

university research efforts focused on disaster

mitigation. The International Hurricane

proven examples of solutions that work.

Yet in 2065, certain truths likely will

remain. Florida will continue to be the lowest

and flattest state in the country. Miami’s

water supply will remain dependent on the

Biscayne Aquifer, which rests beneath the

Florida Everglades. And the seas will be

higher, though how high remains a mystery.

Some say a foot by 2100, while others

believe it could be as high as six feet.

It is difficult to plan based on best

guesses. But FIU ecologist Rene Price says

statistical certainties will come very soon.

She says that in just a few years scientists

will be able to predict how high the seas will

rise over time. That will give communities

time to prepare. During the next 50 years,

governments will be able to develop

and execute plans based on realistic

expectations for the 22nd century.

The foundation for these plans will largely

come from the research being done at FIU.

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine recently said

that what people cannot imagine today will

actually be what is invented to make coastal

cities resilient in the future. Today, students

and faculty throughout FIU are dreaming up

the potential solutions that could help define

water in South Florida in 2065 and beyond.

Sea level rise andwater conservation

Not just a natural resource, water in the 21st

century also has become a commodity and a

challenge in the face of climate change. FIU

researchers are working to ensure the next 50

years aren’t like the last, which have been full

of controversy and uncertainty.

In the next generation, people won’t

be talking about how to protect the

Everglades, South Florida’s water supply or

the communities along the coastline. They

will be doing it. Miami Beach’s landscape

already will have changed with the rising

seas. But as the College of Arts & Sciences

Dean Mike Heithaus attests, today’s

generation will be defined by its response

to climate change. And that response will

determine the challenges faced by the next.

For scientists, the conversation focuses

on how to adapt. Partnerships forged today

with the City of Miami Beach, the Everglades

Foundation and others will shape the future

of South Florida. As a result, communities

along coastlines throughout the world

will define their responses, redesign their

infrastructures and revise their building

codes based on what South Florida

scientists, architects and engineers research

today. In the next 50 years, South Florida’s

role of a living laboratory will evolve into Continues

SUMMER 2015 | 15

physical, emotional, genetic and neurobiological

profiles, and then prescribe an optimized treatment

strategy based on your unique brain signatures.

The brain is the most complex organ in the

human body. It makes up 2 percent of a body’s

mass yet uses 20 percent of its blood and oxygen

supply. It controls the way we think. It controls our

movements. It dictates the way we make decisions.

And it determines how we recall memories. It is

powerful and yet fragile.

FIU scientists from across the disciplines –

medicine, nursing, education, engineering, arts

and sciences – have dedicated their careers to

understanding mental processes in the healthy

and diseased human brain. They study brain

activity, including language, cognition, emotion,

action, sensory perception and mental health,

while working to develop new technologies in

cognitive neuroimaging.

Through collaborative research, the future is

likely to bring advances in neurotechnology that

allow physicians to tap into or activate the nervous

system to provide personalized neurotherapy, says

Ranu Jung, chair of biomedical engineering and

interim dean of the College of Engineering

& Computing.

But more than diagnostics and treatment, FIU

researchers believe cognitive neuroscience also

can lead to better students. It is likely that students

in the class of 2065 will be taught using methods

developed from studies under way today. Using

neuroimaging techniques, these studies examine

how college STEM majors learn reasoning and

problem-solving skills. Understanding this could

help educators better craft the way these courses

are taught in the future.

Today’s FIU scientists hope that someday the

brain scan will be as routine as an EKG.

Research Center, for example, has for nearly two

decades brought together scientists to probe

how urban areas can best prepare for high-threat

storms. And the College of Engineering and

Computing’s Wall of Wind — the largest and most

powerful university research facility of its kind —

investigates how construction materials perform

under extreme conditions, tests whose outcomes

can influence Florida building codes.

The work of the university helps demonstrate that

decisions made today can change the course ahead

and encourages public policy for the long haul.

Neuroscience andbrain mapping

A person enters a doctor’s office for a physical.

As part of the routine, blood pressure is taken

and temperature recorded and, finally, the brain

is scanned.

In a single scan, lurking disorders within

the mind and body are revealed. A doctor can

diagnose neurodegenerative conditions such as

Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as psychological

issues including depression and even addiction.

Symptoms may or may not be present. The need

for lengthy testing and intensive evaluations are

no more. A single scan. A snapshot of the brain. A

picture that tells a story and gives a roadmap for

curing or overcoming problems.

