FIU News - 2020

Happy New Year!

Contributing Writer — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 10:30:00 -0500

Dear members of the university community,

“I wish you a Happy New Year. We will face the challenges

ahead with the same courage, optimism and commitment that

we have demonstrated so frequently in the past few years.

Even better days are around the corner.

See you there – bring it on 2020!”

Oops! This is what I wrote to conclude last year’s New Year message! Bring it on 2020!? Little did we know what was in store for this year.

But now we know, and hopefully, we are better and stronger for it even if there has been unparalleled pain and suffering for so many families – many connected with our FIU. In the midst of the complications around the COVID-19 response, vaccine distribution, new diversity initiatives, and the vicious politics that now characterize our polity, my message in this note will be quite simple.

It pivots around a recent experience that I want to share motivated by one of our December 2020 graduates: So out of the blue (a saying from Southeastern Ohio meaning unexpectedly) on December 12, I received an email message from someone named Rosa Andrews. Rosa explained that she would be graduating the next day, on December 13, with a Psychology major, Summa Cum Laude.

Then she reminded me about my very candid and personal message to our community on March 22, 2020, Coronavirus Now: A Parable, A Dream, and Some Lessons!, about the personal difficulties of managing through this COVID-19 nightmare. In that message, I asked for any responses that individuals might want to share. Rosa wrote back about the toll that COVID-19 was taking on her and her family – her husband and two sons, then ages 7 and 11, the difficulties of taking four classes, a lab, and coping with the new profound challenges of lives turned upside down.

In her most recent message to me, Rosa wrote that my response to her on that same March 22 “made me feel not only acknowledged but supported throughout all of this …” She went on to summarize my comments then: “Corona … will not get the best of us but it will definitely bring the best of us out and we will keep learning, growing and changing the world.”

What I in fact said then:

“Rosa – let’s you and me get through this together – is that a deal? You can do this … one step at a time ... we want every student to stick with us and not to leave or drop out. We want every student to graduate. Corona cannot get the best of us! Counting on you to stick with it …”

Rosa obviously found a way to get through it and has now graduated! It’s her second degree – she graduated from UF 15 years earlier with a bachelor’s degree as well.

And yes – for 2021 we are obsessing on keeping our community safe and, of course, student success, rankings, and impact. But let’s remember, as we head into 2021, that every learner counts and that we have to message to each and everyone in ways that make a difference.

So, here is my request for this New Year. Rosa’s story is a moving statement on the power of communication and encouraging words. Find a way to improve how you communicate with loved ones, friends, and others around you. Imagine if each of us can improve how we message – both verbally and non-verbally – we can get even more done than if it is “business as usual” in 2021 in our communications!

I am so blessed to have received Rosa’s note days ago as a reminder of the things that really count. We will thrive in 2021 if we all can get better in these things, beginning with our communication and the messages that we convey! Happy New Year! Let’s go!

Sincerely,

Mark B. Rosenberg

President

What’s in a place? What’s in a story? Meet those at FIU working to preserve local Black history and create a better future

Alexandra Pecharich — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 12:01:00 -0500

A professor acts on his beliefs

Iqbal Akhtar thought living his faith should translate into buying a home in a community where he could do the most good. So he and wife Jafreen Jaffery started to look around. At the time the pair resided in a rental apartment on Miami’s famed Brickell Avenue, known for fancy condos and high-end lifestyles. Every day, the couple—he a professor of religious studies and political science in the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, she then-working for the Children’s Trust and now a researcher with a nonprofit public health organization—saw around them a bewildering contrast: shops and restaurants catering to the well-to-do and, just a few blocks away, the kind of poverty that puts the city of Miami among the 10 poorest in the country.

The New Orleans native made the decision to purchase a house in the Brownsville neighborhood, six miles northwest of downtown. An area in transition—his place was built in 2015—Brownsville experienced a heyday in the 1950s and ’60s as a thriving center for middle-class Black professionals. Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammed Ali stayed in its historic Hampton House motel when they visited South Florida because other places of lodging wouldn’t accept Black guests.

As segregation laws came down in the late 1960s, many residents felt free to move out of Brownsville into other parts of town, and urban blight began to set in. More than a decade later, in 1980, the neighborhood would suffer destruction as part of citywide unrest that saw three days of rioting in the wake of a black man’s killing by police. In what sounds alarmingly like a headline from 2020, four white officers beat handcuffed insurance agent Arthur McDuffie after he ran a red light on his motorcycle.

Today, Akhtar remembers the break-in that marked the early days of his living in the area. Away at the time, he and Jaffery returned to learn that neighbors saw the crime in progress and quickly called police. That broke the ice with folks on their street, and a bond began to develop. Soon after, the couple took a day to plant grass and flowers in front of their home, an activity that attracted the interest of others, some of whom asked for seeds. The experience moved Akhtar to seek a small grant to refurbish a nearby neglected park and establish a community garden within its fenced walls. The bureaucratic permitting process proved a hassle, but eventually students and staff from the Wertheim College of Medicine and the Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work provided health screenings and information as part of the grand opening. Akhtar went on to hold children’s book giveaways and other events there regularly until the pandemic hit.

“There’s a tradition in the Muslim faith that says that you should always leave a place better than you found it,” Akhtar explains. “If we're going to say that we care for people, then we have to live a life in which we really try to serve.”

Students seek out storytellers

In the fall of 2020, students in an Honors College course took to sifting through history by engaging with current and former residents of Brownsville. As part of their studies on social movements in the United States, they reached out to folks who could speak directly not only about the civil rights era through which they had lived but, on an even more personal level, about the thriving, tight-knit community in which they once resided.

In the wake of the current national push for social justice, the 2.3 square miles of Brownsville became the lens through which the young people reflected upon recent Black American history.

Zion Sealy is a junior marketing major from Trinidad and Tobago. Although he identifies as a man of color, Sealy says he has a very different perspective than that of a Black man in the United States. “My understanding of the Black experience was just what I read online,” he says.

“Coming into this interview, I had an expectation of this is going to be a story of struggle,” he says. “The reality was far different. The emphasis was hope. The emphasis was perseverance. The emphasis was getting an education, no matter what.”

Sealy’s lesson came compliments of 70-year-old Milton Vickers, who today serves as the director of human services for Miami-Dade County and still lives in Brownsville. The pair’s recorded Zoom discussion—which veered from segregation and integration to the election of Barack Obama and the Black Lives Matter movement—will be archived at Hampton House, now a thriving cultural arts and community center, along with a written account prepared by Sealy. (The files of all 25 students will be used by the Dade Heritage Trust to seek historic designation for the area.)

International student Kristina Miletic, a sophomore finance major from Serbia, arrived in Miami in 2018 to attend FIU. She welcomed and was excited by the diversity around her—something not found in her native land—and only slowly became aware of racial tensions.

Like Sealy, she found an uplifting story—the kind shared by families of every culture—when she spoke with Ernestine Williams and two of her daughters, Rojean and Roniece. The matriarch, who still lives in Brownsville, talked about moving there from Michigian with her husband in 1950 and starting a successful dry cleaning and tailoring shop. The sisters spoke of school and their teachers.

The first-person accounts and the women’s willingness to share memories moved Miletic.

“I didn’t believe that someone was going to talk about their life to me,” she says, fearful at first that her queries would seem intrusive. “I was kind of scared. Will they answer my questions?” she worried, all for naught. “They were so open to tell their life story. I was so happy to talk to them. It was an honor.”

Connecting people of different backgrounds served one of Professor Shed Boren’s goals for the class, which “was to have the students realize the power of conversation and storytelling about individual lives.”

Such interaction, the professor of social work says, sows the seeds of transformation. “Change starts with empathy,” he explains, “and this is only possible by listening.”

A leader weighs in

Valerie Patterson is director of FIU’s African and African Diaspora Studies Program and a professor of policy and management within the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. Born in the 1950s, she grew up in the Coconut Grove neighborhood and remembers attending segregated elementary and junior high schools. Like those who spoke about their lives in Brownsville, Patterson recalls the joys of childhood and the extended “village” of teachers and others who promoted excellence every day.

Professor Valerie Patterson on Easter Sunday circa 1964 in front of her family’s home at 3833 Washington Ave. in Coconut Grove

“That community support was very present,” says the three-time FIU alumna (’81, MHSA ’85, Ph.D. ’95). “It’s no wonder that so many of us ended up in successful careers,” she adds, citing her best friend—also a university professor—and other former classmates who went on to accomplish great things.

The story forms part of the one that Patterson told when President Mark B. Rosenberg first called upon her this past summer to help the university determine how to effect change in support of social justice. He asked that she and the two others whom he tasked with the job—El pagnier Hudson, senior vice president for human resources and vice provost for the subsequently created Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Delrish Moss, a captain with the FIU police department—share their personal histories as a way of connecting across a wide spectrum.

“When we were given our charge by President Rosenberg, he asked us to engage the university community and even the external community in a very intentional way,” Patterson explains. “When he brought the three us of together for the first time, he asked us to talk about our experiences, our history of growing up in Miami. From there, each meeting that we had with university stakeholders, whether they were students, whether they were deans, whether they were faculty, other administrators, we started with our experience growing up in Miami and what this [social justice] work meant to us. This created a robust conversation because people were very interested in hearing those stories.”

Patterson, who notes that personal anecdotes of local life resonate even in—or, perhaps, especially in—a city filled with transplants, listened in on the Honors College class presentations. “I loved hearing the students discuss their conversations,” she says. “I really enjoy having conversation about Miami, hearing the histories of different families, the whole notion of multigenerational interaction.

“This history is important as are the opportunities for reflecting on past experiences, especially to identify useful lessons that can be connected to current circumstances.”

That same understanding drives Akhtar, the professor who lives in Brownsville and whose next project will have him collecting oral histories around a mosque with connections to Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali in the nearby Liberty City neighborhood. The endeavor further promotes his conviction that all stories must be valued.

“We have to be able to respect each other's history, each other's perspective, and to be civil and to have dialogue about what that means,” he says. “To hear stories and histories that have been neglected is to show how diverse and remarkable this country is.”

When in late May the nation began reeling in response to the police killing of an unarmed Black man named George Floyd—one in a string of such disturbing episodes—FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg wasted no time in deciding that FIU would be part of the solution. In early June he drew up a draft plan of ways the university might lead on issues of racial equality and social justice.

To lay the groundwork for meaningful changes that could be implemented in a timely fashion, Rosenberg called upon three individuals—all members of the FIU community, all members of the Black community, all raised in South Florida—to help the university undertake a critical look at itself. Interacting closely with dedicated work groups that collectively bring together some 30 others from within the institution, the trio has gathered data, solicited suggestions and identified areas ripe for improvement.

They are Delrish Moss, FIU police captain, former chief of the Ferguson (Missiouri) Police Department and a former major with the Miami Police Department; Valerie Patterson, a clinical associate professor in the public administration program within the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs; and El pagnier Hudson, vice president for the Division of Human Resources. The three were given a 30-day charge to gather findings and submit proposals that are formally aligned with the university’s soon-to-be-unveiled strategic plan.

Hudson spoke about the Equity Action Initiative and her personal commitment to the monumental task at hand.

Let’s talk about this huge undertaking. Why this? Why now?
When this initiative began, President Rosenberg brought us in and said, ‘I want to be actionable. This is not going to be a long-standing advisory group.’ The work that we submit has to have an implementation plan so it will live. It’s overdue. It’s certainly on the shoulders of the activities of the ’60s, but this is a new day. It’s a new energy, a new passion and a new collaboration.

You see across all walks of life, people crying out for sustainable change. We recognize a lot of things that have been systemically embedded, and we’ve just learned to live with them.

People are feeling like that across the globe. We know its going to take time, but the efforts to move forward have to be genuine, authentic. And people have to be ready to be comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations.

Is a 30-day window to set the foundation realistic?
We’re making clear that we have a lot to do and a little bit of time, but we’re also saying this is just a beginning. We’re just running full force to get this started in a meaningful way. We’re getting a thousand initiative ideas. We’re getting emails [from FIU community members] daily. It never stops.

There’s absolutely no way that we can do all of this work in 30 days. However, if you’ve seen the musical Hamilton, there is that phrase, not going to throw away this shot.

Thirty days is really, really constricting, but it gets us moving. FIU operates on all cylinders all the time. There are no lulls. That’s the interpretation to me of the 30 days. I want to identify some action steps that we can take right now even as we all recognize that this is lifelong work. I liken this to somebody having a heart attack and they take those shockers and shock them, so that’s what’s going to happen in the 30 days.

What are the priorities within the university?
Right now, all of our sensitivities are heightened around things that used to be “normal.” So let me give you an example. We had 25 incredibly meritorious, deserving, prominent, published faculty who recently earned tenure. Not one was Black. So one would say, ‘Oh well, there were no qualified Blacks.’ But the reality is the tenure process is a six-year process. So what has happened in our system that did not identify, mentor, advocate for Black faculty that started out with those same ones that got tenured? We had not given thought to it. And that’s the problem.

Another example: A faculty member asked me recently, ‘Do I need to reduce my standards just to hire a Black person?’

What is the mindset that we’ve adopted that automatically feels that Black is inferior? Well, that goes back 400 years, when people were brought here with the intentionality to be subservient. So it’s not going to turn around tomorrow, but if we can begin now getting people to think differently about how you respect each other, how you value talent without regard to where it comes from and then remove the barriers that have been preventing that same talent from moving forward, we’ll be in a better place.

If we don’t integrate education and bring everything to the table, then we’ll never know the value of the diversity that we have.

We also shared with the work group the demographics of Black employees, faculty and staff here at the university, and there are some very telling things there. The lower positions are filled with Black talent but as you see the career levels accelerate, the Blacks thin out significantly. As you look at our white counterparts, they’re very thin in the lower level positions, but you see an acceleration and a broadening of them in the higher positions. I share this not to raise people’s blood pressure but to recognize where we are and the opportunity that we have to go forward. So that’s what our proposal is going to contain, those types of things that are intentionally dedicated to support Black faculty and staff.

President Rosenberg has stated an interest in impacting the greater community on issues of equality. What has the community work group discussed?
One of the things is looking at the composition of FIU’s academic and institutional advisory boards and whether there is Black representation there from our local community.

So many times people are making decisions about populations that are not physically represented, so we want to look to see what those are. We also know that many board appointments come with the requirement of 2,500 or 5,000 dollars [as a membership contribution]. That’s a barrier to many because they don’t have the money. However, they can bring other things to the conversation: expertise, time, resources from their own scope. Our recommendation is first to look at the boards, see what the composition is, see what the requirements are, determine whether those are requirements that need to be modified so they can be more inclusive.

FIU’s Metropolitan Center did a [communitywide] prosperity study a while back. Most studies as they relate to Blacks have been about their being socially disadvantaged and what they don’t have, but we’ve not examined what the prosperity levels look like among Black people. So we want to enlist support to do such a study of Black prosperity, particularly in South Florida. That begins to change the narrative about how Blacks are viewed.

We also want to establish FIU as the leader in developing a ranking of organizations, in South Florida in particular, that embrace and model inclusion and diversity, a list that companies will aspire to be on. Remember, FIU is 1.6 billion-dollar economic engine in South Florida, so we have a voice. So let’s use that voice to say who we will and will not do business with, which will also change behaviors and allow people and businesses to begin to step up in that area.

What has been the general response from folks at FIU so far?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. People from all walks are saying, ‘Whatever I can do, I want to be a part of that.’ I tell people all the time, this is not my work. No, no, this is our work, our initiatives, and [we three leading it] are simply the vehicles, the conduits that are being used to move it forward. I’ve had conversations with deans, directors, staff, at every level, and people feel hopeful. Oh my goodness, they feel hopeful in a way that’s palpable. You really feel that something is happening.

And the students have been engaged. We’ve attended student meetings, they’ve invited us to activities and events, and we’re incorporating their thoughts.

You’ve mentioned that not everyone is on board with this work. How can you bring more folks to the table?

What we have to do, in my opinion, is really address the mindset and the erroneous thinking and really unlearn some of the things that we have learned.

At its core, it’s a mindset. Recently I attended a Palm Beach County Clergy Alliance meeting. There was a pastor online, a white gentleman, who shared how he grew. He says he didn’t see his first Black person until he was in seventh grade. So his sister brought one of the kids home, and his father told her, ‘Don’t you ever bring a Black person here again.’ So what the pastor shared—for which he now apologized to the point that I was crying—was how his parents began to literally teach him that he was different, that he was superior. That’s what we’re battling. It’s not the application but the mindset.

I know this work is very personal for you even as you bring to it all the professionalism one would expect of someone in your position. How do you deal with it?
It’s a lot. I have difficult days. Let me tell you, it’s not just theoretical, it’s not just book work, it’s emotional work. To some extent it feels therapeutic because I personally feel like we’re moving, we’re doing something.

I’m willing to go the distance. I’m at a place in my life where if there’s ever a time to do it, the time is now. This may be the very last thing I ever do in my life, and I don’t have any fear. I’m not concerned about losing my job or concerned about how I am going to be perceived because my motives are pure and whatever happens, happens.

My husband, my brother, my son-in-law—if the police stops any of us, we are always rehearsing: just don’t move, keep your hands on the wheel. Do you do that? You don’t have to. But we’ve learned to live in that world.

I grew up in Liberty City, where we had riots frequently. My mom was an educator and so teaching and learning was critical. So she would literally take us out into the community, not to put us in harm’s way but to see what was happening.

There is a tipping point that one can reach when others are not hearing the complaints, the request for equality. Some people only hear it when it financially impacts them. This is not about whether or not to support rioting and such, but I can appreciate and have an understanding as to why people get pushed to that limit.

University Graduate School equips Ph.D. students for diverse career pathways, connects them with industry leaders

Gisela Maria Valencia — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 11:34:00 -0500

What can I do with a Ph.D.?

It sounds like a trick question. A doctoral degree is the highest possible academic achievement in most fields. But how can you fully take advantage of all the skills and high-level knowledge you are learning during grad school when job hunting?

There are lots of ways. Traditionally, folks have pursued careers as tenure-track faculty members in academia. But that trend has been shifting nationally in the last few decades. Increasingly, Ph.D. students are finding jobs outside of higher education – and applying their skills to a variety of fields.

A 2017 National Science Foundation survey found that those holding doctoral degrees in science and engineering fields were roughly split between employment in the private sector and academia, 42 percent to 43 percent.

Higher education institutions across the country, including FIU, have noticed these unprecedented shifts and have begun to prepare their graduate students to head into the job market ready to break into a variety of industries and career paths.

During the summer and fall of 2020, FIU’s University Graduate School inaugurated a program with that goal in mind.

The program’s launch was in the making since 2018, when the university first forged a partnership with North Carolina State University to support and expand the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) work force training program for grad students. FIU later joined a consortium of academic partners across the country working to bring the A2i training model to their institutions.

A2i was founded by North Carolina State University and is funded by the National Science Foundation through an Innovations in Graduate Education grant; FIU is an academic partner on this grant.

FIU’s A2i program

A2i offers a bold approach to work force readiness designed to help grad students connect with industries, learn about career options and gain valuable business, communication and leadership skills.

At FIU, Susan Webster, assistant dean at the University Graduate School and assistant vice president for Research and Economic Development, dove into A2i trainings and led the way in creating the university's A2i program.

When the pandemic hit and programming went remote, Webster reached out to North Carolina State University to partner on a virtual semester of seminars focused on job search strategies during the summer.

In the fall of 2020, FIU hosted its major virtual event: a two-day immersion experience for Ph.D. students to connect with industry leaders, learn about resume writing and gain leadership skills.

“This allowed graduate students to explore employment opportunities with industry and helped them connect directly with leaders,” Webster said. “Ph.D. graduates have always been a part of industry, but this helps highlight career options and pathways.”

More Ph.D. students are heading into industry jobs in part because there are a limited number of jobs available nationally in academia. As a young graduate, Webster herself recalls applying to various postdoctoral and starting faculty positions. She says students facing similar journeys – or those who already know they want to use their degree for a job outside of academia – need options.

“A big part of the reason people pursue an advanced degree is to advance their career,” she says. “What are your possibilities post-graduation? This puts it in a framework where students can ask questions and understand that. Students can hear from industry leaders and see how the technical expertise and skill set that they may not think about (such as running a lab or managing a grant), can be useful in a particular industry.”

Connecting with industry, preparing for the future

FIU’s virtual event featured a number of international movers and shakers in diverse fields from biotech, pharmaceutical and health companies to consulting companies and the business world. Among the panelists were several Panthers, ranging from FIU Business alumnus Oscar Grau to Robert Hacker, co-founder and director of StartUP FIU, a university-wide initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship at the university.

Team members from FIU’s Career and Talent Development also presented their top tips on LinkedIn profiles, and FIU’s Center for Leadership and Service team led grad students in a mini version of its hallmark Academy of Leaders training, which allows students to build crucial skills, including awareness of personality type and leadership style; group development; and conflict resolution.

“I was absolutely blown away by the guest speakers Dr. Susan Webster and UGS invited,” said Sherri Ahern, a doctoral student in Higher Education Administration. “They [are] titans in their fields, but also willing to give graspable advice to students who have yet to enter the work force. I had never really thought of a career outside of academia before, but based on what the speakers talked about, I see now that expanding my horizons is completely doable.”

One of her most valuable takeaways: “How vital a well-set-up LinkedIn account is. I edited my profile on the spot, and it is ten times better than it was before the session!”

Andria Beal, a doctoral student in biology, expanded her network and made a new contact at the event. “I know I do not want to stay in academia, and I want to make sure I know my options for going into industry or possibly going out on my own with a company or non-profit. This allows students to find mentors that fit their interests beyond academia.”

After this success, Webster says she and her team are gearing up to organize more A2i events for FIU and are planning to expand the program to cater to master’s degree students as well.

December 2020 in photos: Toy donations, a serenade and hard-earned degrees

David Drucker — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0500

During the last month of 2020, the university came together to collect toys for children in need this holiday season. FIU also awarded degrees to about 6,200 Panthers who worked their tails off during the pandemic. Here are some of our favorite moments from December, as captured by FIU photographers Margi Rentis '17, Doug Garland '10, Carl-Frederick Francois '16 MS '17 and Vince Rives '17.

Check out the full story about the first-ever President's Holiday Toy Drive-Thru here.

This is the 29th year that FIU has given students at low-income schools surprises for the holidays while celebrating their academic achievements. Check out our full story.

Our full story about this year's graduates highlights more incredible Panther achievements.

Postdoc program paves the way for up-and-coming researchers

Angela Nicoletti — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 10:41:00 -0500

The Distinguished Postdoctoral Program in FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education is paving the way for up-and-coming researchers to launch impactful academic careers.

The globally competitive program supports promising early-career postdoctoral scholars working and conducting research across any of the disciplines in the college from the natural and social sciences to education and the humanities.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for early career scholars where they can be mentored by our amazing faculty while developing their own research programs,” said Dean Mike Heithaus. “By having a wide-open call that is not tied to a specific project or discipline, this ensures we get a diverse pool of applicants and truly get the best of the best. They will have the opportunity to make an impact in their fields and launch their careers.”

Getting a post-doctoral appointment often relies on who you know, which can sometimes be a barrier for researchers from underrepresented groups. This Distinguished Postdoctoral Program provides opportunities for talented post docs to take that next step in their careers, which also helps fulfill part of the college’s commitment to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion, Heithaus said.

This year, the 2020-21 Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholars include:

Erin Abernethy wants to ensure that conversations about race and gender are a part of freshwater conservation and resource management decisions and will be working with the Florida Water Management District.
Diego Cardeñosa will continue his groundbreaking work using DNA analysis to track and trace the global shark fin trade.
Popular Pandey is exploring how to use nanopipettes to perform surgical operations on single cells, in order to find more cost-effective ways to study diseases and find effective treatments.

A total of 10 postdoctoral scholars have been recognized by the program since its launch in 2018. Past scholars have gone on to tenure-track positions at FIU, as well as other top universities and have taken research positions elsewhere, such as NASA.

For more information about the program, please click here.

JoAnn Adkins contributed to this story.

Diego Cardeñosa uses DNA to track and monitor the shark fin trade.
99.8 percent of silky shark fins that were sampled originated from the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
This study emphasizes the need for increased monitoring in this region.
The long-term goal of Cardeñosa’s research is to provide information about where shark fins originate in order to better direct more concentrated shark conservation efforts and fisheries management.

New research shows that conservation efforts in the Atlantic Ocean may be working for one of the most popular — and endangered — species that ends up in the global shark fin trade.

Diego Cardeñosa — an FIU postdoctoral researcher in the Institute of Environment — led a new study in collaboration with scientists in Hong Kong that uses DNA analysis to track where fins in the global shark fin trade originate. They focused on silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) — the second most common species found in the fin trade.

Testing revealed 99.8 percent of the fins sampled from retail markets in Hong Kong and China originated from the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Virtually none came from the Atlantic Ocean, which provides the first evidence that conservation efforts could be making an impact.

According to FIU research, around 100 million sharks are killed every year. Nearly one-third of the shark species in the global shark fin trade are at risk of extinction.

Open ocean sharks, like silky sharks, face a considerable risk of overexploitation because they get caught in nets and longlines set by fishing fleets targeting tuna. High demand for shark fins in Asia means that although they are considered accidental by-catch, they are by-catch worth keeping.

Silky sharks are protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) — an international agreement protecting animals and plants from overexploitation in international trade. Listed in Appendix II, all trade of these sharks requires permits certifying they were legally caught, catch is sustainable, and traceable through the supply chain.

The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations oversees fishing regulations and shark management decisions. In 2011, one of these organizations — the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) — prohibited the fishing, retention and transshipment of silky sharks by all fisheries operating under its jurisdiction. Only developing nations are allowed to fish for these sharks as a source of food.

“This study shows that there is good news for ICCAT and the Atlantic silkies,” said Cardeñosa, who was recently named a Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. “While it doesn’t necessarily mean that the Atlantic population is recovering or that fishing mortality is decreasing, it’s a good assessment that there’s high compliance with the retention and export ban by ICCAT parties.”

Cardeñosa’s DNA detective work is helping uncover the mysteries of the shark fin trade.

The long-term goal of Cardeñosa’s research is to provide information about where shark fins originate in order to better direct more concentrated shark conservation efforts and fisheries management. This study emphasizes the need for increased monitoring, as well as better implementation of CITES regulations. The reality is illegal, unreported trade continues to happen.

In fact, earlier this year Hong Kong customs officials intercepted an illegal shipment lacking proper CITES documentation from Ecuador that included silky and pelagic thresher shark fins. The secret tool behind this historic seizure of shark fins was a DNA testing kit co-developed by Cardeñosa and Demian Chapman, an FIU marine scientist in the Institute of Environment. Created with funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the tool is being used in airports and shipping ports to help customs officials identify protected shark species.

“Understanding which species are most prevalent in the shark fin trade can help identify the species in need of conservation intervention,” Cardeñosa said. “Tracing the populations of origin can help identify the key management jurisdictions that can lead proper interventions.”

The research is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Pew Fellowship Program. The findings were published in Conservation Letters.

FIU is ranked No. 9 in the world for positive impact on life below water by The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The university ranked third in the United States.

Erin Abernethy can read the subtlest shifts and changes in the rivers and creeks that cut through the Appalachian Mountains.

She knows some are slow-moving, meandering. She knows some have violent rapids, unrelenting currents, sharp rocks and waterfalls. And she’s traveled down all kinds — even the more dangerous ones — in a kayak.

Abernethy — a distinguished postdoctoral scholar in FIU's College of Arts, Sciences & Education — first started whitewater kayaking as an undergraduate at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. To date, she’s gone whitewater kayaking in more than 20 rivers across the U.S., and in Central and South America.

