Alumni Meeting welcomes new members, celebrates new gift

The future FIU Alumni Center was at the forefront of the FIU Alumni Association Annual Meeting at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential House at Modesto A. Maidique Campus May 26, especially after Executive Director Bill Draughon announced that health sciences alumnus Raul Chavez ’80 and his wife, Dr. Angela Martinez, have pledged $650,000 to the association.

The couple’s planned-giving donation will be used to support the eagerly awaited project slated to go up east of the Blue Parking Garage at MMC.

FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg thanked Alumni Association members for their efforts on their alma mater’s behalf and urged them to have swagger, tell the FIU story and support the university.

“I want you to step up,” he said, “because if you don’t do it who will? Alumni are our lifeline for a lifetime. It’s OK to be proud. It’s OK to tell our story and it’s OK to give back.”

Rosenberg conducted the swearing in for the board’s newest officers: Ricardo C. Cabrera ’94; Michael A. Hernandez ’04; Jaime N. Machado ’01, MBA ’10; Franklin Gentle McCune ’05, MS ’08; and returning board member Elizabeth Cross ’89.

The meeting also served as a send-off for departing officers Raymond del Rey ’97; Jose Manuel Díaz ’86; Jason Scott Hamilton ’89, MS ’93; Carlos Hernández ’97; Justo Luis Pozo ’80; and Susan Webster ’87.

FIU 2011-’12 Alumni Association Board

Executive Committee

Joaquín “Jack” F. González ’97

President

Gonzalo Acevedo ’91, MBA ’10

Vice President

Ariana Fajardo, Esq. ’93

Secretary

Sharon Fine ’99

Treasurer

Gabriel Albelo ’93

Parliamentarian

Ralph Rosado ’96, MA ’03

Governmental Relations Officer

José M. Pérez de Corcho ’93

Past President

Officers

Gus Alfonso ’02

Chi Ali ’00

Stewart L. Appelrouth MBA ’80

Ricardo C. Cabrera ’94

Lilian T. Chiu ’00

Elizabeth Cross ’89

Isabel C. Díaz, Esq. ’01

Cynthia J. Dienstag, Esq. ’83

Marlon Font ’04

Anastasia Garcia ’89

Jorge F. Hernández ’95

Michael A. Hernández ’04

Eduardo Hondal ’88, MS ’00

Samuel C. Jackson MPA ’90

Jaime N. Machado ’01, MBA ’10

Michael P. Maher ’97

Ana L. Martínez, CPA MAcc. ’92

Franklin Gentle McCune ’05, MS ’08

Michael R. Méndez ’03, MA ’10

Alberto Padrón ’98, MBA ’09

Frank Javier Peña ’99

Enrique Piñeiro ’03

Alicia María Robles ’98

Jose Roces ’03

A. Celina Saucedo ’99, MA ’11