The science isn’t there yet, but in the next 50

years, FIU researchers believe it will get there.

According to Angela Laird, director of FIU’s

Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging Center, in

50 years, with a prick of your finger and a hand-

held imaging device, clinicians may be able to

immediately assess your health status in terms of

“Seek not greatness, but seek truth and you will find both.”

—Horace Mann

Section continues

Continued

16 | SUMMER 2015

SUMMER 2015 | 17

Partnershipsfor the Next Gen

18 | SUMMER 2015

Community outreachand engagement

As the public research university in one

of the country’s largest metro areas, FIU

increasingly will serve as a solutions center

globally in the coming decades. Through

partnerships and engagement efforts, the

university is already tackling a spectrum

of issues and challenges, most notably

improving the K-12 public school system and

increasing college access opportunities.

Building on that demonstrated success,

the university will continue to enter into

strategic partnerships that will have

important ramifications for our world. Three

initiatives launched in 2015 are emblematic

of the cooperative efforts that will drive the

university’s future direction.

To help meet the need for high-quality

professionals ready to step into the

workforce, FIU has collaborated with the

Beacon Council, South Florida industry

leaders and the region’s other educational

institutions to launch the Talent Development

Network. Its aim: to provide new internships

in key sectors of the local economy. A

new partnership with Royal Caribbean

Cruises, Ltd., the Royal@FIU World Stage

Collaborative, is fostering new connections

between the performing arts and hospitality

and tourism.

Recognizing that there is strength in

numbers, FIU has partnered with its sister

institutions in two of the state’s other large

urban areas to create the Florida Consortium

of Metropolitan Research Universities. FIU, the

University of Central Florida and the University

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Continues

SUMMER 2015 | 19

will include the expert and innovative

contributions of FIU professors and students.

Collaboration has already begun with

the City of Sweetwater, adjacent to the

Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC). The

university has offered design ideas for a

revitalized downtown corridor. A signature

bridge — both functional as well as symbolic

of a new relationship between FIU and the

city — will be erected with federal monies

to span the busy seven-lane highway that

currently separates the two entities in hopes

of strengthening ties and sharing assets.

Students will be able to take advantage

of new shops, restaurants and housing

opening off campus, while residents will

have access to campus sporting and cultural

events as well as lectures and more. The

School of Architecture has suggested that

new development within the city center

include the intentional addition of “walkability

features,” such as improved sidewalks,

landscaping and public art, to boost its

attractiveness and people-friendly quotient.

Emphasis on the human element likewise

informs the FIU-Miami Creative City Initiative,

a think tank of experts on urban issues with

the goal of harnessing local creative and

entrepreneurial forces. The team includes

School of Architecture Professor Roberto

Rovira and is engaging local business and

civic leaders along with students and the

greater community in dialogue on how

creativity, culture and design can drive a

regional economy.

Turning to a public university to help

reinvigorate public space makes sense, says

Rovira, who involves his students in a variety

of projects through his “Catalysts of the

Urban Canvas” course. “We’re perfect in the

sense that we have a fresh set of eyes every

single year. We have a student body and a

faculty who are trained from day one to think

in visionary ways, to think in transformative

ways, to be unafraid.” n

tours and curator-guided video tours of

exhibits, all intended to pique the interests of

“superfans,” or niche audiences.

The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum

will extend a helping hand into the younger

community in Miami, especially those in

low-income communities, starting with a

partnership with Sweetwater Elementary to

build the school’s art program and bring its

students on field trips to the museum. The

Frost hopes to create similar programs in

elementary schools all over the county.

This March, the university unveiled its

Royal@FIU World Stage Collaborative,

a partnership with RCL to build a

130,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art

training facility at the Biscayne Bay Campus.

The building features classrooms, three-

story studios, a 300-seat theater and a

20,000-square-foot costume-making facility,

where students will have the chance to

take classes, earn paid internships and

train alongside hospitality and

entertainment professionals.

The university also recently announced

an initiative to reopen the Coconut Grove

Playhouse, which was once a thriving and

popular theater in South Florida until it closed

its doors in 2006. Reopening the Playhouse

will offer theater students a chance to work

with actors, costume and set designers, and

other behind-the-scenes production, giving

them the chance to work and learn alongside

professionals in their field.