What started as one of Abernethy’s favorite ways to spend her free time ended up inspiring her conservation research. She’s now ready for the next phase of her career, merging conservation with equity issues — after all, marginalized communities often face the greatest challenges involving water resources.

Conservation has always been a part of Abernethy’s life. Her parents were both biologists, working in different conservation roles. Her mother was in environmental consulting. Her father protected wild turkey populations and longleaf pine trees. They loved their work. And they instilled a love and appreciation for nature in their daughter. Abernethy wanted to follow in their footsteps, but she wasn’t certain what kind of conservation work she wanted to do — until she began whitewater kayaking.

Many of the bigger rivers in the Appalachian Mountains are dammed. When it comes to recreational use, these dams play a key role. In fact, dams help make sure there’s enough water in the rivers for recreational use — especially when naturally occurring water levels would have dropped too low for whitewater rafting and kayaking. On the Pigeon River in Tennessee where Erin worked several summers as a raft guide, rafting companies and the local powerplant negotiate water releases for summer recreational use.

Abernethy spent a lot of her time waiting for those releases. While she waited, she knew she could visit smaller, rain-fed rivers and creeks. She’d keep a close watch on the weather, anticipating the approach of a storm. Then, she’d wait for the water levels to rise.

All of this made her start thinking a lot about rivers. And, in turn, freshwater resources. For her doctoral work at Oregon State University, Abernethy focused on dams and their ecological impacts, especially on smaller aquatic insects in the Colorado River Basin.

Now, as a postdoctoral scientist, Abernethy will be working with FIU Institute of Environment researcher Elizabeth Anderson to take her research in a new direction.

Abernethy is going to explore new, urgent and very timely questions, like who has access to water resources and who is making those decisions about where the water goes.

She wants to put discussions about race and gender into broader discussions about freshwater conservation and resource management. As Abernethy points out, it’s often marginalized communities that are most severely impacted by decisions that impact water resources. The water crisis in Flint, Michigan is just one example. The damming of the Amazon and its tributaries is another — that Anderson has studied extensively.

“Equity has to be a part of these discussions, especially in Florida, which is projected to be a majority minoritytate in the near future,” Abernethy said. “In my postdoctoral work, I want to explore how potential bias related to both race and gender may influence current research and policy relating to freshwater management.”

She’ll be working with the Florida Water Management District to look at how they incorporate diversity into their organization, as well as what type of community engagement they have in place. Abernethy hopes to build a framework to increase diversity and inclusion, as well as increase community trust.

Abernethy’s project, rooted in deep collaboration, is coming at a time when she believes people are excited and open to having these conversations. She looks forward to working with researchers in the Institute of Environment, FIU’s Office to Advance Women, Equity & Diversity, as well as conservation partner Nicole Silk at the River Network.

While starting her postdoctoral research in a pandemic won’t be easy, Abernathy’s up for the challenge. Plus, she will have help from a new friend — her newly adopted one-year old chocolate lab, River Monster. As his name suggests, he loves being near the water, maybe as much as Abernethy. And yes, he even goes for rides in the kayak.

This story also appeared on CASE News.

It’s time to keep it REAL this Christmas!

Nathalie Medina — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 17:11:00 -0500

Still haven’t decided on a real tree or a plastic tree as the holidays quickly approach us?

FIU Biological Sciences Assistant Professor Oscar Valverde-Barrantes makes the case for following the lead of so many others in 2020 and going natural.

“By purchasing a natural tree instead of an artificial tree, we are eliminating our carbon footprint,” Valverde-Barrantes said. “I believe even if you don’t recycle natural trees in the proper way, the trees still decompose and decay.”

Still on the fence? Maybe these reasons will help you go green in 2020 and other holiday seasons to come:

IT’S REAL — There’s nothing like that sweet scent that fills your home. Just don’t call it a pine tree. For the most part, all Christmas trees are sold as a Balsam Firs, a coniferous tree that’s part of the pine family. But in Florida, you are more than likely bringing home a Red spruce.
SUPPORTING LOCALS — Not only are you supporting farmers here in the U.S. but by buying a natural tree, you are helping provide jobs and financial support to local sellers. Christmas tree farms also help to keep green areas profitable, avoiding land-use change.
IT’S A FERTILIZER AND MULCH SOURCE — When it is time to say goodbye to your tree, don’t just throw it out. Once the tree has dried, shake off the needles and sprinkle them on your lawn for fertilizer. Miami-Dade County also invites residents to turn their trees to mulch through its Christmas Tree Recycling Program.

While 2020 has certainly thrown everyone for a loop, there’s still time to end the year by making a positive difference on our environment while ushering in the holidays and a much different 2021.

Stempel professor among FIU physician-leaders tapped for Miami-Dade County mayor’s COVID-19 advisory panel

Alexandra Pecharich — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 16:45:00 -0500

Dr. Mary Jo Trepka is an infectious disease epidemiologist and professor and chair of the epidemiology department at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work. She was recently invited to participate in advising Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on issues related to COVID-19 as South Florida, like much of the country, continues to grapple with a surge in cases. Also serving from FIU are Drs. Aileen Marty and Yolangel Suarez Hernandez, both from the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, and Dr. Robert Sackstein, its dean.

Trepka answers questions about the advisory group’s work and discusses how local citizens and members of the FIU community can best support their own and others’ health.

What are some of the decisions on which this group will weigh in?
We’re going to advise the mayor on how to help control COVID and also to help promote and ensure vaccination within the county and, eventually, help the county get back to normal.

Regarding the last, there are a lot of decisions about the protocols of reopening businesses. Those were considered with the previous mayor, and they are being reviewed again because our knowledge about COVID-19 and its transmission continually improve and we have more scientific evidence than we did six months ago. The group is tasked with helping ensure that the policies and procedures in place are up-to-date with our current knowledge.

The mayor has a chief medical officer, Dr. Peter Paige, who is also on the panel, but you get different views when you have several people on a panel. I think she wants to get a variety of viewpoints, the best guidance that we can give her.

What are some of the areas that you would like specifically addressed?
In terms of COVID control, two things. One is that many people are still very wary about the vaccine. It’s brand new, I understand that. We have to do a lot in terms of educating people about how vaccines work and this vaccine in particular, so that people are comfortable because we are not going to be able to control COVID-19 in South Florida if we can’t get the majority of people vaccinated.

The other thing that people don’t realize is that we don’t know for sure that the vaccine controls infectiousness. We know that the vaccine is highly effective in preventing illness, but it is possible that some people will have some asymptomatic infections even with the vaccine. Because of that, it’s going to be really important that we continue doing everything that we are now, like mask wearing, hand washing, physical distancing, until we can bring the cases down low enough that there is no more community transmission within the county. Getting the vaccine doesn’t mean you don’t have to wear a mask any more. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a while before we get there, and most likely we’re going to have to continue a lot of these measures into 2021. So that’s going to be very challenging, to get people to understand that and kind of hang in there with us until we’ve got it under control.

Are people starting to think that because the vaccine is here, we’re almost done with COVID-19?
On the one hand, some people see it as ‘just a little bit longer that I have to be careful.’ On the other hand, there are some people who still don’t understand how serious this is. At this point, COVID is going to be the first or second cause of death in our county this year. Almost 10 percent of the population in Miami-Dade County has had a case of COVID. Two percent of the people in Florida who’ve had COVID have died. We’re learning that about 10 percent of people who get it have long-lasting chronic symptoms, like brain fog, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. Right now, we’re consistently getting more than 2,000 cases a day in the county.

I understand that the county testing site adjacent to FIU, operated by FIU staff, is currently seeing more than 3,000 people daily.
That’s a good thing. One very positive thing is that we have a lot of testing capacity throughout the county. People can get an appointment right away and tested very easily. At the Miami-Dade County COVID testing site link, they can enter their zip code and find convenient options.

Vaccines are rolling out. When will the average person in Florida have access to one?
I’m not sure if anybody really knows right now. I’m guessing it’s going to be April or May, but it could be earlier. In Tallahassee, at the state health department, maybe some people know that, but it depends on when the vaccines actually come to Florida, and that’s determined at the national level. Right now Florida is concentrating on the health care workers and the people in nursing homes [per CDC recommendations].

What more can and should the mayors of Miami-Dade County and local municipalities do?
Local governments have really been very proactive in terms of getting messages out about the importance of mask wearing, physical distancing, staying home when you’re sick, washing hands. They provided good information and tried to figure out how to encourage people to follow those policies, those safe behaviors, within whatever the state government is allowing local leaders to do.

The county mayor just released a positive campaign in terms of trying to get people to cooperate over the holidays to prevent COVID. The idea is to get people to pitch in and help as opposed to trying to make people feel like they are being ordered to do things and being fined and so forth.

It’s going to continue to be very challenging because there is no easy road out of this. The physical distancing, the measures that are going to most protect and bring down transmission rates, are also those that are very hard on some local businesses so it’s a conundrum. And so the challenges are going to continue.

And what is the state of FIU’s COVID-19 response, to which you have contributed as a leader?
We have an extensive prevention and control program on campus. It begins with all the physical measures we’ve taken such as hand sanitizers and signage to remind people to wear. That is, the hand sanitizer we have everywhere, the signage everywhere to enforce people wearing masks, and also the restrictions on the number of people on campus, so it begins with that. That’s probably the most important thing, along with enhanced cleaning of facilities. Then after that, it’s the P3 app, which is screening people for symptoms and asks if they’ve come into contact with anybody who’s been infected. It’s also an educational tool for people to remind them not to come to campus if they don’t feel well. In addition to the county testing site adjacent to campus, we have multiple testing sites on campus. It’s very, very easy to get a test whether you want to do a drive through or walk up. And we have contact tracing and education through the COVID response team.

Are you confident about FIU welcoming additional numbers of students to campus for the spring semester?
I think we’ve shown that we can relatively safely have people on campus if the number of people on campus is low enough to allow us to maintain physical distancing, but adding more people is only going to work if everybody cooperates and does their best to protect everybody around them.

FIU experts available to discuss cyberattacks

Gabriela Aguirrechu — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 15:00:00 -0500

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today said that they suspect Russian hackers are behind ongoing cyberattacks on government agencies, private companies and other entities.

Members of the FIU Media Relations team are available to assist in contacting the experts:

Maydel Santana, associate vice president: 305-348-1555, santanam@fiu.edu
Lourdes Perez, media relations specialist: 305-348-6944, louperez@fiu.edu
Elizabeth Calzadilla, director of marketing and communications, College of Engineering & Computing: 786-338-3346, ecalzadi@fiu.edu

Cybersecurity

Alex Crowther
Visiting Professor
Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Prior to coming to FIU, Dr. Crowther worked on cyber and European issues at the National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, D.C. and continues to lecture on cybersecurity at the Organization of American States (OAS) as well cyber law/crime/terror at NDU’s College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC).
Emaill: gcrowthe@fiu.edu.

Nagarajan Prabakar
Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information Sciences
Undergraduate Director, Cybersecurity program
College of Engineering & Computing
Prabakar has more than 30 years in the field of computing and extensive expertise in the field of cybersecurity. Prabakar can discuss what security vulnerabilities within the U.S. network allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent future attacks.
Email: prabakar@cis.fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-2033

Selcuk Uluagac
Associate Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Uluagac is a cybersecurity professor who currently leads the Cyber-Physical Systems Security Lab (CSL).
His research focuses on cybersecurity and privacy with an emphasis on its practical and applied aspects.
Email: suluagac@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-3710

Political Science

Brian Fonseca
Director
Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Fonseca serves as the institute’s technical expert for national security and foreign policy. He has been featured in local and national media analyzing the 2016 U.S. general elections. He joined FIU after serving as the senior research manager for socio-cultural analysis at United States Southern Command. Fonseca holds degrees in international business and international relations from FIU and has attended Sichuan University in Chengdu, China and the National Defense University in Washington D.C. From 1997 to 2004, he served in the United States Marine Corps and facilitated the training of foreign military forces in both hostile theaters and during peacetime operations.
Office: 305-348-7420
Cell: 305-218-6323
Email: fonsecab@fiu.edu

Randy Pestana
Assistant Director
Research and Strategic Initiatives
Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Pestana specializes in international relations with a focus on U.S. foreign policy, electoral politics, global security and U.S.-Latin American relations. His work examines governance and security in the Western Hemisphere including U.S. national security strategy, civil-military relations and rule of law. Pestana is charged with leading the Gordon Institute’s 2016 Presidential Election coverage and has conducted numerous interviews with both local and national media. Pestana is an adjunct professor for the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs and the Honors College. He holds an M.A. in Latin American and Caribbean Studies with a graduate certificate in National Security Studies from FIU.
Office: 305-348-0114
Email: rpestana@fiu.edu

Russia

Tatiana Kostadinova
Professor
Politics and International Relations
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Kostadinova’s research and teaching interests include Central and Eastern European political institutions with a special emphasis on elections, electoral systems and electoral behavior; institutional reform; democratic transition; political corruption; comparative public policy; and public support for foreign policies. Kostadinova’s book Political Corruption in Eastern Europe: Politics After Communism(2012) analyzes the emergence of corruption as a major obstacle to successful democratic transition. Kostadinova teaches undergraduate courses in Russian and Eastern European politics, electoral behavior, and research methods, and graduate courses in institutional choice, democratic transitions, political parties, and advanced research. She has also conducted field work in Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia. Kostadinova has authored and co-authored articles, book chapters and book reviews. Kostadinova can talk about U.S. diplomatic relations with Russia. She is fluent in English, Bulgarian and Russian.
Office: 305-348-4493

David Kramer
Senior Fellow
Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Kramer is an internationally known expert on Russia and U.S.-Russia relations, the Ukraine and human rights, Kramer is the former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor under President George W. Bush. Kramer is available to speak on all aspects of U.S. foreign policy toward Russia, including Russian cyberattacks, the spread of “fake news,” and Russian military intervention in Ukraine, Crimea and Syria. He has written extensively for The Washington Post, Politico, Foreign Policy and The American Interest.
Office: 305-348-7266
Email: david.kramer@fiu.edu

Hello world! Meet the Heather crab

JoAnn Adkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:30:00 -0500

Heather Bracken-Grissom is having a crabalicious holiday season!

She was initially asked by Darryl L. Felder, her advisor from her Ph.D. days at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, to provide a DNA sequence for a little hermit crab discovered in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. Less than an inch long and occupying hollow pieces of coral and other rock, the species is easily overlooked. But for someone who has worked on the National Science Foundation’s Decapod Tree of Life project, providing a DNA sequence for this little hermit crab was not a problem.

Felder sent Bracken-Grissom a leg from the only sample of the species ever collected. She extracted DNA from the muscle tissue and sent the sequence back to Felder. That’s when he called to tell her he was planning to name the species Cancellus heatherae. Actually, he said he had been planning to name it after her all along — a way to honor Brakcen-Grissom’s extensive contributions to molecular phylogenetic studies of decapod crustaceans, including works focused on hermit crabs populating the Gulf of Mexico.

“I’m totally content and super happy,” Bracken-Grissom said. “Long after I die, I’m going to be known in hermit crab form, which is awesome. Having a species named after you is the ultimate honor. To have it done by your role models, I can’t even describe how honored I feel.”

The single sample — a female — was discovered among fragments of rhodoliths and small sponges dredged from an outer continental shelf bank in the northwestern Gulf. The actual reef where the specimen was collected is known as a mesophotic reef, meaning a middle area where light is limited. Bracken-Grissom says these are exciting areas to search for new biodiversity as scientists embark on deeper dives.

To the untrained eye, the tiny crab might have been mistaken for a mud shrimp, especially since it was not sporting a stereotypical hermit crab shell. It was sent for identification to Felder who was not fooled and recognized the tiny creature for what it was — a new species of hermit crab. The seasoned biologist worked with Rafael Lemaitre, curator of Crustacea at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History and expert in hermit crab biology, to author the formal description. They recently published their findings in Zootaxa.

Small in stature and with festive coloring, Cancellus heatherae features several minor anatomical differences from other members of the genus Cancellus and is only named on the basis of a single specimen, due to the depth at which it was discovered. That specimen now resides at the Smithsonian along with 100,000 other decapod specimens collected during Felder’s 40-year career at UL Lafayette. The retired professor donated them along with his research notes, photographs and electronic database to aid future crustacean research. The single Cancellus heatherae specimen serves as the permanent record for the description and name of the new species.

Though Bracken-Grissom has a long career ahead of her, she’s already accomplished many things scientists only dream about. The marine evolutionary biologist is the first to identify an unknown species of monster larva as a shrimp and was part of an international team that captured the first-ever video of a giant squid in U.S. waters. She was recently named the associate director of the Coastlines and Oceans Division in FIU’s Institute of Environment and is the North American governor for The Crustacean Society, an international academic society. And now, she’ll be forever immortalized thanks to a tiny hermit crab taking up residence in the Gulf of Mexico.

Many deep-sea creatures have organs all over their bodies that emit light. Now scientists believe these same organs can actually see.

The organs, called photophores, cannot see shapes but FIU marine scientist Heather Bracken-Grissom says they are capable of detecting light. She led a research team that took a closer look at these luminous organs in deep-sea shrimp.

While the shrimp have eyes, the photophores appear to work as extraocular photoreceptors allowing these animals to detect and respond to light outside ocular tissues.

“We were looking for proteins that are known to be light sensitive, and we found them in the photophores,” said Danielle DeLeo, a co-author of the study and post-doctoral researcher in Bracken-Grissom’s lab. “For the first time in deep-sea invertebrates, we are seeing that these light-emitting organs are light-sensitive.”

Bioluminescence is the production of light by living creatures and most commonly found in the dark depths of the ocean. By mimicking natural light from above, animals can match their backgrounds and hide their appetizing silhouettes from predators below — a form of camouflage called counterillumination.

Many of these deep-sea animals participate in the largest migration on the planet, a daily vertical ascent from the deep sea to shallow water to feed. During the journey, they adjust their camouflage to both the progression of day to night and the varying degrees of light intensity throughout the water column.

It has long been known that photophores play a critical role in counterillumination as the structures that emit light. However, with new evidence that these structures can also detect light, Bracken-Grissom says scientists are now reconsidering the role photophores play in an organism's ability to counterilluminate and survive in the deep sea. The research team suggests photophore photosensitivity may provide the shrimp with sight beyond their own eyes and serve as a mechanism for fine-tuning light emissions during counterillumination.

“Our study raises the exciting possibility that light organ photosensitivity is present across diverse groups, and should be investigated in other bioluminescent animals,” Bracken-Grissom said. “Because light organs can be found within several lineages across the animal Tree of Life, results from this study have the potential to reach far beyond our model system.”

The study was co-authored by researchers from the University of Hawaii and Nova Southeastern University. The findings were published this week in Scientific Reports.

FIU marine sciences professor Heather Bracken-Grissom

Researchers have for the first time traced the roots of crabs, lobsters and shrimp to create the family tree of crustaceans people love to eat.

The tree shows the 450-million-year evolution of these 10-legged decapods, when lobsters and crabs each diversified from a single evolutionary origin. Groups of shrimp evolved earlier.

The findings are part of a massive family tree project where researchers resolved the deep evolutionary relationships between crabs, shrimp and lobsters. The discoveries made by analyzing more than 400 genes from 94 species could also inform conservation policies to ensure their longevity.

“Understanding the origins of biodiversity across half a billion years in groups that are extremely ecologically and economically important is fascinating,” said FIU marine sciences professor Heather Bracken-Grissom, the anchor author of the study. “This is extremely important since studying and preserving biodiversity needs to be at the forefront of our efforts in the biological sciences and across humanity”

The boom of diversification for crabs, lobsters and shrimp may coincide with the spread of modern reef-building corals, Bracken-Grissom said. It is possible the emergence of reef-building corals provided new habits for decapods to colonize and diversify, leading to the emergence of several new lineages after the mass extinction of life on Earth 250 million years ago.

While the study produced the largest amount of genetic information about decapods, more work remains to be done including the addition of more species to better understand species-level relationships. The researchers hope the newly generated genomic resources will be used by others interested in decapod crustaceans for years to come.

“When we started this work in 2013, most studies that looked at the evolutionary relationships of decapods were based on physical traits, and the genetic work that had been done was very limited in scope,” said lead author Jo Wolfe, a post-doctoral researcher at Harvard University and former Gerstner Scholar at the American Museum of Natural History. “It was challenging to jump into this project on such an ancient and species-rich lineage without relying on the experience of others.”

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The work is part of the Decapod Tree of Life project, an initiative aimed at uncovering the relationships of crab, lobster and shrimp across their hundreds of millions of years on the planet.

Alumnae create sustainable, reusable cutlery line to ease pandemic anxiety

Tatianna Basanta — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

Following months of quarantine and a citywide lockdown, alumna Margie Stein '14 finally braved visiting restaurants this past summer, only to discover she felt admittedly uncomfortable. After taking a look at her surroundings, she realized she was not the only one.

Stein noticed dozens of restaurant patrons elected to eat outside and use their own plastic utensils instead of risking the restaurant-supplied silverware. She also noticed that most of those plastic utensils ended up strewed along the grass, instead of tossed in the garbage—polluting the environment.

So, amidst the pandemic, public relations graduate Stein addressed a critical need in the community by teaming up with her best friend, business partner and psychology graduate Nataly Neuman '14 to create travel-friendly and sustainable cutlery sets that can be taken anywhere.

After four months of brainstorming, creating and testing, Stein and Neuman officially launched NAMAR, their easy, on-the-go, personal and sustainable cutlery line, in November 2020.

And since their launch last month, Stein and Neuman have already received and filled more than 200 orders.

Stein and Neuman note that the compact sets and branding set NAMAR apart from other sustainable cutlery sets on the market.

"We really want to shift the perspective of how people look at sustainability. We want to convey the message that sustainability can be luxurious," Stein says.

"More importantly, we want to inform people that single-use plastic is harming our planet and that making one small change, such as using NAMAR cutlery sets rather than plastic, can make a big difference," Neuman adds.

NAMAR cutlery sets come in four different colors—pink skies, purple fields, sand dune nude and sea foam green—and equipped with a reusable fork, spoon and pair of chopsticks that can "literally fit in your back pocket."

According to Stein and Neuman, the lack of a knife in the set makes NAMAR kid and travel friendly and allows customers to be at ease using them without feeling like they are carrying a weapon.

Each set is made from 100 percent natural wheat straw.

Stein and Neuman said they chose wheat straw as the material because it's biodegradable, reusable, recyclable, gluten-free, strong and serves as nutrients to the soil when it decomposes.

The colors of each NAMAR cutlery set serve to highlight the "gorgeous aesthetics of the planet."

"Our sand dune nude set represents our beautiful deserts. Our pink skies set reminds us to appreciate each sunset that we experience. Our seafoam green set is dedicated to keeping our oceans clean and plastic-free. And our purple fields set urges us to keep our air clean enough to grow endless fields of flowers," Stein says.

Although they come from different degrees and backgrounds, Stein and Neuman believe this ultimately allowed them to bring their own unique and valuable perspectives to NAMAR and help grow the brand.

Stein says her degree in public relations taught her all about effective communication, which she then used to garner media coverage for the brand on outlets like Forbes. And Neuman used what she learned from her psychology degree to create the marketing and branding of NAMAR.

"There is an intense psychological component to marketing a business or creating a successful brand," Neuman says. "In its essence, branding is the process of designing a campaign to induce popularity and loyalty among customers. In order to do this, one must understand the psychology of the audience, giving you the ability to entice consumers who will mentally connect and relate to your brand's identity."

NAMAR is available for shipping in the United States and Canada and a portion of the proceeds for each purchased cutlery set goes to Feeding America.

Learn more about NAMAR or to purchase a set.

Winter 2020 Class Notes

Contributing Writer — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 11:45:00 -0500

1970s

Hope Jacobson '77, MS '85, EdD '98 was awarded the Bill Crutchfield Award For Outstanding and Distinguished Service from Special Olympics FL. She has been a volunteer with the organization since 1974 in a wide range of roles, including coaching athletes, teaching in the Athlete Leadership University (Academy), and fundraising and facilitating community-based programs. She also was a coordinator for Athlete Leadership Miami. Now retired from Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), she is currently an adjunct professor in FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences and Education and works as a substitute teacher for MDCPS.

1990s

Carmen Cruz ’92, ’93 was named the first Latinx president of the Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies. In February of 2020, Cruz also received a national multicultural award, the Janet E. Helms Award for Mentoring and Scholarship from Columbia University, and was invited to do a keynote for the longest standing multicultural psychology conference in the U.S.

Jennifer Cohen ’93 has been selected as the 2020 Florida American Mother of the Year, an award established by American Mother’s, Inc. A single mom and a lifelong animal advocate, Cohen has devoted her life to helping people and animals in need. She became a professional fundraiser after a successful career as a publicist, and has raised millions of dollars for a variety of organizations. After her twin daughters (now in their teens) were born 10 weeks premature, she started a nonprofit agency and raised money to donate an incubator to the NICU at the hospital that saved her daughters.

Alex F. Vicencio ’97, a financial advisor and the managing director of investments at the Vicencio Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in Miami, was recognized as a 2020 Best in State Wealth Advisor by Forbes Magazine. Vicencio has more than 20 years of experience and has been sought out by media outlets such as CNN, USA Today and Wall Street Journal for his expertise.

Natalie Boden ’99 was selected as a visionary honoree by Ragan’s international Top Women in Communications Awards. Boden is the president and founder of a communications agency bearing her last name. Her thought leadership guides the agency and helps companies including Target, McDonald's, Delta Dental and United Healthcare continue to drive conversation, build community and inspire cultural leadership. She has previously been named one of PR Week’s 2014 “Top 40 under 40” Heavy Hitters and received the 2017 PR News Game Changer award as well as FIU’s Distinguished Alumni Torch Award in 2015.

2000s

Justin Pane ’02 was recently appointed as the director of the Multi-Mission Operations Center (MMOC) at NASA Ames Research Center. Justin served as the acting MMOC director since September 2019 and the MMOC deputy director since October 2018. During this time, he has led "NASA's Mission Control in Silicon Valley" by providing ready-to-use facilities, networks, IT equipment, software, system administration and engineering support for operating spacecraft in flight. He is a 2015 recipient of NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal. He received a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from FIU.

Vanesssa Valle '04, an alumna of the FIU College of Arts, Sciences & Education, was named the Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2021 Francisco R. Walker Teacher of the Year. She is the 20th FIU alumnus to receive the award since 1973.

Tony Lopez MS ’05, who is the deputy town manager of the Town of Miami Lakes, was recognized as part of South Florida Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Class of 2020. He was also selected to be part of Leadership Florida’s Connect class for th 2020-2021 program year. Leadership Florida Connect is the state’s only leadership program that spans industry boundaries and focuses solely on developing Florida’s existing and emerging leaders.

Javier Casabona ‘06 has been promoted to director in the audit department at the nationally recognized public accounting firm MBAF’s Miami office. Casabona specializes in auditing real estate and hospitality organizations under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and his extensive experience includes hotels, casinos, commercial and residential real estate, among others.

Vanessa Duran ’06, ’20 is the principal at DCC Accounting. Through her visionary leadership, this March the company celebrated its 10^th year working with small to mid-size businesses and growing startups in South Florida, as well as nationally. A financial executive with experience in business consulting and entrepreneurship, financial analysis, accounting and tax services, she leads a team of professionals in providing services including small business accounting and bookkeeping to young professionals establishing businesses.

As one of the winners of the Knight Art Challenge, Sterling Rook ’09, MA ’17 was awarded with a $15,000 matching grant by the Knight Foundation for his project, “The Miami Rope Bridges.” The project features a fiber-art installation of a rope bridge made from recycled fabrics. The bridge was created in the style of 500-year-old traditional, indigenous Peruvian rope bridge-builders and was created collaboratively through a series of participatory fiber-art workshops and presentations that built community among the creators.

