Miami-Dade County, FIU launch executive internship program


Miami-Dade County and FIU have teamed up to create an executive internship program that will place students alongside top executives in the county’s organization, providing students with unique on-the-job training opportunities.

FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez announced the launch of the new program at a press conference Friday, June 15.

The unique internship program is designed to prepare FIU juniors and seniors to become future leaders of the Miami-Dade County community.

“Supporting higher education is one of my administration’s top priorities, and I’m very pleased to begin this pilot program with Florida International University,” said Gimenez. “This program will position students for the top municipal jobs in our county, helping us to keep our most talented students from leaving to other areas of the country. We hope to expand the program to other South Florida universities in the near future.”

Scheduled to begin in Fall 2012, the program will run for 15 weeks each semester with students working 16 hours per week under the direct supervision of a department director. Included in their work schedule will be weekly presentations by Gimenez, the county’s deputy mayors and the county’s top department directors. The program is expected to include 20 students per semester, making it one of the most extensive programs of its type in the country.

“We’re thrilled to begin such an important internship program with Miami-Dade County and applaud Mayor Gimenez for his leadership and vision in providing opportunities so that many of our best and brightest can pursue successful careers in South Florida,” said Rosenberg. “This program will give our top students an exceptional opportunity to learn directly from executives the best practices for managing large municipal organizations.”

Structured to give students a first-hand look at municipal governance, the goal of the program is to develop a strong group of future leaders for the many opportunities that exist with Miami-Dade County as well as the county’s 36 municipalities. The program will require students to be either entering or in their last year of studies toward a bachelor’s degree and they maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

For more information, contact Lee-Ann Dizon at ldlzon@miamidade.gov or 305-375-3379.