Urban designand architecture

As ever-greater numbers of permanent

residents as well as visitors flock to our

tropical paradise over the coming decades,

FIU will play a larger role in shaping South

Florida’s built environment in support of

a dynamic, sustainable future. Projects

that serve the common good increasingly

of South Florida are working together to

improve college graduation rates, share best

practices across the board and create a more

united voice at the state level.

“We view our role in working with

valued partners — whether public, private

or nonprofit — as unlocking catalytic

momentum that leads to community-wide

transformation,” said FIU Vice President for

Engagement Saif Ishoof. “Collaboration has

maximum impact when the greatest needs

are tackled through the exponential addition

of resources and people.”

Creative initiativesin the arts

Over the past 15 years, Miami has

undergone a cultural renaissance. The arrival

of Art Basel in 2002 drew attention to Miami’s

burgeoning art scene and fueled an influx of

artists, collectors, buyers and appreciators of

the arts in South Florida. A new community

of people interested in building Miami’s

reputation in the arts emerged.

With three public museums, a college

dedicated to the arts, a partnership with

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., and plans to

reopen the Coconut Grove Playhouse, FIU’s

role in this cultural revolution is significant.

FIU students and alumni have been

involved in creating murals and music, theater

and fine arts throughout South Florida; and

moving forward, the university will continue to

influence the arts in Miami by expanding its

outreach and partnerships in the community.

The Wolfsonian-FIU museum hopes

to expand its international presence by

digitizing its collection and creating a virtual

world visitors can access any time online,

a project that got its start with a $5 million

grant from the Knight Foundation in 2013.

The collection already has begun to appear

online, and future ideas for the virtual

museum include podcast series, panoramic

20 | SUMMER 2015

Continued

WINTER 2014-15 | 21

The Steven J. Green School of International

and Public Affairs now bears the name of

its benefactor, and the Kimberly Green Latin

American and Caribbean Center likewise

reflects the generosity of a family that has for

decades supported FIU in a variety of ways.

Most recently, a transformational gift of $20

million will strengthen global studies for the next

generation by enabling the Green School to

advance international research and academic

programs. The contribution also will support

the construction of a state-of-the-art building

and the school’s pursuit of membership in

the Association of Professional Schools of

International Affairs.

Ambassador Green, his wife, Dorothea, and

their daughter Kimberly made the commitment,

one of the largest in FIU’s history. “Unless

people have a knowledge of other cultures

and other political systems, we’re never going

to have a peaceful world,” said Green, an

entrepreneur and the Honorary Consul General

of Singapore in Miami. “To make a political

difference, to make a social difference, you

have to integrate many factors. The School of

International and Public Affairs deals with the

integration of these ideas and truly creates a

platform for tomorrow’s leaders.”

The family’s largesse follows on 25 years

of helping shape FIU through gifts in support

of the Green Library at MMC, an acclaimed

lecture series at the Frost Art Museum and

NeighborhoodHELP, the Wertheim College

of Medicine’s signature community-outreach

program for the poor.

understanding

Advancing

global

Ambassador Steven J. Green, left, with FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg Photo by Miguel Asencio

SUMMER 2015 | 21

L ike FIU itself, the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine began with a mission to meet the needs of the local community. So,

in 2010, the medical school joined forces with the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, the Robert Stempel

College of Public Health & Social Work and FIU’s College of Law to train young people while serving the common good. The

resulting Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP, or Health Education Learning Program, brings together medical, nursing,

social and legal services — all delivered by FIU students and the faculty who oversee them — to offer comprehensive assistance

to the working poor and uninsured. n

Serving our neighbors

In the neighborhood: Stephan Solomon, in baseball cap, shakes hands with FIU medical student Joseph Ottolenghi, who was joined in a home visit by Dr. Suzanne Minor (in white coat), Dr. Marcos Milanez and outreach coordinator Jenne Egola Burnett.

Watch NeighborhoodHELP in action magazine.FIU.edu

22 | SUMMER 2015

Inspiring us allCollege of Education alumnus David Menasche didn’t stay with us

nearly long enough. Yet his 42 years stand testament to just how

much difference one person can make in the world. How much difference

one teacher can make. The amazing journey of this Coral Reef Senior

High teacher was captured in his book, The Priority List, which is on tap

to become a Warner Brothers movie starring Steve Carrell. FIU Magazine

Editor Deborah O’Neil spent time with David at the end of his life as he

was preparing to headline TEDxFIU 2014. David was too sick to take the

stage and passed away just days later on Nov. 20, 2014, but we honor

him by sharing what he taught us. Visit magazine.FIU.edu to read more

about the inspired life of this poet and skateboarder, iconoclast and

fighter, student of life and teacher of many. n

Photo by Chris Granger

Learn more about Menasche’s journeymagazine.FIU.edu

SUMMER 2015 | 23

An historic visit in an historic year

U.S. President Barack Obama shined a national spotlight on FIU and South Florida this spring

during two visits that centered on the key issues of immigration reform and climate change. Dozens

of FIU faculty, students and staff took part in the nationally televised events.

