Alumna credits her FIU journey for her success in space exploration

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–By Diane Hernandez-Alende for FIU News As someone who struggled with mathematics in high school, Denisse Aranda never imagined she’d pursue a career in mechanical engineering. Graduating from high school at 17, Aranda wanted to spend her days following one of her many passions—dancing. But after taking an astronomy class at FIU and exploring all […]

Richard Blanco reflects on what it means to belong

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–By Emily Castellanos for FIU News Associate professor of English and FIU alumnus Richard Blanco was in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma at an art camp for high schoolers when he heard about the Pulse nightclub shooting. Although he was thousands of miles away, the news hit close to home. The nation’s first openly gay inaugural poet, Blanco felt […]

A community of supporters bolsters South Florida hospitality industry, including alumni-owned restaurants and bars

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For alumna Heather De La Torre and her husband Jesus, owners of Jr’s Gourmet Burgers in Miami Springs, business is a family affair. The “mom-and-pop” restaurant celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year, and the couple thinks of their small, close-knit staff as kin. But, like many restaurants nationwide, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt Jr’s a tough […]

The Ballerina: A look into turning dreams into reality

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–By Tatiana Basanta for FIU News Ballet has origins dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. For hundreds of years, ballet has served as a form of entertainment, movement and artistic expression. But for one dancer, it served a bigger purpose. It was a lifelong dream finally pursued despite many trials and tribulations. Journalism + Media alumna […]

Alumna leads effort to assemble, provide face shields to health care workers in need

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–By Emily Castellanos for FIU News A spring biology graduate is proving you don’t have to be an essential worker to be on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. As an aspiring physician, Amanda Pina saw health care workers face a shortage of personal protective equipment. It was unsettling. When a mentor mused about […]

Thriving as a first-time teacher during a pandemic

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–By Ayleen Barbel Fattal for FIU News A new teacher will never forget her first class — especially if she was teaching during a pandemic. For first-time teacher Vivianna Caballero, the 2019-2020 school year would turn out to be particularly challenging. Not because it was the first time she would be teaching a class of […]

Mentorship inspired him to become a thriving entrepreneur. Now this alumnus is paying it forward

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–By Brittany Torres Rivera for FIU News Joel Gandara is the CEO and founder of Morro Capital, a privately-owned e-commerce apparel company with a portfolio of more than 20 men’s apparel brands. He immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba in 1980 on an overcrowded boat full of hopes and dreams. Having always had an entrepreneurial […]

Alumnus helps companies navigate the new world of remote work

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–By Jordan Cross-Ogiste for FIU News Ilan Timerman ’19 has never been one to sit back at any organization of which he has been a part. During his time at FIU—before he graduated with a bachelor’s in sustainability and the environment—Timerman was campus director for Hult Prize; a staff member at StartUP FIU; secretary of transportation […]

FIU expands 3D-printed PPE initiative to local fire-rescue departments with gift from alumnus, President’s Council member

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FIU’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts has expanded its initiative to produce 3D-printed personal protective equipment (PPE) for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supported by a gift from FIU President’s Council member Angela Martinez and FIU alumnus Raul Chavez ’80, the college 3D-printed 1,000 protective face shields for local fire-rescue departments. […]

Q&A with FIU Alumnus Michael Hernandez ’04, MPA ’11

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FIU alumnus Michael Hernandez ‘04, MPA ‘11, shares a relationship with FIU that dates back to 1986 – the year his mother started working for Dr. Modesto A. Maidique, our former university president. Now, Hernandez serves as the Board President for the FIU Alumni Association Board of Directors, and is part of the Mercury Florida […]