2010s

Aaron M. Abelto '10 was recently featured as the head director/writer on Hollywood News Deadline. His latest documentary, “The Power of Movement,” was picked up by Entertainment Studios, a major a broadcasting company in Los Angeles, CA. It aired in 200 countries. He is the co-founder of Able 2 Film Entertainment based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, which recently won the 2020 Media Innovator Awards from Corporate Vision.

Chris Villalta '12 joined SV Designs, a Massachusetts-based firm, as an architectural designer. The company provides design services to residential multi-family and commercial spaces.

Brenda Baddam ’14 was awarded with the State of New York 40 under 40 Rising Star Award for 2020. As an attorney at Barclay Damon, she was also named one of the best lawyers to watch for in commercial litigation in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Most recently, she became the Assistant Attorney General at the Office of the New York State Attorney General.

Shantay Bolton MBA ’14 was promoted to the position of deputy chief operating officer at Tulane University. In her role, she oversees the human resources and enterprise risk functions and contributes to the delivery of Tulane's strategic initiatives by working in partnership with multiple cross-institutional teams.

Amanda Garcia Alpizar ’15 has been promoted to the position of Manager of Travel Management at the University of Miami. Prior to this role, she was the marketing specialist for University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and the catering sales manager at Zoo Miami. Amanda is also completing her masters in international administration at UM, continues to dedicate time to work at Zoo Miami and volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Janice Betti '18 was promoted to account executive at The Conroy Martinez Group, a full-service, bilingual public relations, marketing and social media agency based in Miami. In her role, she handles media and marketing campaigns on behalf of clients in the trade and logistics, hospitality, real estate and non-profit industries.

A major in the Miami-Dade Police Department, Brian Rafky '19, headed security efforts for Super Bowl LIV earlier this year. He was at the helm of the joint operations center, intelligence operations and emergency operations center for the big game. He says his education in the master’s program in disaster management helped him prepare for the mammoth task.

In Memoriam

Professor Emerita and founding faculty member Lynn Berk taught in the Department of English for three decades. She served in numerous roles, including as an assistant professor, the assistant dean of the then-College of Arts and Sciences, chair of the English Department and director of the linguistics program. She also served on the Faculty Senate and was among the most active members of the faculty union, serving as the United Faculty of Florida Grievance Chair for a number of years. She also authored a successful graduate level textbook on syntax as well as three novels set in the Canadian Yukon Territory.

Professor Emeritus and founding faculty member Barry Greenberg was a passionate educator. He joined FIU in 1973 as a founding faculty member in the newly formed Department of Education and Psychological Studies in the College of Education. For almost 50 years, he was involved in research and evaluation of the efficacy of educational programs. His work took him from the Bahamas to Oxford University and many places in-between. He also served in leadership roles at FIU, including as the assistant provost and president of the Faculty Senate. He retired in 2006 but continued to be involved in the medical field as an entrepreneur and returned to FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine as a research scholarship course coordinator from 2011-2014.

John B. Jensen, professor in the Department of Modern Languages, came to FIU in 1978. Throughout the years, he taught courses in linguistics, Portuguese, Spanish, literature, translation and interpretation and served as chair of the department of Modern Languages. He is the author or translator of 16 books, more than 50 journal articles and chapters and over 100 academic lectures. A world-class conference interpreter, he participated in over 400 high-level international conferences spanning the diplomatic, political, legal, financial, technical and health care fields. From 2001 to 2006, he co-directed the State of Florida Interpreter Services Program under a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement. He retired from FIU in 2010.

Professor Emeritus Kuldeep Kumar, came to FIU in 1999 and dedicated 15 years to the university. He taught in the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics at the College of Business. In addition to his service at FIU, he was a distinguished research scientist in IITM and Professor of Business Process Sourcing at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. He was also visiting professor at the City University of Hong Kong, and more recently was a senior advisor to the Singapore University of Technology and Design. He was a tenured professor of information systems at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University; the Netherlands; and Georgia State University. He also served on the faculty of engineering management at the University of Waterloo. He retired from FIU in 2014.

Professor Emeritus in psychology William Kurtines joined FIU in 1973. He was a tireless mentor for many students and a prolific writer, publishing more than 100 journal articles, book chapters and books. With his colleagues, he helped to create a couple of master’s degree programs in psychology, which were two of the first five graduate degree programs approved for FIU by the State Board of Regents. Together with colleagues at FIU and at the University of Miami, he was also awarded numerous grants from organizations including the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Mental Health, to support research programs on interventions for children and youth. He retired from FIU in 2012. Before starting his academic career, he served in the U.S Army and was deployed to Vietnam in 1967, where he served as an Infantry Platoon Leader in the 4th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions during the Tet Offensive in 1968.

Emeritus Professor and founding faculty member Barry B. Levine came to FIU in 1972. He became the first chair of the then-department of Sociology and Anthropology, where he taught sociology until his retirement in 2007. He was also a founder of FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Center. He was the author of five books including, Reflections on a Puerto Rican Life, which was hailed as a "masterpiece" in Newsweek magazine by Yale historian Robert Ferris Thompson. In addition, he founded Caribbean Review, a bi-monthly journal that was widely circulated and was a finalist for the National Magazine Award in 1981.

John C. Makemson, professor of biological sciences in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, started at FIU in 1978. He was chair of the Department of Biological Sciences from 1985 to 1988. During his tenure at FIU, he spent a year at the University of Bahrain as a Fulbright Scholar and took a two-year leave to serve as coordinator and professor at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman to start a new college of marine science. Once back at FIU, he served another term as chair of the department and eventually became the undergraduate program director. He also served as a faculty scholar with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in 2012 and 2013, after which he launched the HHMI SEA PHAGES program at FIU. He was devoted to that program even after he retired in 2018. The Department of Biological Sciences has set up a scholarship in his name to support biology undergraduates who have taken biochemistry.

Professor Emeritus of art history Juan A. Martínez came to FIU in 1990 and for more than two decades, helped carve out a future for the Department of Art + Art History in the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts, where he eventually served as chair of the department. In addition to teaching numerous courses, he also helped create the foundation for scholarly work about Cuban art at FIU. A prolific writer and scholar, in 1994, Martínez published Cuban Art & National Identity: The Vanguardia Painters 1927-1950, the first book to examine the art of the Vanguardia painters. He also authored Maria Brito, which won first place in the Best Arts Book category at the 11th Annual International Latin Book Awards in 2010. He presented at numerous international conferences and inspired a generation of artists and scholars. He retired from FIU in 2013.

William G. McMinn, founding dean of the FIU School of Architecture, now part of the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts, was a widely respected educator, architect and mentor for students and faculty. He dedicated almost 50 years to architectural education at seven universities and served as president of the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). At FIU, McMinn incorporated pre-professional undergraduate programs in architectural studies and interior design as well as various graduate programs in related areas. Under his leadership, the professional program in architecture earned full accreditation by the NAAB. He was also instrumental in shepherding the design and construction of the award-winning Paul L. Cejas School of Architecture building at MMC. He retired from FIU in 2004 and in 2006 received the Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education.

Aurora Morcillo, professor of history of Modern Europe/Spain in the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, came to FIU in 2002. She served as the associate director of the Women’s Studies Center and in 2014 went on to create the Spanish and Mediterranean Studies Program, of which she served as director. She was an internationally known expert on the history of gender in modern Europe, with a focus on Spain during the Franco era. She published various books on the topic and her research was funded by Erasmus Mundus, the Mellon Foundation and the Spanish Ministry of Culture, among others. In 2018 she was a visiting fellow at Exeter College, Oxford. An endowment to support graduate students studying abroad in Spain (with the goal of promoting gender and women’s issues) has been established in her honor through the Department of History.

Bethany Reeb-Sutherland, associate professor of psychology in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and an affiliate in the Center for Children and Families, arrived at FIU in 2012 as director of the Brain and Behavioral Development Lab. Her research focused on the relations between early learning and social behaviors from infancy through childhood. She published more than 45 articles on these topics in leading developmental and child clinical psychology journals and was the editor of various journals or special issues. She was also the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on numerous NIH grants totaling more than $10 million, and received accolades including the 2017 Early Career Impact Award from the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences. At her family’s request, an Ignite account will be established in her name to honor her passion for helping students in need.

Wayne E. Robinson Jr. was an associate professor at the Department of Theatre. During his time at FIU, he chaired numerous committees and directed 27 theater productions for FIU Theatre including Gypsy, Twelfth Night, Glengarry Glen Ross, And Then There Were None, and Anna in the Tropics. In 2014, he was named the head of the Performance Program. His professional career included acting and directing in over 40 theatre productions in Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami. In South Florida, he worked with New Theatre, White Rose Miami, Shakespeare Miami, Alliance Theatre Lab, One Minute Play Festival and Outre Theatre.

Ernest George Simms, the inaugural assistant vice provost of Student Access and Success, came to FIU as associate vice president for Pre-Collegiate and Minority Student Services and associate professor in the College of Education in 1991. He was instrumental in designing and implementing many of FIU’s programs to promote diversity and access, and was a leader in this area nationally, serving as the executive director for the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Science and Engineering, Inc. In 1992, he served as the principal investigator for the first FIU awarded TRIO Upward Bound grant. He was also one of the founding members of the FIU Black Employee Association as well as of hallmark FIU celebrations, including the MLK Celebration and the annual Children’s Holiday Celebration. He taught undergraduate and graduate classes, holding the ranks of assistant and associate professor in higher education over the years. He retired in 2016.

Letter from the editor: Goodbye, 2020! Hello, 2021!

Alexandra Pecharich — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 11:35:00 -0500

2020! A year most people want to forget!

And while it certainly has been one filled with hardship and pain, I choose to focus on the good—the many ways in which the Panther nation rose to the challenges.

We had our share of losses, both personal and otherwise, as we dealt with an unrelenting pandemic that has affected every corner. At the same time, we demonstrated a resilience that has been part of the FIU spirit from day one. I want to celebrate that collective show of determination and innovation even as we honor the sacrifices and disappointments that so many in our university community and beyond have experienced.

To remind us of what we are capable in trying times, I share a brief list of Why I Am Grateful in 2020. Certainly there is much more to add—the support of my family, for one—but let these be prompts to creating your own list and remembering what NOT to forget as we leave this year behind.

I am grateful for:

Panthers willing to take on the hard jobs. As social unrest shook our nation, new leaders emerged to help our university and community frame a fairer future for all.

Students who continue to look forward with hope and motivation. They made their own opportunities, be they business or journalism majors.

Faculty who help us understand. Whether a director in the Green School of International & Public Affairs warning and teaching about cyberthreats or a professor encouraging Honors College students to connect with local Black history, they open our eyes and minds every day.

Alumni who make a difference. True leaders step up with little fanfare but always for the good of others, as did one FIU graduate who is fighting for the health of his fellow citizens in Africa.

Champions of those in need. The professional staff and faculty that support and create programming that provides the developmentally disabled with training and education to enhance their quality of life do it out of love.

Research that’s changing the world. The super-cool marine biologists in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education are leading the charge to save endangered species of shark.

Community members who support our FIU. Board of Trustees chairman Dean Colson is just one of the many who have the university’s interests at heart.

And I am grateful for you, our ever-growing community of FIU alumni—to which we added more than 16,000 new members in 2020, all of them via virtual graduation.

I wish you and your loved ones a happy, safe, prosperous and healthy New Year!

Sincerely,

Alexandra Pecharich
Editor

Message from President Mark B. Rosenberg: 2020—Gone but not forgotten!

Contributing Writer — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 11:30:00 -0500

As I reflect on this unforgettable year, I am reminded of an Asian proverb that perhaps encapsulates the challenges brought by 2020: “One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.”

Indeed, we are reminded on the last day of 2020 that this global pandemic has tested our patience in ways once thought to be unexpected. At first, many of us believed this pandemic would only last a brief moment —perhaps a couple of weeks, at most. As it now drags past 10 months, we are all weary from the intense challenges to our personal lives, our families, our community, our nation and the world. This lethal disease has shaped and re-shaped our lives on a moment-by-moment basis.

But, upon further reflection, I can assure you that our community has been resilient and has developed strategies to get things done, no matter the challenges. Here are 10 moments I believe have taught us important lessons.

The growing disbelief that we would need to evacuate our campuses and initiate massive remote learning. Takeaway: We are big, but we are nimble.
The emptiness of our campuses as life retreated to the confines of private households and off-campus dwellings. Takeaway: There is more than one way to learn and work.
The hardship and anguish experienced by countless staffers – who are also parents - as they were forced to confront the challenges of home-schooling. Takeaway: We are exhausted, and some days, just logging on to our virtual class or Zoom meeting is enough.
The hundreds if not thousands of messages from hard-working students striving to continue their studies even as their families suffered lay-offs and other financial losses. Takeaway: There’s no shame in reaching out and asking for help.
The heartbreak caused to our student-athletes who all hit a wall when their seasons were abruptly cancelled, and their teams disbanded. Takeaway: There are times we must set aside our wishes for the health and safety of the greater good.
The shocking realization that we would NOT have in-person graduations to celebrate the milestone accomplishments of thousands of students. Takeaway: It’s okay to grieve for moments lost but that does not detract from the accomplishment.
The disappointment and anger and resulting new-found civil rights energy in the midst of the pandemic over the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others. Takeaway: Systemic racism still exists, and we must each work to ensure dignity, inclusion and equal opportunity for all.
The images of our new residence hall rising from the ground despite these difficulties - our statement of optimism and resilience for our future. Takeaway: Even in the most trying of times, there are moments of progress and joy.
The happy faces of family members and the countless photos taken at our Fall graduation caravan celebration in late November. Takeaway: It’s about the achievement and emotion of the moment, not the venue.
The juxtaposition of the ongoing pain of rising casualties due to the pandemic against the positive stories of so many of our graduates. Takeaway: Our happiness in this world is not guaranteed. Work hard. Be grateful. Make a difference.

Even with these elements of memory that frame 2020, we are still left with the need to be incredibly vigilant about our own health and well-being and that of our families as we look ahead into 2021. We must maintain our patience for a gradual and planful ascension of a new normal that enables us to resume our lives – better and stronger for the horrible experiences that have challenged us and the memories - good and bad - that we will carry with us forever.

Sincerely,

Mark B. Rosenberg
President

Student society of physics chapter receives recognition for its dedication, outreach

Ashley Garcia — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0500

The FIU Society of Physics Students (SPS) Chapter was recently recognized as a 2019-2020 Outstanding Chapter by the SPS National Council. This is the eighth time in the last nine years that the chapter has received the award.

SPS is a professional association explicitly designed for students and their advisers. Membership, through collegiate chapters, is open to anyone interested in physics. The objective of the FIU SPS chapter is to “stimulate interest in the subject of physics and create an environment for the academic and social growth of the students therein, as well as get involved in the greater community of the Miami-Dade and Broward counties and encourage science and physics among underclassmen.”

Dylan Jeff, the current FIU SPS president, is pursuing a physics degree and expects to graduate in Spring 2021. He’s been a member of the chapter since his freshman year.

“The club helps forge friendships and a sense of camaraderie, especially since so many members are studying physics. SPS fosters a sense of community amongst its members, using our passion for physics as the driving force of our efforts,” he says.

The chapter interacts with the FIU community through social events such as game nights and meets and greets with professors, informative sessions such as lectures by researchers or professors, and talent development events such as resume writing workshops.

The chapter is also active in the wider community and frequently performs outreach events, such as attending a science night hosted by a local high school, where members talked to the students about college and STEM careers and held physics demonstrations.

Members of the chapter also have the opportunity to travel to national physics conferences, with the chapter covering travel, admission and food expenses, so that students can explore groundbreaking research and create connections with a global audience of physicists, scientists, and students.

Jeff believes the club serves as an inspiration to both its members and to those members of the public with whom they communicate.

“We show those around us how accessible and applicable physics is. It’s not the type of knowledge someone can master in a day or a year," he says. "It's knowledge someone must nurture and develop over time. We bring each other up by setting examples for each other. Whether it be by our own personal success, the research we do, or the tutoring and study sessions we host, we make sure all our members are aware of their potential and have the resources needed to reach that potential."

Pete Markowitz—assistant dean of the Honors College, physics professor and a member of the Office to Advance Women, Equity & Diversity faculty team—has long served as the club’s mentor and believes the chapter will continue to grow and continue to be deserving of the award.

“FIU students really are exceptionally active and interested in their futures," Markowitz says. The activity of the SPS shows their level of engagement. Their outreach, campus activities, the speakers they bring in, their conference travel, tutoring, social events, and all the other things they do are what makes them successful.”

FIU delivers toys to elementary school children

Morgan Hughes — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 16:00:00 -0500

FIU delivered laptops, bikes, and other toys to Miami-Dade elementary school students on Thursday, Dec. 17.

This is the 29th year that FIU has given students at low-income schools surprises for the holidays while celebrating their academic achievements. Typically the FIU Children’s Holiday Celebration takes place at the university, but it went virtual this year because of COVID-19.

Three students from Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary and Jesse J. McCrary Elementary received laptops donated by Office Depot, while Walmart and FIU provided bikes and other toys for students selected by their principals. The selected students also participated in a virtual celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 15 with President Mark B. Rosenberg, FIU’s mascot Roary, and Santa Claus.

The students were third, fourth, and fifth graders from Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary School, Scott Lake Elementary School, Arch Creek Elementary School, Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, Frederick Douglass Elementary School, Liberty City Elementary School, Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School, Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary and Toussaint L’Ouverture Elementary School.

Systems that use AI to match medications with patients can reduce prescription costs, FIU Business study reveals

Cynthia Corzo — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 15:00:00 -0500

As a result of rising medication costs, patients often stop following medical treatment plans and fail to get better. Without detailed information, medical practitioners can do little to help.

A recommender system, an emerging tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to identify a medication that matches health care goals with the patient’s budget, could help solve the issue on both fronts, according to new research from FIU Business.

Recommender systems are used extensively in e-commerce to give consumers suggestions for products similar to those they’ve bought in the past. The study found a general tendency among medical practitioners to reduce healthcare costs by prescribing lower-cost medications with similar outcomes to their patients when price information was provided by a recommender system.

“The idea is to give recommendations and price information to the providers at the time the prescription is issued so they pick what’s best for their patient,” said Lina Bouayad, associate professor of information systems and business analytics at FIU Business and one of the researchers. “This is relevant because if the patient can’t afford the medicine, they won’t take it and won’t get well.”

Published in the December 2020 issue of Management Information Systems Quarterly, the research consisted of two controlled experiments and one interview-based survey. A total of 160 practicing physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants participated in the study.

In the experiments, medical practitioners were presented with six cases of fictional patients that included patient information and associated medication lists. As doctors prescribed medications, the recommender system showed—in real-time—alternative medications and their corresponding prices.

Researchers analyzed the impact of various cost-aware recommender systems on prescription-choice behavior, including how time constraints on practitioners affect the use of such cost-aware systems and the effect of practitioner experience on the evaluation and adoption of cost-aware recommendations in clinical settings.

“Physician assistants and nurse practitioners always switched to the lower-cost option. Their behavior, however, changed under high time pressure,” Bouayad said. “By contrast, physicians, with more experience dealing with time pressure, were not impacted.”

Bouayad conducted the research with professors Balaji Padmanabhan of the University of South Florida and Kaushal Chari of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Got my first job! Working as a software engineer at Oracle Cloud

Contributing Writer — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:15:00 -0500

Name: Calvin Mark

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Degree/major: Bachelor of Science in computer science with a minor in physics

Where are you working? Title? Oracle/Oracle Cloud, software engineer

How did you get your job? I met a recruiter at the FIU career fair this fall, and she invited me to interview with Oracle Cloud. A few weeks later, I was thrilled to receive a job offer to join the Oracle Cloud team as a software engineer. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to working with and learning from everyone on this team. I am also grateful to my recruiter, who made the process so easy.

What was your greatest fear going into your first job, and how did you face it or overcome it? Initially, I was concerned about feeling overwhelmed. Despite being such a large company, however, Oracle has been incredibly intentional in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. I have thoroughly enjoyed the onboarding process. I am now focused on the work and all I am learning. I am very grateful for this opportunity.

What surprised you the most about your first job? I am in awe of the work culture Oracle has created for its employees during a global pandemic. Before joining the team, I wondered how they would go about successfully onboarding someone like me in this role. I found it hard to even imagine doing what I do from a remote setting, but the Oracle team stepped up and did a remarkable job during some very challenging times to ensure an engaging and productive work environment for all its employees—new and tenured.

What advice do you have for those beginning the job search process? I believe companies want to hire well-rounded individuals. Excelling at your coursework is important, but it is just as important to get involved outside of the classroom. Networking is also incredibly important. I would advise students to join a club, volunteer or get involved in research opportunities in their respective fields, especially STEM students. There are plenty of opportunities to network and build relationships. Focus on making industry connections and create a strong resume. Seek out internships as soon as possible. Aim to get as many real-world experiences outside of the classroom as you can. Internships look amazing on your resume. Finally, leverage FIU’s career services. They helped me land my first job.

What does a day on the job look like? Presently, I am focused on onboarding at Oracle. Once I have fully transitioned into my role as a software engineer, I will be working within AI services, facilitating the deployment of ML models to be used throughout Oracle’s enterprise cloud.

How does your job connect back to your coursework? The courses I took that covered applications and theory in databases and data structures provided me with a solid foundation in computer science. I also took a cloud computing course during my last semester, which helped me understand not only how cloud computing works but the immense business aspect behind it. Finally, my coursework in linear algebra and experience in physics labs taught me how to best approach research and mathematical modeling.

How was your transition from school to work? How do you balance your time? Given most of us are still working remotely, I was able to accept this position while remaining in my hometown of Miami. There are challenges related to working with others in different time zones. Since I am still in Miami, my workdays do start a little later, but it has been very manageable. The transition from school to work has been very easy for me. I am still able to do all the things I enjoy while diving into my career headfirst.

What’s been the coolest thing about your job so far? The coolest aspect of working at Oracle so far has been the people. Although we are working remotely and primarily communicating online, Oracle hosts online employee events and activities, which are a blast. It makes us feel less spread out geographically, and it has helped me build a community of peers.

Mark joined the Sustainability, Optimization and Learning for Interdependent networks laboratory (solid lab) at the FIU College of Engineering and Computing as an undergraduate research assistant supported by an Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Scholarships (OURS) Program scholarship. M. Hadi Amini was his mentor, and his research focused on the theory of social dynamics, data analytics and resilient networks.

Mark contributed to multiple research projects while at FIU, including a recent study that explored the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the economy. He also contributed to a project on distributed decision-making algorithms for large-scale critical infrastructures.

FIU awarded $1M jobs initiative grant from Bank of America

Lourdes Perez — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 13:24:00 -0500

Bank of America has partnered with FIU and other universities throughout the United States to help minority students successfully complete the education and training necessary to enter the workforce and embark on a path to success.

FIU received a $1 million grant, part of a $25 million, nationwide initiative that includes partnerships with nearly two dozen community colleges – including Miami Dade College (MDC) - that serve predominately Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino students, public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and public Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). Bank of America also is partnering with and providing funding to the Aspen Institute to convene the participating higher education institutions for technical and programmatic assistance and to share best practices.

“Over the past two years we have created a framework to give our learners the skills they need to enter or get promoted in specific industries. Our framework includes the design and delivery of micro-credentials,” said Elizabeth Bejar, senior vice president for academic and student affairs at FIU. “This grant from Bank of America will allow us to expand our programs and make a transformative impact at a critical time when so many in our community are unemployed or underemployed.”

This year, the bank provided $2,330,000 in grants to nonprofits that are connecting individuals to skills and employment in Miami. The initiative is part of the bank’s recent $1 billion, four-year commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity, and its $25 million commitment to enhance up-skilling and reskilling for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino individuals.

“We understand the important role skills development and training plays in advancing racial equity so students of color can thrive in our community,” said Gene Schaefer, Miami market president for Bank of America. “Bank of America is proud to partner with FIU, MDC and University of Puerto Rico to ensure their students have access to high-quality training that will empower them to pursue opportunities and have a positive impact on economic justice and mobility.”

With the support from Bank of America, FIU will develop or enhance existing programs to help candidates prepare for higher-paying, family-sustaining jobs that are in demand. Bank of America will work alongside the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the official economic development agency for Miami-Dade County, to ensure these programs target specific hiring needs and create a clearly defined career pathway to future employment.

“The investment of partners like Bank of America is essential to driving equitable economic inclusion in any community,” said Michael A. Finney, president and CEO, Miami-Dade Beacon Council. “Working closely with our academic institutions and the private sector to ensure workforce and talent development efforts are forward-thinking and inclusive, it is collaboration and commitments like these that allow us to drive long-term, positive change for Miami-Dade as a whole – starting with underserved Black and Brown talent.”

D.C. update: Alumni are making an impact on Latin American and Caribbean policy

Contributing Writer — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 13:20:00 -0500

There is one clear sign FIU is one of the great public universities in the country: the reach and impact of alumni in the halls of power.

In Washington, D.C., that includes more than 50 alumni working for members of Congress, five currently as chiefs of staff. In any presidential administration, key appointments impacting policy have also been held by many FIU graduates. At last count, nearly 20 have served in high-ranking positions in the Trump administration.

Over the last four years, these alumni have been serving the missions of the White House and Departments of State, Education, Energy, Defense, Homeland Security and the Small Business administration. In many cases, they've also supported their alma mater by opening new doors and helping coordinate a record 15 visits by President Trump and cabinet officials to FIU campuses in Miami and FIU in DC.

The Trump administration twice selected FIU as the venue to convene stakeholders and amplify policies on Latin America and the Caribbean. In June of 2017, the university hosted the Conference on Prosperity and Security and, in February of 2019, President Trump delivered a major address on Venezuela from the arena. In both cases, alumni appointees were instrumental in coordinating the events.

As the presidential transition continues, FIU in Washington, D.C. will take a moment in January to thank these alumni for their service to the country and FIU.

FIU is the university with the largest concentration of faculty, student and alumni professionals focused on Latin America and the Caribbean. The university's research engagements across the region have been supported by such agencies as Departments of Commerce, State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center has maintained its status as a Department of Education Title VI center for nearly 40 years.

Interested in serving your country?

FIU has a rich history of alumni serving in presidential administrations. With the upcoming presidential transition, the FIU alumni network is poised to be of support for alumni who may be transitioning out of the current administration and seeking new opportunities or those seeking appointments in the new administration.

If you're a current Trump administration appointee or you're pursuing an appointment in the Biden administration, contact FIU in DC at fiuindc@fiu.edu and share your career interests and resume.

FIU partners at the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service have launched Ready to Serve, a centralized resource that guides candidates through every step of the process.

The Biden Harris Transition Team and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have also opened resume banks.

Learn more about Ready to Serve.

FIU in Washington, D.C., is an integrated advocacy approach aimed at increasing FIU’s national reputation and federal support for FIU’s preeminent and emerging preeminent programs, faculty and students. The FIU in DC team collaborates with academic units to provide learning experiences and support the placement of students and alumni in internships and permanent employment.

Student-journalists tackle coronavirus, social justice and elections in South Florida

Tatianna Basanta — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 09:50:00 -0500

While working on a news story in Liberty City, during the heart of the pandemic, journalism student Racquel Lewis was sprayed down from head to toe in disinfectant before being allowed to enter the residence of the woman she was interviewing.

The unusual experience took place as she covered a story for FIU’s Department of Journalism + Media’s South Florida Media Network (SFMN), an award-winning student-run online multimedia platform with bureaus in New York City, Washington D.C. and Miami.

The media network showcases the work of journalism students as they cover everything from local to national news.

