Fernando Figueredo to lead Career Services, expand relations with private and public employers


Fernando Figueredo

Fernando Figueredo

Fernando Figueredo will join FIU as director of Career Services, where he will focus on increasing career opportunities for students.

Figueredo returns to FIU after serving as Miami-Dade County’s director of communications and external affairs in the office of Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.  Prior to that, Figueredo was chair of FIU’s Department of Advertising and Public Relations in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. In that role, he increased internship programs for students, expanded the school’s study abroad programs, and significantly grew the department’s master’s in global strategic communications program.  He joined the SJMC faculty after decades of leading communications teams for global corporations.

“Fernando brings 40 years of experience to the position, and we look forward to his leadership in this capacity,” said Larry Lunsford, FIU vice president for Student Affairs. “His extensive background in the public and private sectors will be essential in implementing plans to continue increasing relationships with potential new employers.”

He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Florida, master’s degree in business administration from Florida International University, and a Ph.D. in mass communications from the University of Seville in Spain.

“I look forward to working closely with the talented career services team and to continue growing employment opportunities for our students,” said Figueredo. “Helping students focus on their careers has been a passion of mine for many years.  I plan to significantly increase relations with local, national and multinational organizations and to raise awareness of how well-prepared FIU graduates are to enter the global workforce.”