FIYou: Anna Carolina Lopes ’10

Name: Anna Carolina Lopes ’10

Hometown: Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Job Title/Department: Media Relations Assistant, FIU Office of Media Relations

Campus: Modesto A. Maidique Campus

In a nutshell: I assist the FIU Media Relations team in whatever they need. There are days I write press releases and there are other days I am outside, reporting about a lecture or an expo – and those are the days that I really like.

Number of years at FIU: My first anniversary is coming soon.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy the fact that I get to produce videos from the beginning to the end. I absolutely love to be outside and under the sun, filming and interviewing students, faculty, staff and visitors.

What do you think students and your fellow faculty/staff should know about your department?

I would like all students and fellow faculty/staff to know about news.FIU.edu. Once they visit it, they will be able find stories, videos and pictures about FIU.

Where is your favorite spot on campus? Why?

The bookstore. I love all the FIU products they have. It feels great to go there to buy those beautiful shirts and sweaters.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about FIU?

I wish people knew how hard employees here at FIU work to make this an innovative, dynamic and successful university.

How is FIU “Worlds Ahead”?

FIU is Worlds Ahead because of the students it has. If you go to GC and spend five minutes looking at the students who come and go, you will notice that this is a place where people from different cultural backgrounds get along perfectly well.  Tolerance and diversity make FIU Worlds Ahead.

Family snapshot:

Here in Miami, my parents, Paulo Tarso and Patricia, and my boyfriend, Juan. In Brazil, my grandparents, Jose Celso and Laudeir; my grandma Dulce; my godmother, Monica; my uncles, aunts, cousins…. I have a huge family.

Word that best describes you: Brazilian.

First paying job: My first paying job was in a company called Knightsbridge Media. I was an intern and my job was to organize their database and to write a few articles for one of their publications.

Favorite TV show: Brazilian soap operas.

What is playing on your iPod?

The Beatles’ “Something.”

Your proudest accomplishment:

Graduating from FIU with a degree in journalism. I will never forget the way my grandpa, who is 78, looked at me right before the commencement ceremony. Also, I will never forget my parents’ faces when I gave them the FIU Stole of Gratitude. December 13, 2010, was the happiest day of my life.

What do you do when you are not working at FIU?

When I am not working at FIU, I like to spend time with my parents and my boyfriend. I just love my family.