FIYou: Laura Dinehart

Name: Laura Dinehart

Hometown: Born in São Paulo, Brazil, raised in Miami, Florida

Job Title/Department: Interim Executive Director of Education

Campus: Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC)

In a nutshell: I am an associate professor in Early Childhood Education and my research focuses on the influence of early developmental skills on long-term academic achievement. In my new role as interim executive director, I aim to provide continuing support to the Education faculty and work as a facilitator between Education and our colleagues in the newly-formed College of Arts, Sciences & Education (CASE). This integration, under the leadership of Dean Mike Heithaus, promises to provide new opportunities to enhance our collaborations across the university, and ensure that we are producing cutting-edge research, while serving our students and community partners. I am truly honored and excited to have been offered this opportunity.

Number of years at FIU: This will be my 10th year.

What do you enjoy most about your job?: Working with faculty to build new, innovative, and interdisciplinary programs that meet the needs of our community and allow us to be at the forefront of education and its related disciplines.

What do you think students and your fellow faculty/staff should know about your department?: There is no doubt Education produces some of the best teachers and educational leaders in our community. About 35 percent of the teachers in Miami-Dade County Public Schools are FIU grads and our Reading Education master’s program was just ranked the number one teacher preparation program in the state by the Florida Department of Education. Beyond this work, we prepare a large and growing number of students to enter careers in sport, fitness, and recreation. We prepare school psychologists and school counselors, as well as mental health and rehabilitation counselors. Many of the student support staff and administrators around FIU are graduates of our Higher Education program, and some of the instructional designers who work in online learning are enrolled in our Adult Education and Human Resource Development program. Clearly, we are a major influence in our local community, but our reach is global with international programs, as well as growing programs in International/Intercultural Education and Foreign Language Education. I expect our recent integration will only expand our work and enhance our leverage both locally and globally.

Where is your favorite spot on campus? Any Starbucks, but particularly the one in the Mango building. Why? Because coffee is my friend.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about FIU? Working at FIU affords us an amazing opportunity to conduct engaged, cutting-edge research, work with a diverse and exceptional student body, and influence the local and global community.

How is FIU “Worlds Ahead?”  Few universities offer their faculty and students the opportunity to teach, conduct research, and learn in such a unique, urban, multi-cultural environment. As an ever-growing, Hispanic-serving institution, our work serves as a model for a nation with a growing Hispanic/Latino population.

Family snapshot: My husband Don and I have three daughters. Our twins, Elena and Olivia, just turned 11 and Elise is 7. We are an FIU family. My mom (Celia), Don, and I are all FIU alums.

Word that best describes you: Determined

First paying job: Brookstone in the Falls (where you can buy lots of useful gadgets).

Favorite TV show: Generally any original series on Netflix

What is playing on your iPod?: Anything my kids are into (Ed Sheeran, Adele, and Sia), and lots of Brazilian music (Marisa Monte, Maria Rita, and Vanessa da Mata)

Your proudest accomplishment: My amazing children.

What do you do when you are not working at FIU?: I’m at swim meets watching (but mostly waiting for) my girls’ races.