Washington D.C. SFMN news bureau

The Department of Journalism + Media has about 1,900 enrolled undergraduates and SFMN usually has about 60 journalism students creating and contributing content. Due to the pandemic, only about 20 participated in the the media network.

These who did, however, were in for the experience of a lifetime, reporting during the height of a global pandemic, a national election and a call for social justice that struck the nation all at once. And not only did their stories win national awards, they were also published in local media outlets like the Miami Herald and Miami Times.

COVID-19 coverage

The novel coronavirus pandemic gave journalism students the rare opportunity to report on a virus that has affected millions worldwide. And what arose were compelling, heart-wrenching stories that gave face to the horrors associated with this pandemic that no one could have envisioned.

Student Valeria Venturini covered a story that hit remarkably close to home for her. She told the tale of Françoise Viera, a Venezuelan woman who came to Miami in March to visit her sick father, and due to Venezuela closing its borders to commercial flights, has been stranded in the United States ever since. Because of the pandemic, Françoise Viera was even forced to mourn the death of her father, who died two days after her arrival, all alone.

Venturini had heard about people from other countries who found themselves stranded in the United States as lockdowns and other restrictions went into effect. So, when she met Viera, who hails from Venturini’s own homeland of Venezuela, she knew she had to tell the woman’s story.

“It was really hard learning what people from my home country were going through and experiencing,” Venturini says. “Writing this story gave me a way to give a voice to this family and so many others that are facing similar struggles that we don’t hear enough about.”

Venturini’s work at the media network has not gone unnoticed. Her piece, Far from Home, was published in a growing multimedia platform and she was recently chosen to intern for the Today Show.

Pandemic Profiles, an interactive multimedia piece that won top honors for coronavirus coverage by the Society of Professional Journalism (SPJ)

Recognitions
The South Florida Media Network was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalism (SPJ) for Best Coverage in Campus Coronavirus Coverage. SFMN was awarded the 2020 EPPY Award for Best College Produced Community or Niche Website. Other prominent awards include the Hearst Journalism Award for Breaking News Coverage and the Mark of Excellence by SPJ for Online/digital feature videography.

A call for social justice

Earlier this summer, Miami, along with many cities across the United States, saw protests following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others. And just as they had with the pandemic, FIU’s student-journalists worked to tell the story of what was happening in their hometown.

Students Helen Acevedo and Jordan Coll combed through dozens of arrest records and conducted phone interviews to highlight stories of protesters who were arrested following the Miami protests.

Their piece, ‘Man, this is jail’: the Iraq War vet, the Phillies fan and others busted at Miami protest, was published in the Miami Herald and covered a chaotic scene of street arrests.

The student-journalists quote an African-American man who says he was tackled by police and subdued with plastic zip-ties. Court records indicate a charge of “emergency violation curfew” despite evidence that the arrest took place hours before the city-mandated curfew went into effect.

“Being able to hear these people’s stories and share them is really important to me,” Acevedo says. “And having the opportunity to be featured in major publications throughout Miami has taught me a lot and helped me really grow as a reporter.”

Panthers get out the vote

When election season heated up, the Department of Journalism + Media and SFMN took advantage of an opportunity to research voter turnout and interview candidates.

In the final stretch of the Miami-Dade County mayoral elections, Acevedo conducted in-person interviews with candidates Daniella Levine Cava, who ultimately won, and Esteban “Steve” Bovo ’87. Wearing a mask and standing socially distant from the two, she appreciated the opportunity to heighten her political reporting skills.

“It was an amazing experience,” Acevedo says. “It was really cool getting to hear their stories of what drew them to politics and why they decided to run for mayor.”

Back at campus, SFMN’s Miami bureau chief Daniel Evans and Journalism + Media professor Neil Reisner devised a young voters research project that was published in the Miami Herald. Students were tasked with talking to young voters in both Wisconsin and Florida since U.S. Census and 2018 election data puts Wisconsin as the state with the largest young voter turnout in the country while Florida ranks 40^th.

Students got an insight on who young voters would be voting for, and if not voting, why?

“Having them cover elections forces them out of their comfort zones to places they fear,” Reisner says. “It’s scary to interview elected officials or candidates, but this forces them to do it.”

After talking with young voters from both states, journalism students discovered that in general, young voters in Wisconsin are more excited to vote than young voters in Florida.

21-year-old Mark Orlowski from the University of Wisconsin thinks this is partly because Wisconsin’s elections are always very close and “when you feel like your vote truly has the ability to tip an election, you’re more likely to turn out.”

“One of the things we need to do as journalism educators is create better citizens, and covering elections provides our students with an understanding of how the process works and what’s really important to large groups of people,” Evans says.

Training the next generation of journalists

In an era where more and more people seem to be questioning the trustworthiness and judgment of journalists, SFMN trains students to remain the bearers of truth.

“Journalists need to be unbiased authors of what Washington Post Publisher Phil Graham called the ‘first rough draft of history," says SFMN digital director Charles “Chuck” Strouse. “It is not their job to be liked. It is their job to tell the truth. We are teaching students to ask the right questions and tell compelling stories. SFMN provides hands-on experience doing this with faculty guidance.”

Racquel Lewis interviewing Netflix star Allen Maldonado for an upcoming piece

Many students have gone on to secure prestigious internships and jobs following their work at the media network.

Broadcast journalism alumna, Sayona Khandwalla ’20 credits SFMN for helping her land her role as assignment editor for WSVN, the South Florida Fox News affiliate.

“SFMN helped make me a better journalist,” Khandwalla says. “It is amazing that FIU has a platform for reporters to be actual reporters and have their work shown. It molded me and many others to always try and get better. I’m glad that I had that to put on my resume because it helped land my internship at WSVN which I turned into a full-time job and for that, I will always be grateful.”

The stories highlighted above are just a few of the pieces Department of Journalism + Media and the South Florida Media Network students have been working on this past year. Check out http://sfmn.fiu.edu/ to see more.

Team awarded $15M by DARPA to develop skin microbiome-based mosquito repellent

Ayleen Barbel Fattal — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 09:04:00 -0500

Ginkgo Bioworks, Azitra, Inc., FIU and Latham BioPharm Group (LBG) have been awarded a contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for up to $15 million, as part of its ReVector program.

This program aims to maintain the health of military personnel operating in regions highly affected by mosquito-borne diseases. The team plans to create a new type of mosquito repellent based on the skin microbiome.

Working together, the combined team plans to harness the human skin microbiome—the rich, diverse microbes found on the skin—to create a Live Biotherapeutic Product (LBP) that can block human chemical signals that attract mosquitoes while also repelling the insects. The resulting product is expected to have significant military, consumer, and global health applications.

Mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria and Zika virus, account for over a million deaths worldwide. The program aims to protect military personnel operating in regions highly affected by mosquito-borne diseases. Currently available mosquito repellents fail to provide long-lasting, effective protection: they require application to the skin every few hours and are impractical for use in certain military environments.

The human skin microbiome is composed of beneficial microorganisms, including bacteria, that provide protection against dermatological disease as well as contributing to improved skin health and appearance. Research shows, however, that certain microbial species within the human skin microbiome produce volatile odor-based chemical signals that attract mosquitoes.

Ginkgo Bioworks, Azitra, FIU, and LBG plan to study how mosquitoes sense humans by skin-associated volatile compounds and aim to engineer and develop a bacterial-based LBP. The goal is to create a safe product that can be easily applied to the skin and provide protection against mosquito bites for up to two weeks without reapplication.

“The ability to program living cells that are part of our natural microbiome, and thus improve our ability to fight off challenges like mosquito vectoring of disease, has enormous potential in global health. Our research in collaboration with Azitra, FIU, and LBG could be transformative to the next generation of living medicine,” said Jason Kelly co-founder and chief executive officer of Ginkgo Bioworks. “We’re doubling down on our collaboration to improve the future of human health through the power of biology.”

To support this project, Azitra will leverage its extensive scientific knowledge of the skin microbiome to develop and characterize various bacterial strains. Ginkgo Bioworks will contribute its foundries and deep expertise in bioengineering to provide strain engineering. In the initial research phase of the project, the companies will collaborate with top mosquito researcher and neurogeneticist Matthew DeGennaro of FIU’s Biomolecular Sciences Institute, who brings expertise in molecular genetics and odor attraction profile of mosquitoes as well as mosquito repellents. Throughout the project, Latham will provide program management, systems integration support and technical product development support.

“DEET has been the gold standard for mosquito repellency since the 1940s,” said DeGennaro, who is also director of FIU’s Laboratory of Tropical Genetics. “Over the past 80 years, we have learned so much more about how mosquitoes find their hosts. Now is the time for us to leverage that knowledge to break the cycle of mosquito-borne illness. I am so excited to work with Ginkgo Bioworks, Azitra, and LBG to design and deploy this next-generation repellent.”

As the program progresses, Azitra will bring its significant expertise in formulating, packaging, and making microbiome products that can safely integrate with the natural skin microbiome.

“We are extremely excited to partner with Ginkgo Bioworks, FIU, and LBG on this visionary project of engineering the skin microbiome to produce a new class of living, long-lasting, and safe mosquito repellants. Together, Azitra and Ginkgo bring the world’s best genetic engineering capabilities applied to the skin microbiome to execute this vision,” said Travis Whitfill Azitra’s co-founder and executive director of advanced technology. “We hope to address a major global healthcare burden while advancing the concept of using engineered microbes that are part of our natural microbiome to improve human health.”

Finding creates roadmap for repellent design, population control

Just like fresh-baked cookies or sizzling bacon is to us, the scent of your sweat is a mouthwatering aroma to mosquitoes. Now, scientists have discovered how these undesirable insects zero in on our delectable odor.

It’s actually the odor from lactic acid and other acidic volatiles found in human sweat that some mosquitoes are attracted to when seeking a blood meal. A team of researchers from FIU’s Laboratory of Tropical Genetics has identified a unique olfactory receptor used to detect these odors in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are known to transmit dangerous and sometimes deadly diseases including yellow fever, dengue and Zika. The guilty receptor is known to scientists as Ionotropic Receptor 8a, or simply IR8a.

“People have been looking for more than 40 years,” said FIU biologist Matthew DeGennaro, who leads the lab where the discovery was made. “Even in the 1960s, scientists knew it was sweat and lactic acid, but no one knew how those were sensed. Back then, mosquito scientists didn’t have genetics.”

DeGennaro made genetics history in 2013 when he created the first-ever mutant mosquito as a post-doctoral researcher in Leslie Vosshall’s laboratory at The Rockefeller University. He was able to remove a gene and investigate how the absence of that gene changed the mosquito’s behavior.

Since that time, he has worked with countless mutants in a process of elimination until he and his team landed on IR8a. DeGennaro had a hunch and tasked his Ph.D. student Joshua Raji with investigating the receptor. The scientists mutated the receptor in mosquitoes and, in several experiments, found IR8a mutants struggled to pick up the desired aroma of lactic acid and could not detect other acidic components of human odor. They were still able to detect CO ₂ and heat, which people emit, but their inability to smell a person’s acidic volatiles left more than half uninspired to feed.

Ph.D. student Joshua Raji

Raji’s first test was on his own arm — first wild-types and then mutants. His scent was popular among the wilds, but not a single mutant took an interest in the first four minutes of exposure.

“I knew at that moment, this is it. This is real,” said Raji, who has dealt with his own bouts of Malaria while growing up in Nigeria and whose wife recently recovered from the mosquito-borne disease.

He repeated the test on 14 additional subjects. The results were the same. Not only did IR8a play a role in a mosquito’s ability to detect a person’s acidic volatiles — it is significant and necessary. There are no redundant receptors that can perform the same function.

The FIU team’s discovery could give rise to a new generation of attractants to lure adult mosquitoes to traps for population control. It also offers researchers a roadmap for making people invisible — at least to mosquitoes.

“Blocking the IR8a pathway could be an important strategy for repellent design,” DeGennaro said.

“Removing the function of this receptor removes approximately 50 percent of the host-seeking activity. Odors that mask the IR8a pathway could be found to enhance the effectiveness of current repellents like DEET or picaridin.”

The team is beginning chemical screens in an effort to disrupt the IR8a pathway. DeGennaro’s ultimate goal is to create a life-saving perfume to protect people from mosquito bites.

The research, which was published today in Current Biology , was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Southeastern Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases.

Scientists have developed a new method for baiting mosquitoes to targeted sources of water for an innovative attract-and-kill approach to mosquito control.

Geosmin is one of the most recognizable and common microbial smells on the planet, and scientists from FIU, Lund University and University of Washington have discovered the organic compound is particularly appealing to mosquitoes looking for a place to lay their eggs.

“It’s the smell of rain as it drops on the parched earth,” said FIU biologist Matthew DeGennaro, who was part of the team that made the discovery. “We now know geosmin is part of the story of how mosquitoes breed.”

The team designed an inexpensive container system with geosmin-scented water which successfully attracted mosquitoes and drew them away from unscented ones. Once a mosquito laid its eggs, the container system could then trap and kill the larvae.

“If we can get mosquitoes to lay eggs in traps, we can break the breeding cycle and suppress mosquito populations,” says FIU biologist Andre Luis da Costa da Silva, who led the field experiments in Miami.

It’s not just the egg-laying females who love the geosmin scent, according to Nadia Melo, lead author of the study and a biologist from Lund University who first discovered how geosmin attracts female mosquitoes.

“In the laboratory, not only did females prefer to lay eggs near geosmin-scented water, but mosquito larvae loved it too,” she said.

Field tests were conducted in Miami and Brazil and the geosmin was effective in drawing mosquitoes away from other water sources when added at specific concentrations. While the findings were exciting, there was one challenge to the results — geosmin can be difficult and expensive to obtain.

The researchers decided to try beetroots as a cost-effective alternative since geosmin is the source of that plant’s earthy taste. Even though peels from beetroots contain other chemical compounds, the mosquitoes appeared undeterred in their attraction as larger numbers of eggs were found in containers with beetroot peel than without.

“The use of beetroot peels as bait adds the benefit that the part of the beetroot that usually goes to waste now has a new use,” says Lund University biologist Marcus Stensmyr, who led the international team of researchers who made this study possible. The beetroot portion of the research was a small-scale field study in Brazil, but DeGennaro says the results are promising enough to warrant further study at other sites.

DeGennaro has garnered international recognition as the first scientist to successfully create a mutant mosquito for behavioral study and for discovering the olfactory receptors mosquitoes use to help find humans when looking for a meal. His research is focused on reversing the trend of deadly epidemics caused by mosquito-borne diseases. He hopes to create new mosquito-control techniques and improved repellents to make people less attractive, even invisible, to mosquitoes.

The study was published in the journal Current Biology.

New data-driven index could help countries reopen successfully during the pandemic

Gisela Maria Valencia — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 15:51:00 -0500

When is it safe to reopen countries amidst pandemic lockdowns? It’s a big question in the age of coronavirus – and one looming large on many minds across the globe. People need an open economy—and jobs—to put food on the table. But they also need safety and health to survive.

For months, countries have been grappling with this question. To make matters more complicated, public health recommendations are not easily available on this topic, says Nasar Ahmed, professor and founding chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, part of the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work.

While recommendations are available about how to reopen, there isn’t much information on when to reopen.

“There are no published models or directives to inform policy about when to reopen schools, tourism, entertainment and other sectors,” Ahmed explains.

To help fill this need, a group of experts and researchers—made up primarily of FIU professors, students and alumni—developed a data-driven tool to assist countries in making decisions about when to reopen.

The project began on a Zoom group meeting with Abu Shonchoy, an assistant professor of economics in the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. When the pandemic hit, Shonchoy was looking for a way to help scientists and colleagues on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Then, he heard about countries going on lockdowns or enforcing closures as part of safety precautions.

“I was thinking in the back of my mind as an economist If you’re shutting down the economy, when are you going to open it? In some countries, many people are living hand-to-mouth, so many people could die of hunger. It’s a balancing act between saving lives and livelihoods,” he says.

The project was born. Shonchoy began recruiting a team of colleagues to share their expertise.

The interdisciplinary team includes Ahmed, one of the senior researchers working on the project; Shonchoy; FIU alumnus Sajedul Talukder, currently an assistant professor of computer science at Edinboro University; FIU Ph.D. candidate in epidemiology Abir Rahman; FIU computer science student Farzana Yusuf; and Khandker S. Ishtiaq, a research faculty member of environmental engineering at FIU.

The team also established a cross-Atlantic collaboration with Cambridge-Oxford group leader Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury, associate professor of global health at Cambridge, who led a separate study and helped develop a model that addressed occasional reopening and closing based on detailed hospital information and other intensive health resource data.

The group studied trends in countries worldwide that seemed to reopen successfully, collected and analyzed data and created a model incorporating public health and economic considerations that resulted in the Large Scale Reopening (LSR) index.

LSR index

The LSR index provides guidance for the reopening of any country or area – and is particularly valuable for low resource countries.

Countries with strong economies, Ahmed explains, often have centralized health care systems and can usually access information about hospital beds available, ICU statistics and other such data to help determine if the country can handle reopening.

But, he adds, low resource countries often do not have centralized systems or ways to access those data points. That’s where the LSR index comes in.

Countries only need to know a few data points to utilize it. That means poverty-stricken regions, developing countries and other low resource countries can find support through this index.

Two crucial data points are necessary: daily COVID-19 infection rate and daily recovery rate. According to the team, when the daily infection rate and the daily recovery rate intersect (when they are both equal), that is a crucial point in the process.

If the infection rate continues to fall, then countries may be able to safely reopen in about three weeks or at least 20 days.

“The LSR index is simple and feasible,” Ahmed explains. “It’s a flexible tool kit that can be easily adapted for low-middle income countries.”

Shonchoy adds that while the index is still a work in progress and subject to change as experts learn more about the coronavirus, it is a first step in the right direction.

“This tool kit will be extremely useful,” he says. “Even at the localized level, if someone is looking at locking down a street or zip code area, or for state-level decision-makers, they can use it. It is a data-driven decision-making process.”

The team has already met with enthusiasm from potential index users. Ahmed and Shonchoy recently discussed the index at FIU’s virtual Global Health Consortium’s conference, and participants from various countries expressed interest in the tool.

To help increase access to the index, the team plans to release a tool kit available online in the coming weeks that would allow public health officials across the world to plug in their data for free and receive the index’s response on the spot.

Education alumna lives for the ‘firsts’

Angela Nicoletti — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:22:00 -0500

Amanda Hernandez became an assistant principal at 24 years old — in the middle of a global pandemic.

The FIU early childhood development alumna works at the Ann Storck Center, a Fort Lauderdale nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with special needs and developmental disabilities. She oversees all of the educational programs, including the newly opened kindergarten that’s part of the Ann Storck Center Private School.

Hernandez stepped into her new role in July — which would have been challenging enough in normal circumstances. She quickly learned to navigate an entirely new educational world no one has ever navigated before.

“It means everything to me that we’re able to safely stay open for our children and their families during these stressful and challenging times,” Hernandez said. “We’re able to be that resource they desperately need and depend on. We’re here to be a source of comfort for our families.”

For Hernandez, reopening the school safely was about helping the families get a little bit of normalcy back for their children. Hundreds of families rely on the special education programs there, including the Under 3 Early Intervention Preschool, as well as the therapy and behavioral services.

Hernandez first started working at the Ann Storck Center when she was a student at FIU. Her first job was as a teacher assistant helping with classroom activities, feeding students and changing diapers. Later, she became an aftercare program coordinator. She planned activities for the children and also helped her supervisor with administrative tasks and other projects, which she says helped prepare her to become assistant principal.

Hernandez also credits FIU with giving her the skills that have allowed her to succeed.

At FIU, she was active in organizations, including the Student Programming Council, that helped her develop her leadership skills. She also came across Project Panther Life, which helped high school students with intellectual disabilities prepare to transition to college. Hernandez was paired with two students. For one, she was an academic mentor, providing guidance on how to manage a college workload. For the other, she was a peer mentor who showed how to get involved on campus. The experience made one thing clear to her — she wanted to continue helping students with special needs.

There are many things she loves about her work, but one of the most fulfilling and rewarding is what she calls “being a part of someone’s first.”

A father of a 5-year-old once came up to Hernandez and said, “My daughter told me ‘I love you.’” Those three words are sometimes taken for granted by other families. His child had never said them before.

These are the types of heartwarming milestones Hernandez gets to share in. She watches the children grow and learn. She’s lucky to have celebrated quite a few “firsts” over the years — and each one is just as emotional and joyous.

“Every day, I want to bring awareness to the fact that the kids we work with are just kids. If they can’t speak, we help them communicate in their own way. If they can’t walk, we help them get around in their own way,” Hernandez said. “It’s not that they can’t do something. And we’re here to help them, so they can do anything, in their own way.”

Gordon Institute to launch research hub focused on security

Katherine Dagand — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0500

The Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs is set to launch a research hub focused on security.

The Security Research Hub will create an objective, independent and open virtual community comprised of academic institutions, think tanks, government agencies, civil society organizations as well as public and private sectors from around the world, promoting research collaboration, data sharing, training, education and a shared understanding of security issues facing the hemisphere.

“It is of utmost importance to build bridges between the production of new knowledge and decision-making processes that can transform our Hemisphere. This project allows that—the construction of safer, better integrated and prosperous societies free of fear and free of want,” said former Costa Rica President Luis G. Solis, interim director of FIU's Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center.

The hub is led by the Gordon Institute in collaboration with other key units across from FIU, including the Kimberly Green Latin America and Caribbean Center, Geographic Information Systems Center, the School of Computing and Information Sciences, FIU Libraries and the National Forensic Science Training Center. MITRE Corporation and Southern Command are also partnering in this initiative.

“This research hub leverages technology, open-source data, and the intellectual capital of academia, NGOs and individual citizens. By making data accessible, we are 'open-sourcing' the problem set, which will promote new insights and solutions. This partnership with FIU is a significant step toward democratizing data and harnessing innovation,” said Ambassador Jean Manes, former U.S. ambassador to El Salvador and current civilian deputy to the commander and foreign policy advisor of U.S. Southern Command.

A critical objective of the hub is to bring together a broad community dedicated to understanding and preserving the security interests of the hemisphere. The topics to be researched include transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking, cyber threats, migration and pandemics.

“Ultimately, the scope of security issues will largely be driven by the hub’s user community. Our intent is to leverage the hub’s user community to bring attention to the most pervasive and prevailing security challenges facing our hemisphere,” said Brian Fonseca, director of the Gordon Institute.

The Security Research Hub marks the latest initiative between FIU, MITRE and Southern Command. It is set to launch in Summer 2021 with an interactive website that will be regularly updated with findings from the community.

Enjoy a gourmet holiday meal, support the hospitality industry this season

Ivonne Yee-Amor — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 10:45:00 -0500

The smell of lechon asado (roasted pork), turkey and fresh-baked Christmas cookies takes over many South Florida homes over the holidays. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, this time of year is about spending time with family and friends and feasting on the season's best eats.

While COVID-19 may limit the size of gatherings, it doesn't mean you have to cut back on the food. This year, you can cook less and eat more for a good cause with the return of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival® Home for the Holidays Dinner and the return of the LBS Bake Sale to benefit the hospitality industry.

There are four gourmet dinner packages and more than 10 foodie-approved holiday care packages to choose from by some of South Florida's most celebrated chefs. There's something for every palate—including special holiday cookies by Night Owl Cookies; Dim Sum Box of goodness from Tropical Chinese restaurant; and a Bento Box of pulled pork, juicy turkey, cornbread and smoked pit beans by Hometown Barbeque.

The first go-around of the SOBEWFF holiday dinner package, Thanksgiving Table To-Go, raised between $20,000 to $25,000 toward hospitality relief efforts and more than 730 pounds of non-perishable goods for the FIU Student Food Pantry.

Back in April, the original LBS Bake Sale, which benefited the SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund, raised thousands more.

“To cater to everyone doing their part by staying home for the holidays, we have curated several gourmet holiday dinners paired with the return of items from our highly successful bake sale, which raised more than $100,000 for relief efforts earlier this year,” said SOBEWFF® Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager.

The SOBEWFF® dinner packages vary in size for two to four guests and allow you to choose Spanish roast pork or slow-roasted beef tenderloin. All dinners come with four sides, freshly-baked bread, dessert and even liquor to toast with during your celebration. The LBS Bake Sale items are sold à la carte.

Orders must be placed on-line at sobewff.org/holiday by noon Sunday, Dec. 20. Meals will be available for drive-thru, contactless pickup from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24.

During pickup, participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable, canned goods that will be donated to the Miami Rescue Mission. For every donation, purchasers will be entered to win a pair of SOBEWFF® 2021 tickets.

One hundred percent of net proceeds will benefit the local hospitality industry. In addition, all donations will be matched by Badia Spices.

“I’d also like to give a special thanks to Pepe Badia of Badia Spices, who matched funds from earlier bake sales and has once again agreed to match the funds raised by this effort to support our hospitality industry,” added Schrager.

Professor honored with award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists

Diana Hernandez-Alende — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 14:00:00 -0500

Every year, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists (AAEES) honors an individual who demonstrates leadership, originality and has innovative solutions to current environmental challenges.

Berrin Tansel, professor of environmental engineering and undergraduate program director in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was recognized this year. As the first female faculty member to join the College of Engineering & Computing in 1990, Tansel has been awarded AAEES’ 2021 Science Award for her contributions to the field of environmental engineering.

Growing up in a small town in Turkey, Tansel, who is a chemical engineer by training, moved to the states when she received a scholarship to pursue her master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Wisconsin. At the time, environmental engineering was emerging, with regulations being changed by the Environmental Protection Agency, paving the way for new water treatment projects and the creation of jobs.

This shift brought Tansel to Boston, Massachusetts, where she worked as a project manager for Massachusetts Water Resources Authority on the Boston Harbor project.

“If you were in the wastewater industry, you wanted to be in Boston,” says Tansel. In the 1980s, Boston Harbor was known as the dirtiest harbor in America. It underwent a complete transformation with a $3.8 billion investment in the treatment facilities at Deer Island, which allowed for a successful harbor clean-up.

Tansel then joined FIU as a visiting professor, bringing her industry experience into academia.

“I recall writing my first grant proposal to the National Science Foundation. It was completely different from a regular proposal, meaning it did not include long paragraphs of background information on a particular research topic,” says Tansel. “I used bullet points. I was straight to the point. I listed out our objectives, what we expected to achieve, and how many students we needed.”

It was this industry and consulting experience that led Tansel to receive her first NSF grant, followed by multiple grants from the U.S. Army to build a compact filtration system for oil-water separation. This was in response to the oil spill that took place in the Gulf of Mexico during the early 90s.

Another highlight of Tansel’s career at FIU has been working closely with NASA on multiple novel ideas. One is a research project to develop a technology that reduces the payload, or space cargo, in space shuttles. Fifty percent of a space shuttle consists of water for astronauts to use and for vegetation in shuttles or to test vegetation in planets like Mars or the Moon. However, a gallon alone of water costs thousands of dollars to transport, thus a need to create a filtration process.

Berrin at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL) conducting experiments on the aerobic rotation biological reactor for closed loop water recovery (i.e., water recycling in space).

Tansel has also secured agreements with Miami-Dade County’s Water and Sewer Department, including a $5 million agreement to study the efficiency of water treatment processes, water conservation, and provide long-term solutions to leaks in older pipes.

These projects have provided opportunities for FIU environmental engineering students to gain experience in the field.

“My students get to work on different projects, becoming more marketable, and making connections at the very beginning of their careers,” adds Tansel.

When asked about how she feels about receiving the 2021 AAEES award, Tansel says: “I’m humbled and honored. I am happy to see my work be appreciated by my professional society.”