In February, the president held a town hall meeting at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus to discuss

the need for immigration reform. Organized by Telemundo and MSNBC, the event aired on both

stations and was hosted by anchor Jose Diaz-Balart. Prior to the taping, FIU President Mark B.

Rosenberg addressed the audience in the Graham Center ballrooms by stating that Miami – and FIU

– were the most appropriate places to host a discussion on immigration.

“We live it every day,’’ he said. “This is the place that has discussed and debated immigration

more than any other… and we are thrilled to be a part of this conversation with the president of

the United States, Barack Obama.’’

With more than 54,000 students, FIU is the largest Hispanic-serving university in the nation and the

largest producer of Hispanic graduates in the country. In the audience were a number of FIU students

who are personally affected by immigration law, particularly the controversial Deferred Action for

Childhood Arrivals, which provides exemption from deportation for some undocumented immigrants

who were brought to the U.S. as children. (See related story, page 26).

“The stories of people like you here today will soften the hearts

of those who would block us,’’ Obama said.

Later, Rosenberg praised all who were involved in the success

of the visit. “The president was very impressed, as was his staff,’’

Rosenberg said. “But I never had any doubt. It’s extraordinary

what we can do when we come together with a single purpose.

This was an historic moment for FIU. He could’ve gone anywhere

and he chose FIU.”

Just weeks later, Obama returned to South Florida to celebrate

Earth Day in Florida’s Everglades National Park. He took to the

podium to remind the country of the importance of preservation

and the threat of climate change. Five members of the FIU family

had supporting roles during the visit: Executive Director of the

School of Environment, Arts and Society Evelyn Gaiser, biology

professor Philip Stoddard, alumnus Larry Perez and students

Bryan Palacio and Jacqueline Crucet. n

By Deborah O’Neil MA ’09 and Amy Ellis | Photo by Doug Garland ’10

Obama in the Everglades | Photo by Eduardo Merille ’97, MBA ’00

24 | SUMMER 2015

Obama on campus with TV commentator Jose Diaz-Balart for a town hall on immigration

SUMMER 2015 | 25

Twins Nicolas and Esteban Wulff dream

of opportunity. They dream of working

hard to achieve success. They dream of a

college education.

When President Barack Obama visited

campus Feb. 25 for a town hall on immigration,

the FIU community came together to dream

with them. The brothers were among a

handful of FIU students selected to participate

in the historic event because their story is

emblematic of the national dialogue in support

of immigration reform.

The Wulff brothers arrived in the United

States when they were 5 years old. They had

packed up their toys and made the journey

from Colombia to reunite with their mom

who had come a couple years earlier to earn

money to support them. The distance had

become too big a strain on the family.

The family decided to risk it all and stay in

the country together — illegally.

“We grew up American,” says Nicolas.

They attended elementary school, middle

school, high school… but they were stuck.

They didn’t have a Social Security card,

so no real jobs; no driver’s license, so

limited mobility; nor a bank account, so no

meaningful savings for the future.

Still, they believed. Their mother told them

the key to success was an education and

they worked hard, graduating with honors

from high school and taking as many classes

as they could afford at Miami Dade College.

Then in 2012, President Barack Obama

EDUCATING -------THE------- Dreamers

President Obama’s visit to campus recognizes FIU’s commitment to immigrants

Esteban, left, and Nicolas Wulff

By Sissi Garland ’99, MA ’08 | Photo by Doug Garland ’10

26 | SUMMER 2015

and contribute.”

He adds, “As cliched as it

sounds, America is the land of

opportunity. That is the whole

reason my mom moved here from

Colombia 23 years ago. At my

current job in an immigration legal

office, I fill out asylum packets almost

every day, and I talk to people who have

lived in the worst conditions in other

countries and see the United States as a

way out.

“I might not have all the benefits granted

to a U.S. citizen, or a lawful permanent

resident, yet – but this is the hand I was

dealt, and through smart, hard work, I will

accomplish what I set out to do.”

