The FIU Alumni Board of Directors has elected Manuel “Manny” Niebla ’05 to serve as president for a two-year term, along with newly elected officers and directors.
Niebla succeeds Sean Gazitúa ’04, who now serves as immediate past president after leading the board with distinction over the past two years. A dedicated FIU alumnus and longtime volunteer leader, Niebla brings a strong vision for deepening alumni engagement and a commitment to advancing the university’s mission.
“As I begin this new role, I am honored to serve alongside such passionate and accomplished volunteers who care deeply about FIU and our alumni community,” Niebla said. “I look forward to building on the momentum of this board and continuing to strengthen connections among Panthers around the world.”
“Our volunteers play a vital role as ambassadors for FIU and champions for our alumni community,” said Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Sara DuCuennois. “We are thrilled to welcome Manny as president and this outstanding slate of officers and directors as they help strengthen alumni engagement, propel FIU’s mission forward, and serve our more than 350,000 alumni worldwide.”
Joining the executive committee with Niebla are:
- Vice President Sylvia Fumero ’91
- Membership Relations Malik Wilkes ’08
- Secretary Tom Jelke, Ph.D. ’90
- Fund Development Yvonne Debesa ’82, M.Acc. ’94
- Parliamentarian Brittany Juliachs ’07, J.D. ’11
- Immediate Past President Sean Gazitúa ’04
Joining the FIU Alumni Board of Directors are:
- Dr. Seth Crapp ’98, founder and medical director, Specialty Focused Radiology
- Mathew Ratner ’13, head of sports and entertainment, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Renewing their service on the FIU Alumni Board as Directors are Guillermo A. Benites, Erbi Blanco-True, Donovan Campbell, Corey Cohen, Daniel Denis, Dr. Vignesh Doraiswamy, Diana Martí, Alex Kuk, Nathaniel “Nate” Ortiz, Griselle Pastor, Dimitry Prophete, Blanca Recio, Dustin Rivest, Nikki Spoelstra, Isaura Velez, and Lemar T. White.
The FIU Alumni Board of Directors serves as the advisory board to the Office of Alumni Relations, supporting the university through volunteer leadership, advocacy, philanthropy, and engagement that strengthens connections among Panthers worldwide. The mission of the FIU Alumni Board is to build more F.A.N.S. of FIU through fundraising, advocacy, networking, and student success initiatives.