Tansel is the recipient of other prestigious awards, including the Engineer of the Year award by the American Society of Civil Engineers Miami-Dade Branch in 2007 and the Edmund Freidman Professional Achievement Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2009.

She continues teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in the areas of theory, experimentation and design of environmental engineering with an emphasis on water treatment and water management. She has published more than 200 research papers and publications.

Tansel will receive her award at the Academy’s awards ceremony, tentatively scheduled for April 2021 in Washington, D.C.

FIU students earned first place out of 50 teams in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s eighth annual Campus RainWorks Challenge. The competition encourages students from across the country to submit green infrastructure designs and solutions to help address stormwater pollution.

The FIU multi-disciplinary team from the College of Engineering & Computing, the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts and the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs developed a proposal for FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC) titled Coastal Eco-Waters: Adapting for a Resilient Campus. The proposal incorporates green infrastructure practices – meant to mimic the natural water cycle – to increase the resiliency of an area that experiences extreme weather events.

“This challenge provided us with a unique opportunity to investigate future environmental problems and brainstorm innovative and sustainable solutions,” said Vivek Verma, the student team lead. “We hope that the solutions we developed as a team will have a positive impact on the Biscayne Bay Campus and our region.”

The green infrastructure designed by the students includes constructed wetlands to gather stormwater and 13 green roofs with the capacity to collect an estimated 9.2 million gallons of water.

“The severity of stormwater pollution correlates with the significant rainfall amount South Florida receives from May to October,” said Ebru Ozer, associate professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design, who served as one of the lead faculty advisors. “Our cities are crisscrossed with roads, sidewalks and other paved surfaces, limiting stormwater to pass into ground layers.”

Stormwater runoff can carry disease-causing bacteria and viruses, which then drain into water bodies, affecting aquatic habitats and the South Florida community.

“The Swiss-cheese like porous ground and low-lying elevation of the Biscayne Bay Campus makes the stormwater runoff of the campus challenging because the capacity of the existing mangrove channels to carry the runoff to the sea is rapidly decreasing with sea-level rise,” said Arturo S. Leon, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and lead faculty advisor.

The FIU team will receive a $5,000 student prize and a $5,000 faculty prize. Team members hope to test their ideas and create a demonstration project at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus.

“FIU’s proposal is the best entry we’ve received in the history of the competition,” said Matt King, environmental protection specialist from the EPA. “That is something to be proud of.

The members of the 2019 team are graduate students Vivek Verma, Linlong Bian, Alain Carrazana, Ana-Maria Dimand, Angeluz Lozada, Dogukan Ozecik, Aditia Rojali, Sumit Zanje and Rutusha Nagaraj.

The master plan design originated in Ozer’s Graduate Design 3 Studio course. Those students, who entered the 2018 competition, were William Callahan, Alain Carrazana, Gasndy Damus, Catalina Dugand, Alyssa Garcia, Coral Murray, Rutusha Nagaraj, Niyati Panchal and Pedro Zavala.

Stuart M. Grant, coordinator of planning for FIU Facilities Management, also served as an advisor for both sets of teams.

A multi-disciplinary team of FIU students came together to design a solar photovoltaic, the conversion of light into electricity, and storage system to maximize energy savings for 20 years as part of a new competition by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) called Solar District Cup.

Established in 2019, the Solar District Cup challenges student teams to design and model optimized distributed solar energy systems for a campus or urban district. The purpose of the competition is to inspire students to innovate integrated energy solutions for real-world neighborhoods.

The competition was divided into three districts: JBG Smith Crystal Parks, New Mexico State University (NMSU) and Ball State University (BSU). Twenty students from the College of Engineering & Computing (CEC) and two students from the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA) were assigned the BSU campus, located in Muncie, Indiana.

After an entire year of hard work, the team won first place in the competition’s BSU division, becoming one of the top three winners in the nation out of 61 participating universities.

“I saw an opportunity for our students to not only put into practice what they’ve learned but to obtain new skills, engage with industry professionals and become prepared to lead the next generation of solar energy,” said Cheng-Xian Lin, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME), who enrolled FIU into the competition.

With a large project in their hands, the students formed six sub-teams: conceptual design, development plan, financial analysis, grid distribution, architecture building and organization.

The conceptual design team, led by Mayra Molina, a mechanical engineering student, was tasked with reviewing the land and buildings to see where solar panels could be installed. The team identified 11 buildings on the BSU campus whose rooftops allowed for the installation of solar panels, along with parking lots and available land two miles northwest of the campus.

Students also looked at open communal areas across campus that receive direct sunlight during the day. They included solar tables, where students could charge their phones and electronics through solar energy, in their plan. The students selected top-of-the-line solar panels, following International Fire Code regulations.

Creating a construction timeline and understanding how to comply with all the standards and codes of construction was the role of the development planning team, led by Raul Garcia, a mechanical engineering student.

The finance team, led by another mechanical engineering student Juan Marron was in constant communication with the sub-teams to create a financial analysis that worked for investors and the university. The members also looked to obtain the most tax incentives.

The grid distribution team connected solar panels to the electrical grid and evaluated the impact of the panels on the BSU distribution grid. Receiving crucial information from the conceptual design team, such as the number of panels installed per building, allowed the team to input the information into a distribution simulation software. Their second priority was to add batteries to their design, in the event of a power outage.

“As one of the co-leaders of the grid distribution team, we were tasked with ensuring all lines and equipment could sustain the power and current in the system,” said Samanta Rodriguez, student team captain. “Our team’s key contributions were ensuring our system would remain resilient against interruptions, like passing clouds.”

The team also received the support of Arif Sarwat, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and director of the Energy, Power and Sustainability Lab, and graduate students. Ph.D. students, Temitayo Olowu and Asadullah Khalid helped by providing insights into the software program used and identifying batteries to support the BSU campus for three hours in the event of a power outage, respectively.

After completing a site analysis of BSU, a campus measuring 1,140 acres, the students found benefits for installing solar panels like an abundance of flat area and control of most of the site. Some constraints included construction on a busy campus, soil conditions and the low utility cost.

“Another challenge we faced was the design of BSU’s architecture building,” said Marron. “The building is sloped, at a 55-degree angle containing a glass curtain wall. We needed to figure out how to install solar panels in a non-traditional-looking building.”

Due to COVID-19, the in-person competition scheduled to take place in Atlanta, Georgia, was canceled. Instead, the judging process took place through a video conference call. The first place division winners were given eight minutes to present their work.

“FIU’s design approach had the most aggressive impact I’ve seen for BSU’s division,” said Robert “Bob” Koester, a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified architecture professor from BSU.

The students of the FIU Solar District Cup team were Juan Marron, Samanta Rodriguez, Raul Garcia, Mayra Molina, Briana Canet, Jonathan Gonzalez, Corey Henry, Karla Pabellon, Joaquin Sefair, Beichao Hu and Talha Khan from MME; Juan Sanfiel, Ana Acosta, Laura Bombino, Asley Eizmendiz, Eduardo Gomez Toledo, Roberto Hernandez and Jose Pinero from ECE; Tomas Suarez from the Department of Biomedical Engineering; Chen Li from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE); Beatriz Alchalaby and Mara Stegaru from the Department of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design (LAEUD).

The faculty advisors were Lin, Sarwat, Xia Jin, associate professor in CEE; Andres Tremante, senior instructor in MME; Wallied Orabi, associate professor in the Moss Department of Construction Management; and Ebru Ozer, associate professor in LAEUD.

The team’s industry sponsor was the Miami Chapter of the professional association, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

FIU scientist wins prestigious national early career investigator award

Ileana Varela — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:39:00 -0500

Researcher and American Heart Association (AHA) Fellow Hooi Hooi Ng has won the AHA's Elaine W. Raines Early Career Investigator Award for her studies on vascular calcifications.

Ng's research is a collaboration across FIU's research community. She is a joint postdoctoral associate in the lab of Alexander Agoulnik at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and Joshua Hutcheson at the College of Engineering and Computing's Department of Biomedical Engineering. All three scientists collaborate in the Biomolecular Sciences Institute (BSI)—a multidisciplinary consortium of FIU researchers housed in the College of Arts and Sciences. BSI is part of FIU’s Translational Molecular Discoveries Emerging Preeminent Program.

Hooi Hooi Ng has a few simple words of advice for anyone, particularly women, who desire a career in science: “Go for it. Don’t be afraid of failure.”

That fearless attitude has served her well.

Ng arrived at FIU in 2017 after earning her doctoral degree in vascular physiology at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Six months later, she applied for an American Heart Association (AHA) Fellowship. She was rejected, but not deterred.

"I went back to working on my research, developed more data and reapplied the next year," she said. "And I got it!"

The AHA Fellowship now supports 100 percent of her salary. And this year, she is one of four finalists for the AHA's Elaine W. Raines Early Career Investigator Award. Finalists get to present their research at the association's Scientific Sessions Annual Conference to be held virtually in November.

“This is an important opportunity for me to present my work to an international audience and get feedback from the world’s experts in vascular biology,” she said.

Ng received a grant from the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine pilot program to begin her research on vascular calcification. Common and potentially dangerous, vascular calcifications are mineral deposits on the walls of blood vessels. They are most often associated with aging and people with chronic kidney disease, diabetes and hypertension. Calcifications can lead to heart disease, stroke and renal (kidney) failure.

There are no current drugs to prevent or treat vascular calcifications.

“We want to develop a novel (new) treatment that allows us to intervene early in high-risk patients, so they don’t develop calcifications,” she said.

Ng's research is a collaboration across FIU's research community. A postdoctoral associate in the lab of Alexander Agoulnik at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Ng is also mentored by biomedical engineer Joshua Hutcheson from the College of Engineering and Computing. All three scientists collaborate in the Biomolecular Sciences Institute, a multidisciplinary consortium of FIU researchers housed in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Everything you need to know about Spring 2021 at FIU

Contributing Writer — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

We have completed a fall semester unlike any other, graduated our largest fall cohort in FIU history and are preparing for a well-deserved break.

Given the continued threat of COVID-19, we remind our university community to celebrate responsibly – limit gatherings to your immediate household, use face coverings, practice physical distancing and wash your hands with soap and water frequently or use hand sanitizer. In addition, consider making use of widely available COVID-19 testing.

With Spring 2021 just around the corner, FIU is working diligently to ensure a successful new semester for our students, faculty and staff, including thoroughly cleaning our campuses and making sure our study spaces and public areas meet physical distancing guidelines.

Just like we did in the fall, as part of our Panthers Protecting Panthers plan, everyone must wear face coverings on campus, wash hands often and maintain physical distancing. Also, before arriving on campus each day, every member of the university community must complete the P3 app questionnaire.

These and many other measures have been taken to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and we thank you for your cooperation.

Below are a few additional steps we are taking to ensure your health and well-being in the Spring:

COVID-19 testing

Our university community has more access to COVID-19 testing than ever before. Based on available information on the prevalence of asymptomatic cases, we are strongly encouraging everyone (faculty, staff and students) to get tested prior to their return to campus after Winter Break.

Here are some options for your convenience. Tests are RT-PCR molecular tests (the more accurate type of test) and results are usually available within two days.

Curative Walk-up testing stations

We currently have two Curative walk-up testing stations on our MMC campus and one at BBC. The MMC testing stations are located near Parkview and on the gravel lot just east of PG5. At BBC, the testing station is near FIU Health, in the parking lot between the Royal Caribbean building and the Hubert Library.
Testing is free. To schedule an appointment, visit Curative.com. At MMC, both testing stations are open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The BBC testing station will be operational later this week. For hours of operation, visit Curative.com.

Tamiami Fairgrounds

The Tamiami Fairgrounds Drive-Thru testing site is operated by FIU in partnership with Miami-Dade County, the Florida Department of Health and Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition.
Testing is free. To make an appointment, visit the Miami-Dade County COVID-19 Test Site Finder and select Youth Fairgrounds at Tamiami Park.

FIU Health – ACC Clinic

Tests are available by appointment only to faculty, staff and our community, Monday-Friday. Call FIU Health at 305-348-3627 to schedule an appointment. Appointments must be made at least one day in advance. Although patients will be asked to provide an insurance card, they will not be charged for the test.

Student Health Clinics

Tests are available by appointment only Monday-Friday. Call FIU Student Health at 305-348-2401 to make an appointment at MMC or 305-919-5620 to make an appointment at BBC. Appointments must be made at least one day in advance. Testing is free.

In addition, we have our own FIU COVID-19 lab that is processing surveillance tests of specific groups within the university community, such as student-athletes, spirit groups, band members, students working in research labs, researchers working with human subjects and on-campus residents.

Housing residents

All students returning or moving into on-campus housing following our Winter Break will be required to submit a negative RT-PCR test result taken within seven days of their arrival.

Students unable to provide a negative test prior to arrival will not be allowed to check-in. Those students will be referred to get tested on campus and results will be processed by the FIU COVID-19 Lab the same day. Any student who tests positive before arriving on campus will need to remain at home until cleared by the FIU COVID response team.

All students staying on-campus through the break will be tested the week of January 4 ahead of our January 11 start date for our Spring semester.

Effective January 2021, all housing students will be required to participate in surveillance testing.

Updated CDC quarantine guidelines

Although the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention currently recommends a quarantine period of 14 days, this can impose personal burdens – including impacts to physical and mental health – and could cause economic hardship. To address some of these issues, the CDC recently amended its quarantine guidelines.

After reviewing these amended guidelines, and following additional guidance from the Florida Department of Health, FIU has adopted the following guidelines:

Using contact tracing, if a person must quarantine after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, they can:

Quarantine for 10 days without testing if the person remains asymptomatic, or
Quarantine for 7 days with a negative test and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. Specifically, an RT-PCR test may be performed on Day 6 or 7, but quarantine cannot be discontinued before seven days.

In every case, the CDC recommends that all individuals continue COVID-19 protocols, including symptom monitoring and use of face coverings, following release from quarantine.

Life on campus

This Spring, more than 50 percent of our courses – 4,600 sections – will feature an in-person component.

Libraries will be open and study spaces will continue to be available by reservation only.

Wellness & Recreation Center facilities will be open in the Spring and will continue to offer a variety of in-person and virtual programming. Stay tuned for additional information.

Select food and retail services will be open at MMC and BBC. For all hours of operation, locations and services available, please visit Shop FIU or visit the FIU Mobile App/Places & Shops.

Please note that these services will be available on a limited basis during the holiday break for students who will remain on campus.

Events, meetings and other gatherings

At FIU, we have limited our on-campus events to those that can accommodate physical distancing guidelines and other COVID-19 safety measures. Among them was our recent Commencement caravan, where more than 500 FIU graduates walked across the stage to take a picture with Roary while President Rosenberg cheered them on.

This Spring, we will continue to host select events. To request approval for an event, please submit an event request form. Please allow five business days for processing the request.

Visitors

Visitors, including vendors, must have an appointment. The on-campus contact must make sure visitors complete the safety screening questionnaire (through the P3 app) before arriving on campus. You can also access the app online. No visitors will be allowed in student housing.

For additional information, please visit our Panthers Protecting Panthers website.

We wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season and look forward to welcoming you back on campus in 2021.

Go Panthers!

Natural selection helps maintain plant diversity, research finds

Angela Nicoletti — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 16:01:00 -0500

It turns out where certain desert shrubs grow matters a lot — especially when it comes to making sure they don’t all end up looking the same.

FIU assistant professor in the Institute of Environment Adam Roddy and a team of scientists from UC Berkeley found natural selection plays a major role in maintaining plant diversity. It actually counteracts the homogenization that would normally happen when related species that can interbreed are close together.

The team studied several Encelia species native to Baja California. In this region, two subtly but drastically different environments come together when the deserts meet the coastal dunes. Different Encelia species flourish here within a few feet of one another. Some grow in the dunes, others in the desert. In the transition area between the two zones lives a hybrid of the two species.

Despite the fact that these plants share genes and interbreed, they’ve remained distinct species. These two species should have fused back into one species and come to look like the hybrids. But, they haven’t.

It turns out it’s a little like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears — the place the plant ends up has to be just right.

When the research team tried to plant seeds from one species just a few feet away in another habitat, the plant didn’t survive. Desert species couldn’t survive in the windier and saltier conditions of the dune. While dune species couldn’t handle drought, dying in the desert.

Even the hybrid species — which share genes from the desert and dune plants — can’t grow beside one of the parents. Its only home will ever be the in-between transition region.

The researchers found these results surprising because pollen and seeds, which are carried by wind and animals, can easily travel hundreds of feet away and land in different habitats. This normally gives plants a chance at interbreeding and populating new places. However, the strong natural selection occurring in each habitat means that even though a hybrid seed can land on a dune or in the desert, it won’t ever establish in the soil. It hasn’t landed in the right place.

Roddy points out that understanding the evolution and biodiversity of these species is important to better understanding the plants, of course, but there’s also important implications for people.

“When you look not just at these two species in Baja California, but at the entire group of Encelia growing throughout the deserts of the Southwest U.S. and Baja California, these plants display a remarkable diversity of novel adaptations. This dune species is salt tolerant, another species is frost tolerant, and other species are among the only species growing in the hottest and driest areas in and around Death Valley,” Roddy said.

“If we better understand these adaptations to extreme temperature, salinity, and drought and how they have evolved in less than two million years–rapid in evolutionary time, then we could possibly engineer more resilient crops.”

The findings were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Global Forensic and Justice Center awarded nearly $7 million in federal funding

Lourdes Perez — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 13:22:00 -0500

The Global Forensic and Justice Center (GFJC) has been awarded $7 million from federal agencies to conduct forensic science research and provide training to forensic analysts and law enforcement.

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has awarded $4.49 million to the GFJC to prepare laboratories in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Panama, and Morocco for accreditation. Accredited laboratories adhere to strict standards in evidence maintenance and analysis, both of which support a rule of law courtroom – where the law, not a single person in power, rules. Because of international travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, GFJC is employing technology to deliver the training virtually.

“Forensic science is a catalyst for justice,” said Kevin Lothridge, executive director of the GJFC. “When accredited laboratories are behind the evidence that analysts present in court, their testimony is based on the science. This funding provides the GJFC researchers the means to make a direct impact on justice on a global scale.”

The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) also awarded the GFJC a three-year, $1.7 million cooperative agreement to establish a pilot training program for field-drug testing. The aim of the program is to strengthen the reliability of drug testing by law enforcement, which decreases the strain on labs and court systems. The FIU team will incorporate rapid testing technology and methods that can be implemented in the real world.

“Here at the GFJC, we’re in a unique setting where we have an industry-valued training provider in the National Forensic Science Technology Center and the International Forensic Research Institute, a research heavy-weight, together in one place,” said GFJC Director of Research Innovation Gerald LaPorte. “With these two powerhouses, along with access to other FIU departments, we can deliver real results that make a direct impact on our criminal justice system.”

Federal research awards include more than $430,000 from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to support drug testing research in chemistry and biochemistry at FIU Professor Anthony DeCaprio’s chemistry lab. DeCaprio’s research seeks to identify the biomarkers of cannabis exposure that can identify whether it was used recently and determine how impaired the person who used it is. Research like this can help to establish a standard level of measuring cannabis intoxication like that used in detecting blood alcohol content. Ludmyla Tavares, a graduate student in DeCaprio’s lab, earned a two-year, $100,000 graduate research fellowship from the NIJ for her novel research into developing an alternative to forensic hair analysis. This can be especially important in death investigations, sexual assault cases where drugs may have been used to incapacitate the victim, or drug testing and compliance programs.

The GJFC also received a National Institute of Standards and Technology award, valued at nearly $200,000, to assist in the creation of process mapping. This technique provides a detailed visual illustration and path to create a best practice standard for the collection, testing, analysis, and evaluation of forensic science evidence.

How to recycle your holiday packaging

Contributing Writer — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 12:10:00 -0500

By Candice Allouch

As presents begin to pile up over the holidays, so does cardboard and plastic packaging. And, as online shopping continues to be popular, you may find yourself bursting at the seams with discarded packaging material.

Fear not! Many of these boxes and bags can be recycled. Here's how you can make sure your gifts make both people and the planet happy.

How do I recycle packaging from Amazon and other retailers?

Retailers use several different packaging materials and each of these is recycled slightly differently.

Paper-padded mailers and brown packing paper, for example, can be recycled like cardboard boxes. Bubble-lined plastic envelopes are accepted by most curbside recycling programs where plastic film is also accepted.

Traditional cardboard boxes can be put in your regular recycling bin, just make sure to remove the tape and flatten boxes before putting them in.

For now, Amazon gift bags are made of non-recycleable material, but they can be reused. If you’re a big Amazon shopper, the company explains the appropriate disposal of their materials on their Second Chance webpage.

Your local solid waste authority’s website also has more specific information on how your neighborhood recycles.

I have so much gift-wrapping and tissue paper – what do I do with it?

Gift-wrapping paper is, unfortunately, not always made of paper. Many of these products are mixed with foil or film and make it very difficult to recycle. Some counties will accept non-paper gift wrapping, but it’s best to check with your county waste department to make sure before chucking these items in the bin. Most places do not accept these materials.

Miami-Dade County will accept paper-based gift wrap tubes and non-foil gift-wrapping paper. Of course, the best option is to shop for paper gift-wrapping materials so that these can easily be recycled once the holidays are over.

When it comes to gift tissue paper, these materials are generally made with very low-grade paper, making them non-recyclable for most communities. However, as long as the tissue paper doesn’t have tape or glitter on it, it can be composted! Add the tissue paper to your composting bin, and it can soak up any liquids which even keeps the bin from smelling.

How do I dispose of my Christmas tree and decorations?

If you have a natural tree, it is likely that your county’s solid waste department can pick up your tree with your curbside recycling collection program. Several counties have special days for when large items, like a Christmas tree, can be picked up. Check with your county to make sure you get the details.

If you don’t want to wait for curbside pickup, Miami-Dade County’s solid waste department hosts a free Christmas Tree Recycling program. Residents can drop off decoration-free trees starting the day after Christmas at a designated location. Trees are repurposed as mulch, which is also made available for residents to take home.

When it comes to Christmas tree decorations, many of the traditional ornaments and tinsel used on our trees cannot be recycled. Try keeping these items and reusing them for future holidays. You can also switch to paper-based decorations or up-cycle old decorations to make crafts and art.

Staying clear of plastic products whenever possible and recycling the rest of your appropriate waste is an easy way to protect our planet.

For more details on recycling, check out these tips from Melinda Paduani, a Ph.D. student in the FIU Institute of Environment’s CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment.

For more info from the South Florida Solid Waste Authorities, visit the Broward County, Miami-Dade County and/or the Palm Beach County websites.

FIU experts available to discuss coronavirus

Gabriela Aguirrechu — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 10:28:00 -0500

The first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine were delivered today and the first vaccine in the U.S. was given to a nurse in New York.

FIU experts are available to discuss various topics surrounding coronavirus and vaccinations.

Health

Aileen Marty
Professor
Department of Translational Medicine
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Dr. Marty has more than 40 years of experience in the fields of infectious diseases, public health, mass gatherings and disaster response. Most recently she has consulted local and state governments on how to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Marty currently serves as an advisor to the World Health Organization and is also working with Qatar’s Ministry of Health in advance of their 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Dr. Marty is also available for interviews in Spanish.
Email: amarty@fiu.edu
Office: 305-348-0377

Mary Jo Trepka
Infectious Disease Epidemiologist & Chair
Department of Epidemiology
Robert Stempel College of Public Health
Trepka was the director of epidemiology and disease control for the Miami-Dade County Health Department from 1998–2003 and joined Florida International University full time in 2003. She is board certified in preventive medicine and public health and a fellow in the American College of Preventive Medicine. Her particular interest is the role of social determinants in health disparities in HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Trepka trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the GSF-Research Center for Health and Environment in Munich, Germany from 1994-1996 and as an epidemic intelligence service officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1996-1998.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Trepka is part of the team that launched the Miami-Dade COVID19 Trend Tracker, where her expertise is related directly to the epidemiology of the virus in Miami-Dade County.
Email: trepkam@fiu.edu

Eneida O. Roldan
Chief Executive Officer, FIU HealthCare Network
Associate Dean, Office of International Affairs
Associate Dean, Master in Physician Assistant Studies
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Dr. Roldan currently serves as the clinical director for the Miami-Dade County COVID-19 testing site staffed by FIU. Roldan is the immediate past president and CEO for the Jackson Health System, one of the largest safety net health systems in the country. She is internationally renown in the areas of obesity, health policy, health care reform, health care management and systems, and leadership.
Dr. Roldan is also available for interviews in Spanish.
Email: eoroldan@fiu.edu
To speak with Dr. Roldan, please contact Ileana Varela: 305-348-4926, ilvarela@fiu.edu

Patria Rojas
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Research Associate Professor, Center for Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA)
Robert Stempel College of Public Health
For more than two decades, Dr. Rojas has focused on prevention efforts to address HIV/AIDS and substance abuse health disparities affecting Latino populations. Prior to completing her doctoral work in social welfare at Florida International University, she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Merrimack College, and earned graduate degrees in social work and public health from Boston University. Her research focuses on Latino health behaviors and health disparities among Latinos –particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and mental health. Dr. Rojas has published papers in the field of minority health promotion and disease prevention, which have helped spearhead interventions for alcohol and substance abuse and HIV prevention among Latino immigrant women in South Florida.
Dr. Rojas can speak to the public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Latino communities and minority health disparities, including migrant and farmworker communities in Florida.
Dr. Rojas is also available for interviews in Spanish.
Email: proja003@fiu.edu

Cheryl Holder
Associate Professor
Department of Humanities, Health, and Society
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Dr. Holder is a board-certified internist and HIV specialist who has dedicated her medical career to serving underserved populations. As president of the Florida State Medical Association she has spearheaded efforts to address the risk of COVID-19 among African-Americans. She also co-chairs Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, where she works to increase climate literacy and enhance awareness of the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations.
Email: clholder@fiu.edu
Office: 305-348-0698

Carlos Espinal
Director
Global Health Consortium
Robert Stempel College of Public Health
Dr. Espinal’s expertise is in tropical and geographical diseases, epidemiology and malaria vaccine development. He earned his degree in medicine at the University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia. He continued his academic career as a fellow at both the New York University School of Medicine and the University of New Mexico School Of Medicine, where he specialized in tropical geographical diseases, epidemiology and malaria vaccine development. Sequentially he also earned a certificate in Public Health and Vaccinology from the Carlos Slim Health Institute, Mexico. He is the editor of multiple consensus and guidelines on pediatric, adult vaccination, occupational health and travel medicine in Latin America.
Dr. Espinal is also available for interviews in Spanish.
Email: caespina@fiu.edu

Shed Boren, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
Robert Stempel College of Public Health
Boren is a social worker and healthcare executive recognized for his advocacy for others. He has worked for, and on behalf of, vulnerable populations for more than 30 years, with a focus on those living with HIV/AIDS, chronic and infectious diseases, mental health challenges and poverty. Dr. Boren has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Camillus Health Concern, Camillus House, Sister Emmanuel Hospital and as the founder of Mercy Hospital’s AIDS program. Over the years he has developed a special interest in working with people making difficult healthcare decisions, people experiencing homelessness, the LGBTQ community and those in contact with the criminal justice system. Dr. Boren served as the Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-winning film, The Day It Snowed in Miami (2014) and Sisters, a film about Sister Helen Prejean (2018). He remains active in the community and he is on the Board of Directors of LEAP and Guitars over Guns. He holds several graduate degrees, including an MSW (counseling), MBA (Health Administration), PhD (sociology), and post-graduate training in bioethics.
Email: sboren@fiu.edu
Mobile: 305-632-6647