Nicolas graduated this past spring with

a bachelor’s in political science and was

cited by President Mark B. Rosenberg as

a standout graduate. He hopes to pursue

a graduate degree in economics and a

certificate in project management. Esteban

is working on his final three semesters and

hopes to take his degree in economics to

the technology industry.

Both are optimistic about immigration

reform. They are living their dream—taking

advantage of the opportunity. But they still

await the realization of the ultimate dream:

becoming a citizen of the only county

they’ve known.

Esteban says, “To me, an American is a

person who wants to achieve. It’s a state of

mind more than a nationality.” n

Both Nicolas and Esteban are now studying

at FIU, joining more than 50 FIU students

who have benefited from a tuition waiver that

allows them to pay in-state tuition, which is

approximately one-third the price of out-of-

state tuition.

FIU is the first public university in

Florida to offer in-state tuition to students

who have qualified for DACA. Before,

local undocumented students paid out-of-

state tuition.

During the opening remarks at the town

hall, Obama congratulated FIU for its diversity.

FIU is the largest Hispanic-serving university

in the nation and the largest producer of

Hispanic graduates in the country.

Later, FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg

noted, “President Obama wanted to speak

at our university because our community is

a community of immigrants. No one at our

university is a foreigner.”

The Wulff brothers have become

advocates for their peers. They were

previously actively involved with the

Students Working for Equal Rights

organization, and Nicolas interned at the

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

with Congressman Joe Garcia’s office.

He represented FIU at a Champions of

Change event at the White House promoting

the effect DACA status has had on

undocumented students.

Nicolas says the goal for him and

other DACA students is “to be successful

announced that the U.S. Department of

Homeland Security would not deport certain

undocumented youth who came to the

United States as children. The brothers

were overjoyed. The Deferred Action

for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) changed

everything for them. Having completed

the paperwork, the two received notice

by August 2012 that they each qualified

for a renewable two-year exemption from

deportation and a work permit.

“I feel like I’m finally moving forward. We’re

not stuck in limbo anymore,” Esteban says.

For Nicolas, preparation finally met

opportunity. “I got my first legal job and used

it to pay for college,” he says.

A 1997 report, The Americans by the

National Research Council, found that

immigrants - both legal and undocumented

- with college degrees save the government

money, while those with just a high school

diploma consume more in services than they

contribute in taxes.

“People like me who have grown up here

for the vast majority of our lives are here to

stay,” Nicolas says. “It doesn’t make sense

to handicap us financially and academically –

and make it considerably more difficult for us

to graduate from college and live a productive

life. It’s a win-win situation. Students get the

education and training to succeed, and the

economy and job market gets a stronger,

smarter, more productive workforce. In the

long run, it favors everyone.”

Read how the College of Law is helping families apply for DACA

magazine.FIU.edu

SUMMER 2015 | 27

Marcia L. Martinez Strait MS ’77CEO, Strait Tutoring ServicesDistinguished Alumni AwardCollege of Education

Ed Mugnani ’91President, Western Division Eurest-Compass GroupDistinguished Alumni AwardChaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

Alexis Mantecon ’00Managing Partner, MV Real Estate HoldingsDistinguished Alumni AwardThe Honors College

Robert Scavone Jr. J.D. ’12Judicial Law Clerk, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitDistinguished Alumni AwardCollege of Law

Alex Rodriguez-Roig ’99 President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-DadeCommunity Leadership AwardCollege of Education

Malcolm Butters ’83President, Butters Construction & Development, Inc.Distinguished Alumni AwardCollege of Business

In celebration of FIU’s founding 50 years ago, the annual Torch Awards

program touted the university’s trajectory from a once-abandoned airport—a

sign of which is still visible in the iconic air-traffic control tower at MMC—to

a two-campus, research institution with a sky’s-the-limit attitude. In a fitting

tribute to the more than 200,000 graduates who have soared on the wings of

their FIU degrees, 15 were chosen to receive this year’s highest alumni honor.

The record attendance of 800 guests brought in tens of thousands of dollars in

support of first-generation scholarships and the alumni center building fund.

