Alumni News

Winning four Emmy Awards — two at the regional level and two nationwide — is a remarkable achievement. For Barbara Corbellini Duarte ’13, those honors represent years of disciplined journalism, work that tells complex, human-centered stories with accuracy, empathy, and purpose.  Duarte’s Journalism Journey Started at FIU  Long before Duarte was producing award-winning journalism, she got her start at Florida International University. Through student media, internships, and close relationships with faculty mentors, she gained hands-on experience that helped her build […]

Jen Ruiz’s ’09, career extends far beyond travel blogging. She works as a full-time travel expert, collaborating with media outlets, tourism boards, and social media platforms, while creating content for audiences around the world. Her ongoing professional development has led to work as a destination editor and contributor to travel guidebooks, further strengthening her credibility across the travel industry.   In addition to managing her own platforms, Ruiz now mentors aspiring […]

For many people, burnout does not happen at once.   It builds slowly through long days, constant pressure, too many responsibilities, and the need to always push through. At first, it can look like stress, but over time, it becomes something deeper. Work starts to feel heavier, motivation fades, and even rest does not seem to help.  As someone who admittedly experienced burnout, Marly Q Casanova has a […]

FIU alumnus Daniel Rodriguez ’11 has spent more than a decade turning a formative service experience into a mission-driven nonprofit with global reach.  As co-founder and CEO of BLUE Missions, Rodriguez has helped mobilize volunteers, students, and rural communities around one essential goal: expanding access to clean water and sanitation. His leadership and impact also earned him recognition […]