Zoran Bursac
Chair, Department of Biostatistics
Director, Biostatistics Consulting Service Center
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
Dr. Bursac obtained a PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in 2003. During his career Dr. Bursac has worked on over 40 grants with a total value of over $75,000,000. Dr. Bursac has authored/co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in various areas of public health, preventive and clinical medicine, and biostatistics. These publications have been cited approximately 4000 times.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Bursac is part of the team that launched the Miami-Dade COVID19 Trend Tracker, where his expertise is related directly to data topics.
Email: zbursac@fiu.edu

William W. Darrow
Professor
Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Robert Stempel College of Public Health
Before accepting a position at Florida International University (FIU) in 1994, Darrow was chief of the Behavioral and Prevention Research Branch, Division of STD/HIV Prevention, National Center for Prevention Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He currently conducts scholarly research and teaches courses to doctoral students on the history and foundations of Public Health as well as on ethical issues in Public Health. In both courses, we look at historical precedents to see how they might shape contemporary policies and practices in global, national, and local perspectives.
Email: darroww@fiu.edu
Cell: (305) 248-6619

Tomás R. Guilarte
Dean
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
A renowned expert in public health, Guilarte joined FIU after serving as the inaugural Leon Hess Professor and Chairman of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University School of Public Health in the City of New York. Prior to Columbia University, he received his doctorate and spent three decades as a professor and researcher in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Email: tguilart@fiu.edu
Office: (305) 348-5344

Leslie Frazier, Ph.D.
Associate professor
Department of Psychology
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Frazier's current research areas focus on stress and coping with life transitions in an effort to maximize mental and physical health outcomes. Of special interest is understanding the adjustment to living with chronic illness and the processes associated with developing resilience and avenues toward successful aging. More recently, Dr. Frazier has become interested in psychosocial factors that influence body image, disordered eating, and risk of developing eating disorders in young adults.
Email: frazier@fiu.edu

Contact Tracing

Jacqueline R. Evans, Ph.D.
Associate professor
Department of Psychology
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Evans leads the Theory-based Research on Interviewing, Interrogation, Intelligence-gathering, and Assessing Deception Lab. She studies the application of psychological theory to the criminal justice system, with a primary focus on investigative interviewing contexts. Evans can discuss issues related to witness memory and best practices for investigative interviewing including the cognitive interview. She is a co-investigator in a new study funded by an NSF Rapid Response grant to identify a more effective way to conduct contact tracing.
Email: jacevans@fiu.edu

Deborah Goldfarb, J.D., Ph.D.
Assistant professor
Department of Psychology
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Goldfarb is an attorney and assistant professor of psychology at Florida International University. She studies a number of topics at the intersection of law and psychology, including the development of children’s memory for past events. Goldfarb has published several articles on children’s eyewitness memory and testimony, delay in disclosure of prior events, and how children think about the legal system. She is the principal investigator in a new study funded by an NSF Rapid Response grant to identify a more effective way to conduct contact tracing.
Email: deborah.goldfarb@fiu.edu

Inhibitor Research

Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh, Ph.D.
Director
Biomolecular Sciences Institute
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh is a leader in the study of topoisomerases, enzymes that regulate the winding of the DNA helix. Tse-Dinh's biomedical and biomolecular research spans across disciplines of chemistry, structural biology and genetics. Topoisomerase III-ß was recently identified as an enzyme coronaviruses and other RNA viruses require to replicate and spread infection in a person efficiently. Tse-Dinh and research partners are searching for an inhibitor that can block Topoisomerase III-ß in an effort to slow the spread of infection and increase a person's chance of survival from COVID-19. She studies the structure and function of DNA topoisomerases as the basis for discovery of antibacterial and anticancer drug leads from synthetic molecules and natural products.
Email: ytsedinh@fiu.edu
Office: 305-348-4956

Prem Chapagain, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Biomolecular Sciences Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Physics
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Chapagain specializes in computational biophysics. His research focuses on biomolecular dynamics and function, a topic that is highly interdisciplinary in nature. Current projects include several important human health-related topics including functions of Ebola and Marburg virus proteins, epitope identification for vaccine development, and drug discovery for antibiotic-resistant pathogens. He is among a team of collaborators working with Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh to find an inhibitor for Topoisomerase III-ß in an effort to slow the spread of infection and increase a person's chance of survival from COVID-19.
Email: chapagap@fiu.edu

Financial markets, Economy & Interest Rates

Brian Van Hook
Regional Director
Florida Small Business Development Center
College of Business
Brian is a certified Business Continuity Professional with 15 years of experience in business continuity and disaster recovery. As small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic struggle to hang on, the Florida SBDC at FIU Business (FSBDC) has helped owners in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties navigate disaster assistance programs, getting funds into the business’ hands and developing strategies to weather the crisis. Areas of assistance include growth acceleration, business strategy, access to capital and market analysis
Email: bvanhook@fiu.edu

Sheng Guo
Professor
Department of Economics
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Guo is an expert in macroeconomics, labor economics, financial economics, the economics of sports and household finance. He is from the region in China where the outbreak began.
Email: sguo@fiu.edu
Office: 305-348-2735

Deanne Butchey
Teaching Professor
Department of Finance
College of Business
Butchey and holds a PhD in Finance. Before joining FIU Business, professor Butchey worked as an Investment Banker and Financial Services Stock Research Analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston in their Toronto offices. Prior to this, she was a stock broker at Scotia McLeod and Merrill Lynch in Toronto.
Email: butcheyd@fiu.edu
Office: 305-348-7238

Mark del Pezzo
Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Finance
College of Business
Pezzo is a CFA and former investment banker and portfolio manager for numerous depository institutions and trust departments. The courses he teaches include advanced investments and financial management. He has worked as a portfolio manager at both Raymond James and Deutsch Bank.
Email: mdelpezz@fiu.edu
Office: 305-348-2680

Mihaela Pintea
Associate Professor
Department of Economics
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Pintea focuses on public policy and the way governments can affect welfare and growth through taxation and the provision of public goods (such as in infrastructure) with different productive characteristics.
Email: pinteam@fiu.edu
Office: (305) 348-3733

Edward Murray
Associate Director
Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Murray is a leading expert on economic and housing market issues in South Florida. He has authored and presented numerous papers on economic development, affordable housing and urban planning, including articles published in Economic Development Quarterly (EDQ), the Economic Development Journal, the Journal of Public Affairs Education and the Council for Urban Economic Development’s Commentary.
Email: murrayn@fiu.edu
Office: (305) 348-1444

Maria Ilcheva
Assistant Director of Planning and Operations
Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Ilcheva has experience and responsibility in a number of areas critical to the Metropolitan Center’s operations, including serving as Principal Investigator and/or Project Manager on a number of contracts and grants, with many of them including a public involvement element. She has over ten years of experience in working on various economic development, social and behavioral projects.
Email: milcheva@fiu.edu
Office: (954) 438-8352

Nancy Richmond
Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Marketing & Logistics
College of Business
Richmond is an expert and leading speaker in social media, innovation and marketing. She offers consulting and training sessions in the areas of social media and leadership development. Richmond has served as a speaker and consultant for Campbell Soup Company, NBC 6/Telemundo, and National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Email: nrichmond@fiu.edu

Gustavo Mosquera
Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Marketing & Logistics
College of Business
Mosquera is an expert in marketing analytics, as well as branding, digital marketing, consumer behavior and business development. He can also discuss the economic impact of campaigns and major events. Mosquera is available for interviews in Spanish.
Email: gmosquera@fiu.edu

Wendy Guess
Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Marketing & Logistics
College of Business
Guess has expertise in the promotion, communication, and marketing of health, wellness, and fitness across a variety of platforms and settings. She provides the innovative methods in health and fitness marketing to help organizations do what they do best – inspire healthy change.
Email: wguess@fiu.edu

Supply Chain & Logistics

Sebastián J. García-Dastugue
Assistant Professor
Department of Marketing & Logistics
College of Business
García-Dastugue’s main area of research is how technology innovations impact supply chain management. His interest in innovation is twofold: examining how technology innovations disrupt supply chains, and also how supply chain professionals can assess and communicate these disruptions. He also works in B2B relationship management and supply chain strategy. His research has been published in Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Business Logistics, Journal of Supply Chain Management and The International Journal of Logistics Management.
Email: sgarciad@fiu.edu
Office: (479) 595-9282

Craig Austin
Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Marketing & Logistics
College of Business
Austin specializes on export marketing, import/export and international logistics, as well as transportation logistics. Austin has more than fifteen years of experience in international logistics, CFS & Gateway operations, and supply chain logistics. He is director of Business Development & Supply Chain Logistics at PolePixie.com, a division of NetOrg.com. Previously he was the regional cargo ops manager at Laparkan Air & Ocean Shipping, International Division.
Email: laaustin@fiu.edu
Office: (305) 348-6747

Greg Maloney
Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Global Leadership and Management
Director, MS in Logistics & Supply Chain Management
College of Business
Specializes in marketing analytics plus marketing channels. He can discuss marketing analytics, its role in brands’ messaging, as well as multi-channel/omni-channel strategy, which has gained traction in the industry. Earlier in his career Maloney led the analytics department at Bacardi USA, driving marketing and sales outreach.
Email: Gmaloney@fiu.edu

Unemployment

Marc Weinstein
Clinical Professor, Department of Global Leadership and Management
Director, MS in Human Resource Management
College of Business
Weinstein specializes in the areas of occupational safety and health and employee wellness and is the Faculty Advisor for the FIU Student Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. He has published in a wide range of journals including Applied Ergonomics, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Journal of Management Research, International Journal of Occupational Environmental Health and The Journal of Construction and Engineering Management. Professor Weinstein has consulted with numerous companies and governmental organizations in the areas of labor and management relations as well as occupational safety and health. He previously held faculty positions at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Oregon. He received his Ph.D. in Human Resources from the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Email: weinstei@fiu.edu

Politics

Thomas Breslin
Professor of Politics and International Relations
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Breslin is an expert on U.S. diplomatic history; China’s foreign relations history; U.S.-China relations; and ethnicity and religion in foreign affairs. Breslin is the author of the groundbreaking exploration of the effect of presidential ethnicity on American foreign relations from George Washington to George W. Bush, The Great Anglo-Celtic Divide in the History of American Foreign Relations.
Email: thomas.breslin@fiu.edu
Office: 305-348-3765

Brian Fonseca
Director
Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Fonseca's technical expertise is in U.S. national security and foreign policy. His 2018 publications focus on Russian engagement in Latin America—including information operations, diaspora diplomacy and Russian-Venezuelan relations.
Email: fonsecab@fiu.edu
Office: (305) 348-2977

Eduardo Gamarra
Professor
Department of Politics & International Relations
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Gamarra has been involved in research and public policy issues, academic exchanges, fund raising, and other multiple activities in most countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. He has served as the principal consultant on security sector reform, foreign policy, campaign strategy and strategic communications to several heads of state and government in the Americas.
Email: gamarrae@fiu.edu
Office: (305) 348-1718

Remote Learning & Working from Home

Ravi Gajendran
Chair
Department of Global Leadership and Management
College of Business
Gajendran's research focus is virtual work arrangements such as telecommuting, virtual teams, distributed teams and computer mediated communication. Before joining FIU he worked in the business industry for more than six years in sales, marketing, and market research. He held positions at Procter and Gamble and Cadburys India Limited.
Email: rgajendr@fiu.edu
Office: (305) 348-1102

Valentina Bruk-Lee, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Bruk-Lee's research focuses on interpersonal conflict in organizations, employee satisfaction, occupational health and well-being, employee selection. Bruk-Lee has consulted with both private and public sector organizations in the areas of employee selection, job analysis, performance measurement, and competency modeling. Bruk-Lee is available for interviews in English and Spanish.
Email: vblee@fiu.edu

Jose F. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Instructor
Honors College and Department of Psychology
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Rodriguez's academic and research interests intersect a number of different disciplines (psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, literature, philosophy, art). His research agenda is varied including stress and health in the workplace, indicators of success among college students, identity and adjustment of immigrant population, among other interests. Rodriguez is available for interviews in English and Spanish.
Email: jrodrigej@fiu.edu

Crisis Communication

Aileen Izquierdo
Director
Global Strategic Communications master’s degree program
College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
Izquierdo is a communications professional with more than 25 years of strategic communications, branding and crisis communications experience in private and public sector organizations. She has held several executive and management positions throughout her career, including serving as vice president for communications and marketing at multiple institutions. Izquierdo currently serves as the chair for the communication department at Florida International University and is part of the faculty. She also oversees the Global Strategic Communications master’s degree program at FIU.
Izquierdo is available for interviews in English and Spanish.
Email: aiizquie@fiu.edu
Office: 305-348-1984

María Elena Villar, PhD
Associate professor, Department of Communication
Co-Director, Steven Cruz Institute for Media, Science and Technology
College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
Villar teaches courses in research methods, multicultural communication, and advanced seminars in strategic communications. Her research focuses on culturally competent communication and communication as a tool to reduce social disparities, with a focus on science and health communication. She is currently conducting research on vaccine related communication. She has published her work in dozens of interdisciplinary Journals such as Journal for Immigrant and Minority Health, Journal of Hispanics in Education, Science Communication, Journal of Community Practice, Journal of Consumer Marketing, and Howard Journal of Communication, among others. She has been PI or co-PI on two NIH-funded pilot projects around health disparities and how minorities address health issues. In her career as a researcher and consultant, Dr. Villar has focused on diverse topics that range from culture and communication, evaluation of program outcomes, and racial and ethnic disparities.
Villar is available for interviews in English and Spanish.
Email: mevillar@fiu.edu

Alumnus shares experience as political analyst for Telemundo

Katherine Dagand — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 11:40:00 -0500

Alumnus Michael Hernandez '04, MPA '11 has had an extensive career in public affairs.

He worked both Obama campaigns in 2008 and 2012 and served as the director of communications and senior advisor for Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Giménez for four years. He’s currently a senior vice president at Mercury Florida, an international powerhouse public affairs consulting firm and serves as president for the FIU Alumni Association Board of Directors, while also teaching effective governmental Communication at the Green School.

Hernandez's latest endeavor landed him on the small screen, being the on-air political analyst for WSCV Telemundo 51.

Hernandez recently took some time from his hectic schedule to talk about his experience at Telemundo, his career in public affairs, and his passion for FIU and South Florida.

Have you fully recovered from election night yet? That must’ve been quite stressful.

In the year and a half that I’ve been working with Telemundo, Election night was the longest night. Laughs. It was brutal. I was on the digital broadcast for four straight hours without a script, going over every result NBC News was projecting and having to gather and share my thoughts LIVE. Other interviews that aired after election night were prerecorded, but Saturday evening I had to go back to the station and comment on the projected results and now President-Elect Biden’s acceptance speech. It was nice being able to do LIVE TV and know that my kids, 8 and 5, are sitting at home with my wife and calling their cousins in New York and saying, “that’s my daddy!”

How did you get involved with Telemundo?

My relationship with Telemundo began in 2019. The station was looking for an analyst with experience in politics, bilingual, with newsroom familiarity and someone with bipartisan credentials. While I am a Democrat and had worked both Obama campaigns, I also worked under Mayor Giménez (a Republican) and know how both political parties think and work. I’m not overly partisan and bring a different perspective to the table.

Have you enjoyed working on this side of the media world?

Absolutely, I’ve learned so much about the process and how extensive it is, and I can’t thank Telemundo enough. It’s different being part of a news broadcast production versus being someone that would pitch them stories. I’ve received more from them than I’ve given in return. I was also able to work with reporters I knew from the past, as well as sit alongside former Congressman Carlos Curbelo. It was an honor to work beside him, and we got along very well.

Where did your passion for public policy come from?

Attending FIU, I was [going back and forth] between majoring in communications or political science. I ended up majoring in political science with a minor in communications. I also joined The Beacon, now named PantherNOW, to gain that newsroom experience. After graduating, my first official job outside of FIU was working for a public affairs consulting firm. I always wanted to be at the intersection of communications and public policy and government affairs. I was glad that I was able to do it in my backyard as opposed to a lot of my friends who moved elsewhere to establish their careers.

Many think someone wanting to work in public affairs needs to head to Washington, D.C. Why did you choose to stay in Miami?

I felt it was important to raise my family here. I’m passionate about South Florida and believe that this is what the U.S. will look and feel like in the future. Miami-Dade and Broward counties aren’t outliers, they’re what other metropolitan areas around the country are going to be in the 21^st century. Living here, you understand multiculturalism and understand different perspectives – political, economic, social – there’s always a wide array of viewpoints. South Florida’s diversity is its strength.

Sometimes we get a bad rap as a community. Every urban metropolitan community has challenges, for instance, our environmental issues such as sea-level rise is a concern. But there’s always a lot of work to do. I continue to feel that South Florida is the kind of community that you get out of what you put in. If you want to succeed professionally, there are ways to do that. If you want an urban lifestyle, you can have that. If you want a suburban lifestyle, you can have that. If you prefer rural, it’s possible, too.

Would you say FIU has played a role in South Florida’s growth?

Without a doubt. Miami’s growth can be traced directly to and in conjunction with the growth of FIU. I like to say there are two eras of FIU: pre-President Rosenberg and post-President Rosenberg. Before President Rosenberg, FIU wasn’t appreciated for what we were doing, it was considered an emerging institution. But with the hard work of the previous presidents and President Rosenberg, it’s now a highly ranked institution that has “arrived.”

When I started working for Mayor Giménez’s office in Spring 2014, our population in Miami-Dade was 2.6 million and Broward was 1.6 million. Six years later, it’s increased to 2.8 million and 1.8 million, respectively. Four hundred thousand people relocated here for a reason. There isn’t an exodus, there’s a massive influx from around the country and the world. In our recent search for an executive director for the alumni association, there was an abundance of applicants. People still want to work, live, play and raise a family in South Florida, and they want to be connected to FIU.

How about you as a person? Did attending FIU affect your personal growth?

FIU has been a big part of who I am since the beginning. It’s why I chose the career I did and have had the success that I have had. In fact, my mom was one of the first hires of our previous president— Modesto A. Maidique— back in 1986. I have a large network, and I wouldn’t have had it, had it not been for FIU. I’m passionate about the university, which is why I came back and earned my master’s in public administration from FIU. Granted, it took me longer than I had hoped due to the Obama campaign that took up a lot of time.

How was it working for the Obama campaign? How’d you get involved?

The Obama campaign was the first campaign I worked on at a federal level. It started when my boss at the time wanted to get involved in the campaign but frankly didn’t believe anyone could derail Hilary Clinton’s presidential run. He mentioned there’s a new senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, who’s could potentially be her running mate or Secretary of State. And little did we know, he became the candidate for the Democratic party.

I was moved by Obama —what he stood for and what he planned to accomplish if he’d win the presidency. There weren’t many Cuban American democrats in South Florida willing to go on tv and radio and represent the Obama campaign, so my boss and I started doing that and we quickly got close to the Florida campaign team. Fast forward to when I decided to re-enter the private sector after four years in government, I reached out to Ashley Walker who had served as Florida campaign manager for Obama’s re-election. And that is how I ended up with Mercury Public Affairs.

Given your experience in the political world, what would you say to those who’d like to be civically active or are interested in public affairs, but are discouraged by current political tensions?

Verify the source. There has never been, at least in my lifetime, more disinformation out there than in this election. We need to do a better job of reading and verifying information and sources before sharing articles and clickbait throughout our networks.
Support local journalism. Reporters are paid to be skeptical and report facts. Journalists are working to know and very facts. It’s important to conduct some research and support reporting by subscribing to the local newspaper and watching your local TV channels.
Stay informed. In George W. Bush’s inaugural address in January 2001, he urged Americans to be “citizens and not spectators.” That means to participate in local elections and stay informed. If you don’t take an interest in folks elected to represent you, it’s a dangerous slope to be on because a democracy is only as strong as those who choose to participate in it. I’ve worked with both sides of the aisle, and at the end of the day, we must remember despite our different perspectives we’re not enemies. We’re Americans.

FIU is taking a stand on educating students on how to be civically active the right, informed way. I appreciate that because we all should be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Yes, a big congratulations to those graduating this semester! Take pride in your university, be active in the alumni association. You are now part of a network of approximately 260,000 graduates, in all 50 states and dozens of countries. Get involved with your alumni association. Support the university that supported you.

Biomedical engineering student wins first place at annual conference for Society of Women Engineers

Jacqueline Herrera — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:30:00 -0500

At 7 years old, Allison Martinez pinched the legs of her grandmother, who was confined to a wheelchair, to see if she could get a reaction. Martinez’s grandmother had suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident.

At an internet café in Honduras, “I [had] read about the loss of an individual’s leg sensation, so I decided to... pinch her leg to see if she could feel it,” Martinez says. “Looking back, that moment defined me, and I knew that I wanted to create something that would change peoples’ lives.”

In October, Martinez won first place among 10 finalists in the WE20 Poster Competition at the national annual conference of the Society of Women Engineers. The award is across all disciplines of engineering and computing. Her project, titled “Role of Pericytes in Electrical Signal Conduction in the Cerebral Microcirculation: Insights from a Mathematical Model,” focused on how her research model predicts and contributes to the understanding of physiological phenomena.

In her research, Martinez focuses on the electrical components that influence the behavior of pericytes, which are cells that wrap around capillaries that could potentially play a role in the regulation of blood flow in the brain.

Martinez often reflects back on her childhood with her grandmother to keep her motivated for not only her studies in biomedical engineering but also when designing the poster that ultimately won her the competition.

“I would go with my grandmother to hospitals when I was in Honduras. It was there that I was able to better understand a clinical setting,” she adds. “At the competition, I knew that my research was not necessarily conventional, but that it would someday be very useful in clinical application.”

Allison Martinez presenting her research at the national Annual Conference of the Society of Women Engineers.

In 2018, Martinez came to FIU as an international student. She ultimately decided to pursue biomedical engineering and focus on a medical area that would allow her to create solutions to problems. During her earlier studies, she attended panel and outreach events hosted by FIU’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and became involved with the organization because she was inspired by the representation of women in the STEM field.

“I enjoyed going to the events and showing little girls that STEM is not unreachable, especially to those from Hispanic origins,” she says. “I was once that curious little girl at an internet café fascinated by the world of STEM.”

Martinez plans to pursue her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and continue her research into the more cognitive component of the neuroscience field, which includes small vessel diseases such as Alzheimer’s. She credits the faculty and the researchers in the lab for not only helping her learn how to work independently, but also in a team. She began her research experience under the guidance of Professor Nikolaos Tsoukias and postdoctoral fellow Arash Moshkforoush in BME’s Vascular Physiology and Biotransport Lab and focused on studies involving the relationship between brain activity and blood flow.

“Eventually, I would like to run my own lab, either in the industry or academia, to help ensure an inclusive environment and inspire young women and minorities in the STEM field. I want to give them the opportunity and resources to succeed.”

As current president of FIU’s SWE, Martinez promotes the inclusion of other underrepresented STEM groups, such as the LGBTQA+ community. Currently, she is also looking at giving back through the organization to those countries most recently affected by the hurricanes that devastated several regions of Central America, such as Honduras.

“I think it’s important to never forget where we come from,” Martinez says. “A part of me is in Honduras and always will be.”

Alumnus creates film for Amazon Prime Video using smartphone

Zion Sealy — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0500

Award-winning filmmaker Gabriel Rhenals '16 produced his first full-length feature film “For My Sister”—now streaming on Amazon Prime Video—on his smartphone. In 2019, Rhenals was looking for a simple, cost-effective way of creating the movie; he decided to film the entire production using his Samsung Galaxy S9+.

“There was a giddy excitement to how fast, effective and cost-efficient that choice made the whole filmmaking process compared to traditional means and that thrill never left me, even on the most trying days,” says Rhenals, a graduate of FIU's Department of Communication.

Since graduating from FIU, Rhenals has been honored for various productions. His short film, "The Promotion" was featured on South Florida PBS on their premiere episode of FilmMakers in 2019. In addition, his other short film, "Leo's Love Letter", was awarded Best Opening Night at the Love Your Short Films Festival in 2016 and Best Screenplay at the FilmGate Miami’s I’m Not Gonna Move to L.A festival in 2016.

Filmed entirely in Miami, “For My Sister” follows a young woman named Evie as she fights to help her sister, Tris, with depression—a condition that has brought tragedy to their family in the past. Viewers are taken into a near future where a technology company uses time-traveling nano-drone technology to capture their clients’ recent past. Evie uses this premise to portray herself as the one displaying mental episodes in order to protect her sister, while avoiding stigmatization of her mental illness.

Rhenals’ inspiration for the film comes from hearing countless stories from his friends and strangers about their struggles with mental illness.

“It's a very relevant and pressing issue in our society, particularly as Miami-Dade County has the highest percentage of people living with severe mental illness over any other metropolitan area in the country,” Rhenals adds.

Casting was key for Rhenals. The film team casted more than 30 actors and actresses from the South Florida area—all of whom knew of the film through word-of-mouth. However, for the main roles, he was clear on who he wanted to play Evie and Tris even before the script was written: actresses he'd worked with in the past and knew their styles would fit perfectly.

“I knew of no pair of actresses more talented and up to the challenge than Stephanie Maltez and Cristina De Fatima,” Rhenals says. “I'd collaborated with them on my final short film ‘The Promotion.'”

The film featured many FIU alumni—De Fatima ’20; William Guevara’20; Natalie Ramirez’08, '15; and Maltez ’19, a graduate of the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. Throughout filming, they met mainly at an apartment where they filmed scenes and sequences to bring the whole production together.

“This was an opportunity I could not refuse,” Maltez says. “I knew I could trust that this film would not only be completed but also done well and with a lot of care.”

Cast members say the production created a welcoming and fun environment, the result of many of them having worked together in the past. For Matez, the chemistry was perfectly unmatched; and, for De Fatima, it made everything easier to really bring the characters to life.

“My favorite part of the experience was preparing mentally and emotionally for the climax moment of my character arc,” De Fatima says. “I was able to apply my technical training and I think I was able to truly embrace exactly what Tris was going through.”

The full film is available now on Amazon Prime Video; click here to view.

Native crabs clean house for coral reefs

Chrystian Tejedor — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 11:01:00 -0500

The Caribbean King Crab might be the secret to wiping out a killer algae invasion on coral reefs, according to a new study.

Reefs provide many benefits to marine life and to people, yet climate change, pollution and an abundance of seaweeds are conspiring to snuff out reefs all over the world.

The algae invasion is particularly problematic because it smothers corals, reduces their growth and reproduction, and prevents establishment of juvenile corals. Seaweeds also fill in the nooks and crannies on coral reefs fish and other marine life use for shelter.

In the Caribbean, the calcareous green algae Halimeda is taking over many reefs. Few animals tolerate its taste and texture. The Caribbean King Crab is the exception. So, researchers tested a few scenarios to see what would happen when concentrations of crabs were increased on reefs in the Florida Keys that were covered in Halimeda.

On reefs where people first scrubbed corals and introduced crabs, 80 percent of the algae was wiped out. On reefs where the crab didn’t receive clean up help from people, more than 50 percent of the algae was gone.

“Crabs are basically cleaning house so the corals can do better,” said FIU marine scientist Mark J. Butler, the study’s senior author.

Once the seaweed situation was under control, Butler and co-author Angelo Spadaro observed more fish and coral recruits on the reefs.

Butler is the Walter and Rosalie Goldberg Professor of Tropical Ecology in the FIU Institute of Environment and Department of Biological Sciences. He joined FIU in 2020 after 31 years at Old Dominion University, where, among other accolades, he was a recipient of the Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, the highest honor for faculty at Virginia's public and private colleges and universities.

For more than 30 years, the Florida Keys and Caribbean have served as the home base for his research and he has published more than 150 scientific articles on tropical marine ecology. He is continuing to explore how this latest work can become a large scale, viable solution for keeping corals healthy. He is particularly interested in using aquaculture techniques to rear Caribbean Kind Crab and deploy them to reefs when they are larger and less likely to be eaten by predators before they can get to work.