28 | SUMMER 2015

Jesus R. Vazquez ’85Chief Operating Officer, FacchinaDistinguished Alumni AwardFIU Athletics

Thomas B. Jelke Ph.D. ’90President, T. Jelke SolutionsDistinguished Alumni AwardDivision of Student Affairs

Not pictured: Natalie Boden-Kawas ’99Founder and Managing Director, BodenPRDistinguished Alumni AwardCollege of Arts & Sciences

Save the DateJoin us for the next Torch AwardsMarch 19, 2016

Belkys Nerey ’89Anchor, WSVNDistinguished Alumni AwardSchool of Journalism & Mass Communication

G.C. Murray Jr. ’08Deputy General Counsel Florida Justice AssociationCharles E. Perry Young Alumni Visionary AwardCollege of Arts & Sciences

Laird H. Kramer, Ph.D.Professor of Physics, FIUDirector, FIU STEM Transformation InstituteOutstanding Faculty Award College of Arts & Sciences

Miguel Cerra ’95Executive Vice President Link Construction GroupDistinguished Alumni AwardCollege of Engineering and Computing

Andy Señor Jr. ’13Artistic Director, District Stage CompanyDistinguished Alumni AwardCollege of Architecture + The Arts

President Mark B. Rosenberg

Humberto Cabañas ’76Founder & Chairman Benchmark Hospitality InternationalAlumnus of the YearChaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

Diane Ramy Faulconer ’74Former Executive Consultant, Ernst & YoungFormer Owner, Diane Ramy Faulconer Management Consulting ServicesDistinguished Alumni AwardNicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Photo by Roldan Torres ’85

SUMMER 2015 | 29

BENJAMÍN LEÓN, JR. FAMILY CENTER FOR GERIATRIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION,LEON MEDICAL CENTERS AND FIU’S COLLEGE

OF MEDICINE...

TOGETHER BUILDING THE FUTURE LEADERS IN HEALTHCARE

HW College of Medicine_AD.indd 1 4/27/15 3:14 PM

Thank you, FIU, for making me Worlds Ahead

Thank you, FIU, for making me Worlds Ahead

Manny Miranda, AgentFIU Class of 1978Good neighbor agent since 1990Alumni Association Lifetime Member

LIVES DEVELOPED.MEMORIES BUILT. C O N S T R U C T I O N

M A N A G E R S

Construction Management | Design-Builder | General Contractor | Public-Private PartnershipsHeadquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL with Offices in California, Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina, Texas & U.S. Virgin Islands

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Florida International University - Parkview HallPhotograph by Isaac Baird

Congratulations to FIU for 50 years of leadership!

LIVES DEVELOPED.MEMORIES BUILT. C O N S T R U C T I O N

M A N A G E R S

Construction Management | Design-Builder | General Contractor | Public-Private PartnershipsHeadquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL with Offices in California, Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina, Texas & U.S. Virgin Islands

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Florida International University - Parkview HallPhotograph by Isaac Baird

Congratulations to FIU for 50 years of leadership!

LIVES DEVELOPED.MEMORIES BUILT. C O N S T R U C T I O N

M A N A G E R S

Construction Management | Design-Builder | General Contractor | Public-Private PartnershipsHeadquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL with Offices in California, Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina, Texas & U.S. Virgin Islands

CGC 1511059

mosscm.com | 855.360.MOSS (6677)

Florida International University - Parkview HallPhotograph by Isaac Baird

Congratulations to FIU for 50 years of leadership!

Bathed in natural light and flanked by

palms, this stairway in Academic One at

the Biscayne Bay Campus in the late 1970s

bridged the tropical landscape and indoor

classroom space. Decades later the building

underwent additional construction to

enclose common areas previously exposed

to the elements.

View a slide show of “Then and Now” photos

magazine.FIU.edu

Division of External RelationsModesto A. Maidique Campus, MARC 510Miami, FL 33199-0001

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NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDMiami FL

PERMIT NO 3675

Legends on campus: Standing in front of the university’s first building, Primera Casa, the faculty members pictured here all arrived at FIU within its inaugural academic year (1972-73) or earlier and have yet to retire. Each has contributed to building the university’s academic infrastructure and played a role in establishing the philosophy and culture upon which FIU has continued to grow. Still going strong are, from left, Florentin Maurrasse, Earth and Environment; Leonard Keller, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Susan Himburg, formerly in Dietetics and Nutrition and today director of Academic Planning and Accountability; Maida Watson, Modern Languages; Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver, Journalism and Mass Communication; Brian Peterson, History; Stephen Fain, formerly in Education and the Honors College and today in the Office of the Provost. To see a 1972 group photo of FIU’s employees, visit go.FIU.edu/historyphoto.