Alumni Profile: Vania Toledo ’12, MS ’14

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Vania Toledo ’12, MS ’14 is a mother of 2 children ages 11 and 7 living in the Miami area. She has a Masters of Science in Global Strategic Communications from FIU and has been working in the marketing industry for over 15 years. Currently, she is the Director of Marketing & PR in the U.S. […]

Sweet cravings, real estate lessons fuel success for Joseph’s Cookies

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Barred by diabetes from eating sweets, Joseph Semprevivo was determined to find a way to enjoy the baked goods he craved. Diagnosed at 9 years old, he had no cooking or baking experience, but really missed the sugary treats. Two years later, he started experimenting in the kitchen of his parents’ restaurant. At 15 years […]

The value of volunteering and social innovation

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If Phillip Rincon MA ’09 had one piece of advice to share with FIU students it’s to volunteer. “Seek ways to broaden your understanding and increase your knowledge of social issues that affect others,” he notes. “Consider volunteer work during your studies at FIU as a way to put your education into practice and as […]

Panther Q&A: Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera ’79

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Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera ’79 is a well-known public servant, community activist, entrepreneur and innovator. After going to school full-time and working full-time, Bettina successfully graduated with her BS in Social Work. Bettina perfectly showcases the resilience and driven nature of the FIU Panther. In this interview, you’ll learn a bit about her FIU journey, her […]

Panther Q&A: Lily Savinon ’10

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How would you describe your years as an FIU student? Some of the best years of my life! Those were the years that molded me as a leader, showed me the importance of community service, and developed my skills in Marketing/Advertising. It’s also where I met my best friends and my husband! Those 4 years […]

FIU alumnus John Bailly ’90 to feature work at Deering Estate as Artist-in-Residence

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John William Bailly ’90 is an accomplished FIU alumnus, he received his MFA in painting and printmaking from Yale University and has been serving as a Faculty Fellow of the Honors College since 2004. His work explores the random nature of information and the manner in which we process it. Utilizing juxtapositions of diverse data […]

Kev Marcus ’03 is Breaking Music Stereotypes

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Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester ’03 and Wilner B. “Simply Sick” Baptiste, members of Black Violin, have been making musical waves in the media for some time now. They have stood before the renowned Apollo Theatre, joining musical legends such as Billie Holiday, James Brown and Lauryn Hill.  Both participated at TEDxFIU in 2013 to talk […]

Portrait of the artist-turned-curator: Alumnus wears his heart on his sleeve at Art Basel Miami Beach

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Omar Lopez-Chahoud ’90 takes joy in introducing up-and-coming artists to the masses The glitz and glamour that accompany one of the world’s largest gatherings of art—think celebrities and late-night after parties—resonate little with Omar Lopez-Chahoud. Despite his intensive involvement with the scene that surrounds Art Basel Miami Beach, held earlier this month, he does what […]

Promoting artists of color through Prizm Art Fair

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Mikhaile M. Solomon M.Arch. ’11 is the mastermind behind the Prizm, a one-of-a-kind art fair with a mission to promote artists of color. The art fair was founded in 2013 after Mikhaile noticed a lack of visibility for artists of the African diaspora during Miami’s biggest art festival, Art Basel. Since Art Basel is regarded […]

Nicole Carter ’08: An inspiring woman empowering women

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There’s unparalleled value within a strong female support system. That’s just one of the many lessons Nicole Carter ’08 learned while at FIU and, specifically, while in Phi Mu Fraternity. And it’s something she still carries with her today. “As a Phi Mu, I recognized the critical importance of networking and developing relationships with strong […]