The study was published in Current Biology.

A professorship of tropical ecology has been established in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education at FIU thanks to a gift from FIU Emeritus Professor Walter Goldberg and his wife, Rosalie.

The Walter and Rosalie Goldberg Professorship in Tropical Ecology is designed to expand FIU’s already-growing expertise in conservation, sustainability, resilience, impacts of invasive species and other human disruptions to tropical ecosystems. The search for a top scholar in tropical ecosystems will launch later this year.

Natives of Massachusetts, Walter joined FIU’s faculty in 1973 and Rosalie spent her career in Miami working for BellSouth and later AT&T. For the next 39 years, Walter taught many general biology, oceanography and zoology courses and focused his research on the biology of corals. He retired in 2012 but returned one year later to teach a scientific writing course for honors students, a course he still teaches today. A professorship in marine sciences might have seemed an obvious choice for the couple who has been married for 47 years, but the Goldbergs wanted to do more.

“We have all kinds of problems with every ecosystem you can think of, so we wanted it to be all-encompassing,” Walter said. “This is not a position I’m creating in my own image. The person hired for this professorship is going to be a world-class expert in resilience and sustainability of tropical ecosystems regardless of the type of ecosystem. Terrestrial, marine or aquatic.”

In less than 50 years, more than 60 percent of the world’s population is expected to live in tropical regions, deriving nearly all of their food, medicines and shelter from tropical species. FIU Tropics, which includes the Tropical Conservation Institute, is an initiative within the College of Arts, Sciences & Education to advance research that provides meaningful solutions needed for a sustainable future in these regions. Currently, more than 50 faculty members focus their research on the tropics.

“Throughout his career, Dr. Goldberg has been central to the development of FIU, the Department of Biological Sciences and the Marine Sciences Program,” said Mike Heithaus, dean of the FIU College of Arts, Sciences & Education and colleague of Walter’s. “It’s very special that he is continuing to help FIU grow and providing a legacy that will be meaningful to students and the department and will help protect tropical ecosystems for generations to come.”

Walter was only 27 when he joined the FIU faculty in 1973 — one year after the university first opened its doors — and says he basically grew up in the Department of Biological Sciences.

“To have this opportunity to make a difference, to do something like this, I wouldn’t have believed it back then. But I’m glad we are able to do it,” Walter said. “The development of the Department of Biological Sciences at FIU has always been and will always be very important to Rosalie and me.”

Pollutants, caused by fertilizer, sewage and other human sources, are interfering with corals' immune systems.
Ph.D. student Katherine Dougan studied how pollution impacted corals' immune response.
Corals in polluted water had low levels of important immune proteins — making it harder for them to fight off infections.
There is real concern for reefs along the coastlines of more developed areas.

Fighting infections is hard. It’s even harder for corals also grappling with pollution.

Katherine Dougan, a Ph.D. student in the FIU Institute of Environment, found high levels of nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorous—caused by fertilizer, sewage and other human sources—are actually making it harder for corals to defend themselves against infections. And this is something they have to do a lot to stay healthy and survive.

A normal day on the reef usually results in corals getting roughed up. Fish slam into them while hunting. Sometimes, corals will become prey and get bitten. This is bad, because fish have pretty dirty mouths. Bacteria that’s left behind can get into the wound, causing an infection. Corals are usually capable of recovering, though. Special immune proteins immediately get to work, helping close the wound and heal the tissue. Dougan wanted to see whether pollution was altering this normal, everyday process.

Previous studies have shown common pollutants wreak havoc on coastal ecosystems, causing everything from dead zones that cannot support marine life to harmful algae blooms. A connection was also made between pollution and high rates of coral bleaching, bacterial infections and disease spread on reefs. There wasn’t specific evidence on why this was happening.

Dougan worked with a collaborative team at UC Santa Barbara to assess the immunity of different coral fragments in the Florida Keys by monitoring immune protein levels before and after they were damaged. Overall, corals in polluted water had lower levels of important immune proteins. The most significant finding, though, was that corals facing pollution had low levels of proteins even before they experienced any sort of damage. This means they can’t carry out a process they’ve been doing for as long as they’ve lived in the ocean.

“This type of damage from fish is a normal event for coral that has been happening long before us,” Dougan said. “Now, the problem is we have created this environment of nutrient pollution that is undermining their ability to carry out their normal immune system function. We’re making their job more difficult.”

These findings are a cause for concern, especially for coral reefs along the coastlines of developed areas, where agricultural runoff and septic tanks are causing major pollution problems.

Marine sciences associate professor Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty, who oversees the lab where the research was conducted, says this study is critical in informing important change.

“In order to help corals to improve their tolerance and resistance to pathogens, it is imperative for us to understand how poor-water quality affects the immune capacity of corals to fight disease-causing agents,” Rodriguez-Lanetty said. “This should be part of management top priority to guide control and intervention strategies for coral disease outbreak.”

The findings were recently published in Frontiers in Marine Science.

By Candice Allouch

Rising ocean temperatures are killing coral reefs, but researchers discovered corals have a secret buried in their genes that just might help them fight off seasonal changes in temperature.

For over two years, FIU Institute of Environment Ph.D. student Javier Rodriguez-Casariego sampled reefs around Culebra Island, Puerto Rico to learn about their responses to the destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. He did this work under the direction of FIU molecular biologist Jose Eirin-Lopez of the institute’s CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment and the Environmental Epigenetics Lab.

This project, funded by the National Science Foundation and part of a bigger initiative aimed at understanding the effects of hurricanes on coral reefs, catapulted Rodriguez-Casariego to further research the adaptation responses of corals. For 17 months, he collected more than 200 Staghorn coral samples with former CREST undergraduate student Ivanna Ortiz Rivera and former CREST postdoctoral researcher Alex Mercado-Molina.

Together, they studied the corals across all four seasons. What they found was eye-opening. Depending on the season, corals modified the activity of their DNA in order to adapt to changes in temperature and other conditions. These epigenetic changes do not involve a change in DNA itself but can affect how genes are expressed.

Corals are very sensitive to temperature changes. A small change of at least 1 degree Celsius above the average summer maximum temperature is known to trigger deadly bleaching.

“This discovery opens up a research area around leveraging this epigenetic response to prevent coral bleaching under climate change conditions,” Rodriguez-Casariego said.

This research was recently published in Frontiers in Marine Science and is the first in a series of publications related to the coral research being conducted in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico.

The study was co-authored by researchers at FIU, the University of Puerto Rico, University of Santiago de Compostela, Pennsylvania State University and the Sociedad Ambiente Marino.

Student overcame cancer to graduate as a physician assistant

Ileana Varela — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0500

Kylie Alvarez was tired of being tired.

Although she excelled in school—she got a full scholarship to FIU and graduated summa cum laude—schoolwork and everything else was exhausting.

"For years, I always wondered why I was so tired all the time," said Alvarez, a physician assistant student at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM).

Eventually, she went to the doctor. After a series of tests, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid does not produce enough hormones. She also had a suspicious thyroid nodule. A month before starting PA school at FIU, she had surgery to remove her thyroid. And a biopsy revealed the nodule was malignant.

"It shook my world, knowing what happened to my grandmother," said the 25-year-old who graduates from PA school this Sunday. Kylie was a toddler when her paternal grandmother died of anaplastic thyroid cancer, a rare and lethal cancer. Fortunately, Kylie was diagnosed with a different type, papillary thyroid cancer, which is more common and treatable.

She also had to undergo radioactive iodine therapy twice. And because she was literally radioactive after each treatment, she had to isolate herself for a week afterward to prevent exposing others to the radiation. It was tough juggling school and cancer.

Kylie and her family at the 2018 white coat ceremony that marked her entry into physician assistant school.

"Yes, it was hard, but sometimes the studying would actually distract me. However, if it wasn't for my faith and my family, I wouldn't have gotten through it," she said.

Kylie is also grateful for her professors, who were helpful and understanding. The PA faculty is just as complimentary about her.

"Kylie is an outstanding student and a truly kind soul and spirit. You'd never know the difficult health challenges she has endured because she radiates a positive attitude and professional demeanor with a glowing smile, every day," said Dr. Raisa Miller, director of the HWCOM Master in Physician Assistant Studies program. "We are so proud of her. She is going to be an extraordinary physician assistant."

The physician assistant class of 2020 graduates on Sunday, Dec. 13. Two days earlier, Kylie and her classmates will participate in a special ceremony to receive their first official "long" white coats. Students wear short coats. The milestone event will fall on a sad anniversary—her grandmother's death.

"I've asked my dad to do the honor of coating me, and we're going to turn it around so that we can instead remember it as a bittersweet day."

Next January, Kylie plans to take her physician assistant certification exam. A former volunteer at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, she loves working with children and may want to specialize in pediatrics. However, because of the pandemic, there are fewer available jobs.

But because of her faith and can-do attitude, Kylie refuses to dwell on the negative. And has even found a silver lining to cancer.

"If I ever encounter a patient with cancer, I can tell them I've been in your shoes. I know how you feel," she said. "So, I think this diagnosis was a blessing in disguise."

John L. Volakis and Naphtali Rishe elected to the rank of National Academy of Inventors Fellow

Elizabeth Calzadilla — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 09:20:00 -0500

John L. Volakis, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing and professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Naphtali Rishe, professor of the School of Computing and Information Sciences, have been elected to the highly distinguished rank of National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow by the 2020 NAI Fellows Selection Committee and Board of Directors.

Volakis and Rishe join FIU’s six NAI Fellows: Shekhar Bhansali, Provost and Executive Vice President Kenneth G. Furton, S.S. Iyengar, Ranu Jung, William Murphy, and Madhavan Nair.

Volakis and Rishe are being inducted for demonstrating a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

The 2020 Fellow class represents 115 research universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutes worldwide. They collectively hold more than 4,700 issued U.S. patents. Among the 2020 Fellows are recipients of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and Nobel Prize, as well as other honors and distinctions. Their collective body of research covers a range of scientific disciplines, including biomedical engineering, computer engineering, materials science and physics.

With the election of the 2020 class, there are now 1,403 NAI Fellows worldwide, representing more than 250 prestigious universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutes. To date, NAI Fellows hold more than 42,700 issued U.S. patents, which have generated more than 13,000 licensed technologies and companies, and created more than 36 million jobs. In addition, more than $2.2 trillion in revenue has been generated based on NAI Fellow discoveries.

A Fellows induction ceremony will be held on June 7-9, 2021, in Tampa, Florida.

FIU employee leads in both federal and local COVID-19 responses

Alexandra Pecharich — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 08:30:00 -0500

Bridget Pelaez rushes in where there’s disaster. Last month that meant commanding a federal team of 20 critical care physicians and others as they answered a call for help at a hospital out west that was overwhelmed with coronavirus patients. (She declined to identify the exact location out of privacy concerns.)

The 36-year-old alumna of the Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work and assistant director for FIU’s Division of Operations and Safety has parlayed her compassion and deep training—she holds EMT-paramedic certification, a nursing degree and a master’s in disaster management—into a life of service to others.

That has included deploying to Houston as a member of the National Disaster Medical System to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey; directing the FIU volunteer response team that annually collaborates with U.S. agencies on humanitarian missions to Central and South America; and overseeing (for nine months now) the operation of a Miami-Dade County COVID-19 testing site adjacent to Modesto A. Maidique Campus and currently seeing more than 2,200 visitors a day.

As the deputy commander for the recent two-week deployment, Pelaez called upon lessons learned to expand and run the hospital’s COVID-19 unit. She also left behind a blueprint for continuing the work once her doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists returned home to their own full-time jobs amid the pandemic.

Despite most hospitals having in place emergency management plans, COVID-19 changed the playbook for many as they have struggled to hire adequate staff—and even provide proper orientation for those who do come on board—to meet the tremendous demand.

For Pelaez, communication was key.

“We’re going in to help, but we’re also strangers,” she says. “I wanted to make sure that the hospital staff knew we were not there to judge them. We were there for a short period of time, but we were there to help them come to solutions today while also thinking ahead for their patients, knowing we wouldn’t be there forever.”

Finding those solutions meant holding meetings with leaders across the board, from the chief medical officer and nursing director on down.

“I quickly had to understand the infrastructure of the hospital, build and create relationships among the different departments of the hospital,” Pelaez recalls, “so that I could understand holistically what the needs were.”

That required talking with, for example, the head of facilities to ensure that COVID-19 patient rooms are properly monitored for “negative flow” to contain contaminated air; with the IT director to make available enough computers so that nurses could document patients’ progress at bedside; and with the lead pharmacist to find the best way to distribute vital medications at a time when staff were exhausted and stretched thin. During an especially busy period, Pelaez grabbed her logistics chief and decided the pair would “run” the pharmaceuticals themselves.

“When things become complex, that’s when you need to get down to the basics,” she says of the quick-and-dirty approach that paid off at the moment, even as the two continued to tackle the larger, underlying problem.

Through it all, Pelaez remained an advocate not only for patients but for her own people. She worked with the local health department and emergency management officials to secure essential PPE and whatever other equipment they might need to “just do what they do best.”

Back on the corner of 107th Ave. and Coral Way, where cars start lining up well before the 8 a.m. opening, Pelaez works long days in weekly rotation with her FIU job. As the staff of nurses this week saw their 160,000th resident—and virus cases continue to rise both at home and nationally—she tries to keep spirits up even as fatigue sets in among the public and health care workers alike.

“I always tell my staff that although we’re doing a great job, and believe me, this site is well run,” she says, “I think complacency can be our biggest regret. I have a quote that I hang up inside the command post.

“It says, ‘Just because you are over the pandemic does not mean the pandemic is over.’”

Panthers donate toys, spread holiday cheer at drive-thru celebration

David Drucker — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 14:45:00 -0500

Poinsettias, sweets and bundles of toys traded hands while FIU cheerleaders and employees—adorned in elf and Santa hats—raced from vehicle to vehicle, making sure every gift was collected and every group got their treats.

On Dec. 4, members of the university community were invited to campus to donate toys, collect holiday goodies and enjoy a spirited drive through campus. It was the first-ever President’s Holiday Toy Drive-Thru.

“It is our pleasure and our delight to celebrate our FIU Panthers. Our faculty and staff have been amazing. It’s been a very challenging year. So, we just want to honor the work that they do while keeping our commitment to our community with our Toy Drive. That’s what makes us a great college to work for,” said El pagnier K. Hudson, senior vice president of the Division of Human Resources and vice provost of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

At the beginning of the route, attendees dropped off toys for children who might not otherwise receive many presents this holiday season. FIU set these gifts aside for future delivery to Lil' Abner, Patches of Homestead and other organizations in the community.

“We normally donate toys during the President’s holiday event. This year, we're doing the caravan. I just had to be a part of this,” said Martha Castiello ’84 MS ’86, an associate director in the Division of Information Technology.

Participants then hopped out of their vehicles and decorated them in holiday regalia and Panther Pride before forming a caravan in front of Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

At the start of the drive-thru, the marching band played tunes while the cheerleaders handed out poinsettias. Caravan participants received FIU pins, baked treats, hand sanitizer and Shop FIU giveaways as they made their way to a drive-by photo booth at the end of the route.

Cheerleader Melanie Boch says she enjoyed the caravan because it was holiday cheer for a good cause.

“I really enjoyed being able to be a part of something for the community,” said Boch, a junior studying economics and international business.

Members of the university community who would still like to donate toys have time. Check out this link to learn more.

Students intern at NASA, make impact in science communications

Contributing Writer — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 14:16:00 -0500

By Eric Feldman

How many students can say they played a role in communications efforts for the NASA SpaceX Crew-1 launch in November? And how many are currently laying the groundwork on messaging for astronauts’ return to the moon, Mars and beyond?

A trio of FIU interns have done just that and are completing their semester of service within the Office of Communications at NASA. The students are Lazaro Bosch, a digital media and communications major; Nickolas Gonzalez, who is earning a master of arts in global affairs; and Alex Martinez Rivera, an international relations major.

They each landed the opportunity after completing a virtual fly-in hosted by The Talent Lab at FIU in Washington, D.C., which allowed them to learn about career possibilities and how policies are made in the nation's capital. The students also earned the “DC Advocacy, Communications and Careers” digital badge, which verified and displayed their competencies for such a role in government communications.

The interns are working under FIU alumna Bettina Inclán, the associate administrator for communications at the space agency, and are funded through FIU’s Make a Difference-DC scholarship fund.

“NASA is more than a government agency,” Bosch said. “It is a family that has welcomed me and polished my skill sets to prepare me for where my next mission may take me in my career path. This internship has helped shape my aspirations to becoming a science communicator in public service.”

All three interns agreed on the importance of effectively communicating science and scientific information, which they discussed during a virtual conversation with Inclán and Mireya Mayor, director of FIU’s Science Communication and Exploration Initiative in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education.

“We put information in bite-sized pieces, so people can consume it at their pace,” Inclán said. “At NASA, we try to find people who don’t always fit into the mold of what a scientist is; a big part is trying to get people to relate, and see themselves [in what we do], and to get them excited.”

The interns work to identify ways to attract public support by testing messages for different age ranges and other segments of the population. They are hoping to increase youth engagement and reach new geographic areas with information about specific NASA projects, including the Artemis program (with the mission of landing the first woman and next man on the moon’s south pole by 2024) and the Sentinel-6 satellite, which is monitoring sea level rise from space after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

“NASA communications requires a robust understanding of some of the scientific and NASA jargon that needs to be reconfigured to match the ears of whoever is receiving the message,” Gonzalez said.

For Martinez Rivera, a Global Learning Medallion candidate and aviation journalist, the NASA experience is the fulfillment of a childhood dream, and has been the perfect alignment with his existing international and aeronautical interests. He regularly connects with both Goddard Space Flight Center and Kennedy Space Center to work on the weekly communication schedules and helps draft Tweets for NASA accounts.

Like many of the 45 students and recent graduates in this fall’s Talent Lab intern cohort, the NASA interns are working remotely from Florida, and say they are thankful for the opportunity to make progress toward their goals of working in Washington, D.C. post-graduation, even during the pandemic.

“In this virtual context, I learned more about the importance of initiative,” Gonzalez said. “Really dialing in and going the extra mile to assist those within the agency has proven very beneficial for me, as I have learned a lot and gained quite a bit of insight that will certainly produce fruit in the future.”

NASA has awarded fellowships to three College of Engineering & Computing (CEC) students in support of their research in advancements of space exploration and increased engagement of minority students in STEM opportunities.

FIU is one of a dozen minority-serving institutions across the country to receive the prestigious awards and one of only two to receive a total of three fellowships.

Marisol Roman, Ricardo Rivadeneira and Roberto Prado-Rivera are the named recipients. The awards begin during the 2020 academic year and total more than $600,000 in support of their innovative graduate-level research for the next three years. Each fellowship provides the option for a fourth-year extension based on the institution’s ability to build on accomplishments of the first three years, providing more than $200,000 in additional funding if all three fellows opt-in.

The selected projects include graduate-level research into the dynamics of Mars’ atmosphere, satellite communications, solar technologies and other areas that have the potential of contributing directly to NASA’s missions, including returning America to the Moon through the Artemis program.

Roman, 20, recently earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at FIU and is presently pursuing a doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering. Originally from Venezuela, Roman immigrated to the United States 10 years ago with her family. Both excited and humbled to be awarded such a prestigious fellowship, Roman says she aspires to develop technologies that will have a positive global impact.

“I am so grateful to my parents. They made enormous sacrifices that ultimately served as the catalyst to my academic career,” Roman says. “They taught me the importance of hard work and taking advantage of all opportunities presented to me. This fellowship puts me one step closer to achieving my dreams.”

Rivadeneira, 22, is an Ecuadorian immigrant presently pursuing a doctoral degree in electrical engineering. He says that his passion for helping others and deep admiration for nature were further nurtured while working on his undergraduate degree at FIU. Rivadeneira received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering last spring and is greatly appreciative of the many teachers who helped him along the way, but there is one professor for which he is profoundly grateful: Elias Alwan, assistant professor, School of Electrical, Computer and Enterprise Engineering.

“Elias Alwan changed my life and brought greater meaning to the many sacrifices my parents made for me when they immigrated to the U.S. in 2015. My parents envisioned a brighter future for me, and Alwan helped make that happen for me,” Rivadeneira says. “Both Alwan and my parents have taught me that a good heart coupled with brainpower knows no limits. My gratitude and joy are immeasurable.”

Prado-Rivera received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 2016, majoring in both physics and applied/computational mathematics. He joined Daniela Radu’s research team at FIU in 2018 while pursuing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering.

“Roberto is a very talented student. His tremendous drive to succeed is matched by his desire to make a difference in his field of study,” says Radu, associate professor of mechanical and materials engineering. “Roberto has a very bright future ahead of him.”

Prado-Rivera is grateful for the support he received throughout his academic career from his advisors, colleagues and professors. However, it is his parents, both immigrants from Nicaragua, that he credits most with instilling in him the value of hard work and perseverance.

“This fellowship opportunity is beyond anything my immigrant parents could have dreamt of for me. It is also their reward for working tirelessly to raise and educate well,” Prado-Rivera says. “They taught me that only I had the power to change my future. My father often wondered what would become of the boy he and my mother raised far from their homeland. They now know the answer—he will achieve a doctorate and work to make a significant impact in this world.”

NASA’s fellowship programs are designed to provide academic institutions with the ability to enhance graduate-level learning and development. Institutions are provided funds that support graduate students at a level that allows the students to fully concentrate on academic and research proficiency without the need to seek employment.

NASA STEM engagements create unique opportunities for students and the public to contribute to NASA’s work in exploration and discovery. It is focused on building a diverse future STEM workforce by engaging students in authentic learning experiences with NASA employees, content and facilities, and strengthen public understanding by enabling powerful connections to NASA’s mission and work.

“We are grateful for the opportunities NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) continues to provide our students. MUREP’s awards enhance their academic and research experiences and offer them authentic STEM engagement opportunities directly related to NASA missions,” says Alwan.

For more information on these fellowship awards and the projects they will fund, visit the NASA website.

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU is Miami's 'Best Museum'

Erica Corsano — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 14:00:00 -0500

The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU was just awarded "Best Museum" by Miami New Times, beating out larger institutions across Miami-Dade County. The accolade comes as the museum is still currently closed but continuing its award-winning virtual programming.

“The pandemic has left people feeling disconnected in various ways—disconnected from their friends and family, disconnected from the world and disconnected from their history. In a word: unmoored. That's why places like the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU are more important than ever," the article says.

"We are beyond thrilled and very grateful to Miami New Times for always supporting our work and for this prestigious award," says Susan Gladstone, executive director of the museum.

Gladstone, who is getting married this Saturday, says that it’s the best wedding gift she could have ever received.

Read the full Miami New Times article.

Silky sharks find hope in Atlantic, remain targets in Indo-Pacific

Angela Nicoletti — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 14:35:00 -0500

Diego Cardeñosa uses DNA to track and monitor the shark fin trade.
99.8 percent of silky shark fins that were sampled originated from the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
This study emphasizes the need for increased monitoring in this region.
The long-term goal of Cardeñosa’s research is to provide information about where shark fins originate in order to better direct more concentrated shark conservation efforts and fisheries management.

Cardeñosa’s DNA detective work is helping uncover the mysteries of the shark fin trade.

FIU scientists Demian Chapman and Diego Cardeñosa use DNA to track and monitor the shark fin trade.
Almost 85 percent of pelagic thresher shark fins sampled from retail markets in Hong Kong and China were traced back to the Eastern Pacific.
Pelagic thresher sharks are endangered and protected under CITES.
The team's findings are critical to pinpointing “high-risk” supply chains for illegal trade and guiding better international trade regulations.

New research reveals the Eastern Pacific is a particular hotspot for the shark fin trade — and a danger zone for an endangered species fighting for survival.

FIU postdoctoral researcher Diego Cardeñosa and Demian Chapman, an associate professor of biological sciences and marine scientist in the Institute of Environment, collaborated with scientists in Hong Kong to track and monitor the global shark fin trade using DNA testing.

They tested fins from endangered pelagic thresher sharks (Alopias pelagicus) — a species commonly found in the fin trade. Almost 85 percent of fins sampled from retail markets in Hong Kong and China were genetically traced back to sharks caught in the Eastern Pacific. It’s not the first time the scientists have linked fins from endangered sharks to this specific area.

“The findings weren’t surprising, because earlier this year we discovered the majority of fins from endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks also originated from the Eastern Pacific,” Cardeñosa said. “This is a region with poor fisheries management and poor capacity to enforce international regulations.”

The Eastern Pacific — which extends from Baja, California to Northern Peru — features island chains including the Galapagos and Cocos. The region attracts tourists. More recently, it’s also attracted a growing presence of Chinese industrial fishing vessels, especially near the Galapagos. One of the primary reasons pelagic thresher shark populations are in steep decline is because of fishing practices that involve longlines and gillnets.

The researchers traced the fins back to the Eastern Pacific by comparing DNA from the fin trimmings in Hong Kong’s markets to genetic samples that were previous collected from the region.

Diego Cardeñosa was recently named a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow in FIU's College of Arts, Sciences & Education.

While pelagic thresher sharks are considered a single species, there are actually two “clades” or separate populations that exist. These groups don’t intermingle. Instead, they mate within their specific clade. This means there are two different genetic populations — a Western group that resides in the ocean between Taiwan and Hawaii and an Eastern group, which roams between Hawaii eastward toward the coast of the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador. The majority of the samples tested were from sharks that had belonged to the Eastern group.

Thresher sharks are protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) — an international agreement protecting animals and plants from over-exploitation in international trade. All trade of these sharks requires permits certifying they were legally caught and traceable through the supply chain. Since 2017, CITES permits have documented more than five tons of shark fins exported from the Eastern Pacific to Hong Kong. This only captures legal fishing operations. Alongside the legal trade, illegal trade is also happening.

“Our research pinpoints the Eastern Pacific as a major supply chain starting point for thresher sharks and other threatened sharks, and also a high-risk region for illegal trade,” Cardeñosa said. “With what we know, we can begin to guide intervention efforts to monitor and enforce international laws. It’s especially important to use all available technology and tools to detect and deter illegal trade of CITES-listed species.”

Cardeñosa and Chapman remain committed to combating illegal trade with their DNA detective work. Earlier this year, Hong Kong customs officials intercepted an illegal shipment from Ecuador — in the Eastern Pacific — of 26 tons of thresher shark fins. The secret tool behind this historic seizure of shark fins was a DNA testing kit co-developed by Chapman and Cardeñosa. Created with funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, it’s being used in airports and shipping ports to help customs officials identify protected shark species.

“There is a tendency for people to focus on the fin markets when looking for solutions to this problem, but our work shines light on the regions where most fins are coming from and hence where shark conservation and fisheries management could make a real difference on the ground,” Chapman said. “We will only progress on global shark conservation by working throughout the supply chain — from ocean to markets."

The research is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Pew Fellowship Program. The findings were published in Animal Conservation. Cardeñosa was recently named a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education.

FIU is ranked No. 9 in the world for positive impact on life below water by The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The university ranked third in the United States and is the only institution in the state of Florida to make the list.

For the first time, researchers have traced the origins of shark fins from the retail market in Hong Kong back to the location where the sharks were first caught. This will allow them to identify “high-risk” supply chains for illegal trade and better enforce international trade regulations.

Demian Chapman, an FIU marine scientist in the Institute of Environment, led a team based in the United States and Hong Kong — the Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China — to conduct DNA analysis on shark fins from scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). One of the most common and valuable species in the trade, these sharks face an increasing risk of overexploitation — and possibly extinction.

Many female sharks go “home” to a specific region to give birth. This makes it possible for researchers to identify where a shark was born from the DNA it inherits from its mother. This DNA is present in dried, processed shark fins. The team compared the DNA from fin trimmings collected from dried seafood shops in Hong Kong to a global database of genetic samples collected by scientists from all over the world and were able to determine where the sharks originally came from.

Testing revealed the majority of fins originated from the Eastern Pacific — the coastal strip extending from Baja California to Northern Peru — where vanishing scalloped hammerhead populations are listed as “Endangered” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Eastern Pacific also includes famous island chains like Galapagos and Cocos where tourists go to dive with schools of scalloped hammerheads.

For a species like the scalloped hammerhead, where certain populations in different parts of the world are in severe decline, location information is key for implementing trade restrictions and conducting better fisheries management.

“The shark fin trade is a global market and international trade regulations are part of the solution to better manage threatened species like the scalloped hammerhead” Chapman said. “DNA detective work like this helps us understand which regions in the world are most heavily fishing this species and can narrow down where conservation interventions are needed most.”

In 2013, scalloped hammerhead sharks received protection by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) — an international agreement protecting animals and plants from over-exploitation in international trade. Listed in Appendix II, all trade of these sharks requires permits certifying they were legally caught and traceable through the supply chain.

Shortly afterward, Chapman and the team conducted DNA testing on more than 9,200 shark fin trimmings and found threatened species continue to be found in the Hong Kong retail market. Scalloped hammerheads were the fourth most common out of more than 80 shark species found and the team estimated that around 60% of them came from the Pacific coast of South and Central America.

This study highlights the global nature of the fin trade and emphasizes the need for increased monitoring and better implementation of CITES regulations throughout the world, particularly in the Eastern Pacific. Chapman also points out that the United States plays an important role in intercepting illegal shipments, since many shipments from the Eastern Pacific pass through major U.S. ports before reaching Asia.

The research is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts, The Pew Fellowship Program and the Roe Foundation. The findings were published this week in Animal Conservation.

Degree inspires students to find their voice for social justice and understanding

Monica Smith — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 14:00:00 -0500

Writing creates change in the world. It opens new possibilities, creates understanding and moves people and organizations to action and compassion.

Some of the greatest writers and speakers of our time like Martin Luther King Jr., Toni Morrison, Angelina Grimke and Abraham Lincoln have offered thoughts and stories to help society find understanding. The importance of their writings and rhetoric facilitated vital shifts in U.S. culture that still hold their relevance, not least of which include their messaging with regard to diversity and inclusion.

Along the same lines, FIU faculty members, who teach courses for the Bachelor of Arts degree in English: Writing and Rhetoric track, hope to produce graduates who can create and critically consume a wide variety of texts, including digital, networked, public, professional and educational.

“Writing consistently appears on employer lists of most in-demand skills for new college graduates, along with other so-called ‘soft skills’ like collaboration, teamwork, and problem-solving,” says College of Arts Sciences and Education Professor Kimberly Harrison, who stresses that writing and effective communication are vital parts of any movement for social justice.

Online communication and learning

As the writing program director and director of the Writing Across the Curriculum program for the Department of English, Harrison recognizes that with the rapid growth in online communication writing is more essential and prevalent than ever before. She notes that the writing and rhetoric program, available fully online, helps reach the greatest number of students who are struggling to attend courses on campus, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today’s communication is vastly different than just five to 10 years ago because of new technology and platforms. For this reason, the way we communicate will continue to evolve,” says Harrison. “This degree prepares students to be adaptive and responsive communicators.”

Gaming industry

Luke Thominet, assistant professor of English agrees with Harrison and adds how his work for the department centers on video games, where technical writing helps improve the user experience—especially in the developmental phase. In his class, students are taught to adapt messaging to improve its effectiveness, paying close attention to audiences and their feedback, which makes the skills learned transferable to a host of arenas.

“Students learn how to adapt their communication to various, diverse audiences. So, whether their future plans include communicating with colleagues, clients, students, parents or team members, they will be able to effectively do so,” he says.

Community outreach

Going further, Christine Martorana, assistant teaching professor for the department, discusses audiences, “listening” techniques, research and the power of digital communication whether through zines or social media.

“Much of the recent conversation on social justice has occurred in digital spaces: blogs, webpages and social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter, as well as in print publications such as zines,” Martorana says.

Writing expands people’s reach and the recent movements would not have been so successful if the organizers did not know how to use writing to influence their intended audiences and to coordinate action effectively, she adds. Martorana also emphasized that community outreach is essential to create opportunities for information flow.

For Martorana’s 2019 rhetorical theory class, students worked with a third-grade class. They created a video about cultural diversity and then had a live video chat where the third graders asked questions about the video and the college student experience, etc.

“Our students have also worked with local high schools to help them launch a writing center and to help tutor writing. Several of our courses specifically prepare students for putting their writing into action for community and social justice. Even those courses that do not directly focus on community writing still prepare students to engage in the community work that is important to them,” Harrison explains.

Businesses, organizations, and communities all rely on communication to carry out their daily work, and breakdowns in communication can cause significant problems. This degree teaches individuals to participate in give-and-take dialogs. Two-way communication skills are valuable to any field of work, any cause, and for the general structure of society—especially now with as polarized as views have become, Harrison concludes.

FIU Business establishes new business book imprint

Ellen Forman — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

FIU Business has teamed up with the nation’s fastest-growing independent publishing house to create FIU Business Press, a unique imprint designed to bring resources for business success to a wide audience.

With the college’s Office of Executive Education spearheading the effort, FIU Business Press was created as an imprint of Mango Publishing of Coral Gables. The publishing house, led by industry veteran Chris McKenney, was ranked No.1 on Publishers Weekly’s 2019 and 2020 lists of the fastest-growing independent book publishers.

FIU Business Press, modeled after Harvard Business Review Press as a university-based publisher that caters to a general business audience, seeks authors who can share knowledge on a wide array of topics, bringing practical business expertise to its audiences.

“Lifelong learning extends beyond the classroom,” said Jackie Sousa, director of operations for FIU Business Executive Education, which is leading the imprint. “We want to share information that serves as a toolkit to develop business skills.”

In November, the imprint published its first book, Finance Secrets of Billion-Dollar Entrepreneurs, written by Dileep Rao, an FIU Business clinical professor of international business and an expert in entrepreneurship and venture funding. His message: by emulating the tactics of billion-dollar companies, entrepreneurs can achieve their goals without early-stage venture capital.

“Dileep’s book just jumped out from the start,” Sousa said. “He was already an author. He already had a book in the works, based on research, that changes the conversation on entrepreneurship – how to build skills, particularly financial skills, and go after more traditional forms of capital, which greatly increases their opportunity to raise the money they need.”

A lineup of other authors and books is already in the works. “We will keep looking for potential authors and book deals,” she added.

From its start, Mango Publishing, named for one of its home state’s signature fruits, set itself apart from traditional, New York-based publishers. Relying heavily on data and algorithms to plan its sales and marketing campaigns, the company has dozens of Amazon bestsellers and continues to develop a wide network of international sales, using data to drive its distribution plans. Mango Publishing’s McKenney, who founded the publisher in 2014, noted strong high expectations for Rao’s book in several of the international audiences where Mango has built an extensive sales network.

Sousa hopes to use FIU’s proceeds from books to promote entrepreneurship programming and create initiatives that focus on business ownership to further that endeavor.

Authors seeking to publish books under the FIU Business Press imprint can email fiuExecEd@fiu.edu.

Professor surprised with touching gratitude video for making an impact

Monica Smith — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:30:00 -0500

In her religion and fantasy class, adjunct professor Jeanette Smith makes her lessons relatable with the “Game of Thrones” HBO series. She’s so passionate about her students and the subject matter she teaches for the Department of Religious Studies that she obtained an original message from the First Sword of Braavos, Syrio Forel (British actor Miltos Yerolemou), to celebrate the start of the fall semester.

Passion for students

For those who are GOT fans, the First Sword of Braavos is the character who teaches Arya Stark how to sword fight in the first season of the series.

“My students really mean the world to me,” Smith says. “So, I sent a raven,” she says sheepishly, not willing to break character and to keep up the mystery for her class on how she managed to get the video.

In the video, Yerolemou, in character as Syrio Forel, addresses the class, states Smith’s name and tells the students: “There is only one God, and His name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: ‘not today.’”

Student reaction

Upon realizing that the video was filmed exclusively for her class, the students’ eyes in the Zoom class widen in disbelief and a few make exclamations like, “No way!”; “I’m going to lose it!”; and “How did you get this?”

Clearly, it was a moment, and Smith captured the whole thing as she filmed the Zoom reveal.

“You choose this class for passion,” she says. “I’m pretty sure dragons are real,” she muses.

Smith describes her class as a safe space for students to talk about their points of view without judgment. The No. 1 rule in her class is respect. With that understanding, her class has offered a forum for discussion of diversity and inclusion, and conversations have even included two usually off-limits topics: religion and politics.

“They’re all respectful. They know how to have conversations, and they may have even disagreed, but they do it with respect,” notes Smith, who recently won FIU's Outstanding Adjunct Professor Award.

Turning the table

To thank Smith for her excitement about her class, students created a gratitude video. Brought in for an interview about all of her involvement with faith and social justice programs in Miami, Smith had no idea of the real reason she was invited.

Minutes after she arrived, the truth was revealed as positive quotes from her students were read to her aloud. Two students even provided gratitude videos to personally thank her for the impact she’s had on their student experience at FIU.

“I’m still amazed by it,” says Smith, while laughing about how her students really can keep a good secret.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in December of 2020 when courses were offered remotely due to the pandemic. The course is now offered as a face-to-face course and will be offered next during Fall 2022. Search for the course under the name: Religion and Fantasy (REL 3095).

How are hobbits, dragons and dire wolves related to religion and its complexities?

Religion and Fantasy is a unique course offered this fall that examined the relationship between these concepts and more. It’s offered through the Department of Religious Studies – part of the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, and it is open to all students.

Students delve into various readings including The Narnia Series by C.S Lewis, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Song of Ice and Fire, popularly known as Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin and other relevant materials that will help answer questions relating to the role of religion in fantasy literature.

“I think that so many of us have enjoyed fantasy literature over the years but not always made the connections with culture, history, or even current events,” explains Jeanette Smith, course professor. “A large part of the class is discussion and engagement with the students either reading or watching various materials ahead of time in preparation for what usually turn out to be very spirited class discussions.”

FIU students were also joined by a group of international students and their professor, Sebastian Concha Vargas, from Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios (UNIMINUTO) in Bogota, Colombia. “They are English language students whose professor has a passion for everything Game of Thrones,” Smith says.

Conducive to the joint learning environment, additional material on Colombian folk tales and myths has been added to the course and students had the opportunity to interact and work together on different projects.

“This class has been one of the highlights of my college experience and I could not recommend it more,” says Yarien Suarez, a previous student in the class. “[Smith] is an absolute gem of an educator. All the students were active participants in the course and she encouraged us all to voice our opinions and thoughts in class without fear of judgment or reprisal of any sort.”

At the beginning of the semester, Smith arranged a surprise video featuring Game of Thrones actor Miltos Yerolemou for her students.

There is no prior knowledge required for the course, students just need an interest in fantasy literature, explains Smith. “If they bring that along with an open mind, they will be just fine.”

As an added bonus, students who successfully complete the course receive a certificate for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) through FIU Global Learning.

“As C.S. Lewis said, "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again," Smith says. “I can't think of a better thing for us to do during a pandemic than immerse ourselves in a world of wonder!”

Religion and Fantasy will be offered again in Fall 2021. In the Spring, Smith will teach a similar course on Religion and Science Fiction, (REL 4937), which examines religious themes in a wide range of science fiction, including Star Wars, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dune and The Matrix. FIU students will again be joined by a group of international students, this time from Universidad Catolica del Maule in Chile.

This DIY contact tracing app helps people exposed to COVID-19 remember who they met

Angela Nicoletti — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 11:34:00 -0500

Jacqueline R. Evans, Florida International University; Christian Meissner, Iowa State University; Deborah Goldfarb, Florida International University, and Ian Jason Lee, Florida International University wrote the following op-ed that originally appeared in The Conversation.

Imagine you begin to feel ill on Thursday, a few days after returning from a trip. You’re afraid it’s COVID-19, so you get tested on Friday. Even under good circumstances, it will probably be at least Monday before a contact tracer calls from the health department. And then some phone tag may ensue before you speak with anyone – if you get a call at all.

Once a contact tracer does reach you, you will be asked to remember all the people you were in close contact with, starting two days before you began feeling symptoms. That means recalling all the places you went and the people you saw over the past week.

It isn’t easy. As time passes, memories fade. Unfortunately, your contacts, unaware they were exposed to the coronavirus, may have already infected others.

Concerned about those delays, three of us and our colleague Ronald Fisher, all psychology professors with expertise in memory, developed a way for people who have been exposed to COVID-19 to effectively trace their recent contacts on their own.

Self-driven contact tracing shouldn’t replace health department efforts. Professional teams of trained contact tracers are critical for locating the people you came in contact with but don’t know, such as at a restaurant or on an airplane, and then tracing the next ring of contacts. However, jump-starting the effort on your own can improve your chances of remembering and allow you to warn your contacts sooner.

Notifying contacts faster

Contact tracing, along with testing and isolating people who are infected, is considered crucial for controlling the coronavirus’s spread until a vaccine becomes widely available.

Health department contact tracers try to notify and interview anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more. Studies show that, to be effective, that notification needs to happen within a few days of the person’s symptoms appearing. But case numbers have gotten so high, it’s become impossible for many states and counties to keep up. Some, including in Alaska, Missouri and Wisconsin, have urged residents to start notifying contacts on their own.

The time spent waiting in line for COVID-19 testing could be used to start your own contact tracing. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

We created CogTracer as a free online tool to help people start tracing those contacts using best-practice interviewing methods.

With DIY contact tracing, the timetable changes. For example, while you’re waiting for your test, you can be given the link to the website and start walking yourself through a contact tracing interview.

[The Conversation’s most important coronavirus headlines, weekly in a new science newsletter.]

How psychology can help jog your memory

CogTracer uses prompts, in words and photos, to spark your memory for as many contacts and locations visited as possible. It urges you to look back at places that might have evidence of your movements that week, such as social media posts and credit card records, and it provides scientifically supported interviewing techniques to reduce the chances of forgetting a contact. Research in investigative interviewing shows that people can effectively remember events on their own when they have scientifically supported methods.

One technique for remembering is known as context reinstatement. It involves putting yourself back in a specific time and place.

For example, if you attended a family gathering over the holidays, you might mentally recreate the event. You could think back on how you arrived and departed, what you wore, who was there, what you ate, what you heard and what you saw. The technique encourages closing your eyes during this process to help you concentrate.

“Reliving” this experience should make it easier to remember your close contacts at the event.

Counties have hired more contact tracers trained to conduct interviews, but the rising case numbers and amount of time required for each case have overwhelmed them. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Another important way to improve memory is varied retrieval. When you search your memory only once, or in the same way over and over, it is likely that something will be forgotten. What you recall depends on how you cue your memory. If you prompt your memory in different ways, you’ll recall different things.

CogTracer takes advantage of repeated and varied recall by including broad category cues, such as “people you interact with in homes” or words such as “babysitter,” that may trigger memories of nonroutine activities that may otherwise be forgotten.

Applying these proven methods should result in more complete recall of those who could be at risk for contracting COVID-19.

Online tools can overcome other barriers, too

This DIY approach can also help overcome other barriers to effective and timely contact tracing.

Because many people put a high premium on privacy, some are resistant to providing information to contact tracers. CogTracer is anonymous and private – you don’t enter any information, and you make your own lists. This provides a way for those who otherwise would not engage in the process to contribute to contact tracing efforts on their own terms. Additionally, non-English speakers may require an interpreter, further delaying the contact tracing process. Online interviews can more quickly bridge these language gaps.

As the pandemic rages, public health workers are engaged in Herculean efforts to fight this disease. By reimagining contact tracing and applying the science of memory, we can leverage the power of individuals to attack the problem from as many fronts as possible.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Psychologists have developed a do-it-yourself tool that uses “the science of memory” to improve the ability to remember more contacts during the contact tracing process.

After testing positive for COVID-19, a person is typically advised to report who they’ve recently been in contact with, so those individuals can be notified of their exposure. Remembering every single person can be very difficult.

The team of psychologists, with expertise in memory, cognition and investigative interviewing, have launched the new web-based contact tracing tool — called CogTracer — as a free way for people in the community to help to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“We developed this tool based on recent research we’ve conducted on the best ways to conduct contact tracing interviews,” said FIU psychologist Deborah Goldfarb, who helped create CogTracer. “We think of it as a DIY contact tracing tool, because it allows you to do your own contact tracing on your own time from the privacy of your home.”

CogTracer is not a replacement for the contact tracing interviews conducted by local health departments and other organizations, such as universities. Instead, it’s designed to empower people and allow them to quickly take personal responsibility for their contacts and communities. The tool helps provide prompts that aid with remembering. For example, it asks users to visualize themselves in certain places and provides “clues” or association words, such as “baby,” “exercise,” “rest,” and “uncomfortable” to help people list more names. CogTracer asks users to write down a list of names, which the tool’s developers encourage people to share with local health officials.

“The earlier on you can identify who you’ve been in contact with, the sooner you can reach out to them so they can self-isolate and help slow the spread,” said FIU psychologist Jacqueline R. Evans, who also helped develop CogTracer. “But, remembering can be a challenging task — and the more difficult the memory task, the more important it is to provide effective cues to improve recall.”

Evans and Goldfarb, FIU psychologist Ronald Fisher and a researcher from Iowa State University, received an NSF Rapid Response grant and wanted to understand how to apply the “science of memory” — or cognitive interviewing techniques — to the contact tracing process. Helping people remember more names or even descriptions of people they have been around could help make contact tracing more efficient and effective.

Effective contact tracing relies on recalling a complete list of one’s contacts. The problem is that those prior interactions are stored in our memory — and getting to that memory relies on asking the right questions, the right way.

Evans’ previous research has pointed toward the cognitive interview as an effective way to increase the number of contacts remembered during contact tracing. Originally developed by FIU psychologist Ronald Fisher, this technique is considered by many to be the gold standard in investigative interviewing

Cognitive interview techniques are different from a standard contact tracing interview, where someone is simply asked to list their contacts with minimal follow-up prompts. Cognitive interviews dive deeper. For example, the interviewee might be asked to close their eyes to improve concentration, as well as to mentally place themselves back in a particular time and place.

The first half of the NSF-funded study tested whether the number of contacts varied depending on whether the interview was conducted over the phone or through an online survey. The team is currently examining the findings. The second half of the study begins this fall and will examine whether memory can be improved across different age ranges. This grant is being funded through FIU's Global Forensic and Justice Center.

“We hope this tool empowers individuals to recall their own contacts and also reach out to those contacts and play an important role in helping stop the spread of the pandemic,” Goldfarb said.

Course explores the world of fantasy and religion

Alexandria Rodriguez — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Passion for students

For those who are GOT fans, the First Sword of Braavos is the character who teaches Arya Stark how to sword fight in the first season of the series.

Student reaction

Clearly, it was a moment, and Smith captured the whole thing as she filmed the Zoom reveal.

“You choose this class for passion,” she says. “I’m pretty sure dragons are real,” she muses.

Turning the table

“I’m still amazed by it,” says Smith, while laughing about how her students really can keep a good secret.

Life curveballs and pandemic aside, a record number of FIU students to graduate this fall

Lourdes Perez — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 08:00:00 -0500

FIU students will cross the virtual graduation stage on December 13 to celebrate the very real degrees they earned through perseverance and a commitment to success.

“FIU students traditionally have stood out for their determination,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “But the class of 2020 has redefined grit. Our university community – the faculty, staff and administration – are so proud of the personal triumphs of each of these Panthers and the impact they are having in our community.”

Among the approximately 6,200 fall graduates are some real success stories:

Maci Kean, 22, lost 75 percent of her hearing by age five because her biological parents didn’t seek treatment for her ear infections.

By the time she was 11, she was an orphan - both parents died because of drug abuse. Sent to live with relatives she said emotionally abused her, Kean’s life continued in turmoil. At age 16, her relatives turned her over to the foster care system. Kean’s plan was to just make it to her 18th birthday and live independently. Those plans changed during her junior year at South Plantation High School, when Gigi and Chris Kean – both FIU graduates and parents of one of her classmates – adopted her just 51 days shy of her 18th birthday.

On Sunday, the girl who flunked third grade and was an average high school student will graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. Kean plans to pursue a graduate degree in organizational sciences with the goal of helping reform the foster care system and continuing to raise awareness about teens in foster care.

“When I was younger, I didn’t see myself as a college graduate,” Kean said. “For me, it was a daily struggle. I was on survival mode and I think that made it difficult to see a successful, happy future. I have come so far in this life and I’m super grateful for it. But it’s also exciting because now it’s the next chapter. What else does life have in store for me?”

Kean, who credits her family’s support along with FIU’s Fostering Panther Pride program and Disability Resource Center, is particularly remarkable because less than 11 percent of former foster care children complete a degree from a four-year university, according to the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education, and only 18 percent of deaf people earn their bachelor’s degrees, per the National Deaf Center.

Through homelessness, moving across the country, and caring for her three children, Honors College student Ruth Fabian, 28, completed her FIU degree fully online, tutored local children and provided FAFSA assistance to immigrant parents. She says that her FIU professors offered her compassion and flexibility, as she struggled to complete her coursework with internet access and technology barriers in homeless shelters and public libraries. She also credits FIU for providing the financial assistance and other resources that helped her complete her degree. Fabian continued to give back to her community, even during the challenges she faced. She now lives in Massachusetts, where she grew up, and works as a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual. She will graduate with a degree in marketing from the College of Business.

Carolina Fernandez, 21, worked in a Minnesota research lab seeking better treatment for leukemia as part of an FIU-partnered summer research program. An Honors College student, Fernandez is part of the Quantifying Biology in the Classroom (QBIC) program, a cohort-based program for students interested in pursuing research. After completing multiple research internships, she was accepted into FIU’s Early Assurance Program (EAP), earning a guaranteed spot in FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, pending her MCAT scores. Fernandez will earn a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and a second major in natural and applied sciences, medical science track, and a minor in chemistry from the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. She will start medical school in August.

Honors College student Karina Polanco, 25, worked with the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department to help reduce aggression among inmates by analyzing the jail’s correctional procedures. Polanco, now the lab manager of FIU’s TRIIIAD Lab, used her interdisciplinary education from FIU to understand the psyche and needs of offenders before, during, and after their incarceration. For over a year, she interviewed inmates for her various research topics and learned about the department’s operations and staff. Polanco will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the College of Arts, Sciences, & Education. She plans to pursue a doctorate.

The fall virtual commencements start at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. Each college has its own ceremony that includes an address from Rosenberg and the college’s dean. Each graduate can customize their slide in the program and share the moment with friends and family near and far.

But graduation festivities started long before the ceremony. To get students in the graduation spirit, FIU hosted a commencement caravan that allowed graduates the opportunity to put their Panther pride on display, walk across an outdoor stage, wave to Rosenberg, and receive a gift diploma from FIU mascot Roary. Graduates rolled away with goody bags and one particularly creative Panther – Alex Bahamonde – also earned bragging rights for the “Most Spirited Car” in the caravan.

New dates and health precautions will keep the fun and fundraising going at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival®

Ivonne Yee-Amor — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 14:15:00 -0500

People will be gathering on the sand on South Beach this year in May instead of February for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival®, run with the help of thousands of FIU students.

"Due to growing concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, and with the well-being of attendees, partners, participants and staff as the number one priority, SOBEWFF has decided that rescheduling the event is the most responsible course of action at this time. We know it is the right thing to do," event organizers said in a statement.

So, mark your calendars. The new dates are May 20-23, 2021. More than 50 events are planned and most of them will look different this year. For example, the Burger Bash, which usually welcomes about 4,000 people will be split into two sessions with 1,000 people max per session.

All of the events will follow health and safety protocols, including social distancing and mandatory mask requirements. Pushing the event back to May also allows more time for medical personnel to administer a vaccine throughout the general population.

"The Festival is such a wonderful opportunity for all FIU students to participate and gain hands-on experience at one of the most recognized and respected wine and food events in the world," said Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School.

The plan is to have students help again this year. More than 1,200 FIU students usually participate in more than 3,000 shifts taking on jobs such as volunteer coordination, event coordination, food prep, inventory control and guest experience. Interested students should sign up for the mailing list for the latest updates on the SOBEWFF website.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event. It started as a one-day festival called the Florida Extravaganza on the Biscayne Bay campus in 1997. Since then, it has grown to a five-day, world-renowned event.

FIU benefits in one other big way. To date, the Festival has raised more than $31.8 million for the FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.

Americans should embrace COVID-19 vaccines for the common good, says FIU's Global Health Consortium director

Alexandra Pecharich — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Mask use, lockdowns, quarantine requirements and other breaches of once-normal life have drawn heated debate throughout the pandemic. A central question to much of it: Where does one’s freedom end and another’s begin?

Dr. Carlos Espinal of the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work believes the benefit of widescale vaccination should override individuals’ reasons for saying “no” to the shots.

Espinal, an epidemiologist and the director of the Global Health Consortium, on Tuesday attended the meeting of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices. The committee recommended that the initially available doses of a COVID-19 vaccine go to healthcare workers and the elderly living in nursing homes. The Food and Drug Administration is scheduled on Dec. 10 to consider the release of the country’s first vaccine.

Espinal agrees that the two groups must quickly be vaccinated to stem the spread of the disease, safeguard those who are on the frontlines of treating the sick and prevent greater numbers of deaths among the most vulnerable. Beyond them, he encourages everyone to seek immunization once the shots become available to the general public. Already, some 1.5 million people have died from COVID-19 worldwide, among them more than 274,000 Americans (as of Dec. 3).

Population or “herd” immunity against COVID-19—the point at which the virus cannot spread because it encounters too many people who are protected against infection—requires that approximately 70 percent of people be immunized with a vaccine that is highly effective. Recent polls suggest that as many as 61 percent of Americans would accept such a vaccine, still well below the level needed to achieve widespread immunity.

In a country that includes 11 percent of adults who, according to a December 2019 Gallup survey, believe vaccines are “more dangerous than the disease they prevent,” anti-vaxxers could be the most-difficult segment of the population to convince.

“That’s the situation that we have even today with measles,” Espinal says of those who disregard vaccination laws. (All 50 states have legislation requiring specified vaccines for students, and 45 grant exemptions on medical and religious grounds.)

“There have been people refusing the measles vaccination because of many reasons, religion or unwilling to do it or afraid to do it or because they believe in the rumor that measles vaccination is the cause of autism. That has created a large outbreak in Europe and the United States, very extensive child mortality.” (In 2019 the United States reported the greatest number of measles cases in 15 years, largely due to lack of vaccination.) That begs the question, he says: “Where is the limit between the freedom of choice and public health good?”

Espinal suggests that workplaces, universities and even other countries’ governments will impose vaccine requirements that will impact Americans. Even without federal mandates in place, many organizations will seek some kind of “vaccine certification” from individuals before they are allowed, for example, to enter a physical building or to travel internationally, Espinal says. He cites, for example, some African and South American countries’ required proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry to their borders.

With millions of doses of vaccine already shipped to state governments around the country for distribution pending FDA decisions, safety concerns are on the minds of many. Espinal understands that the speed with which the vaccines are coming to market creates some doubts.

“That is one of the concerns,” he agrees. “Normally the development of vaccines could take almost five to eight years.” The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, encouraged the U.S. and other governments to allow pharmaceutical companies and their partners to move quickly and to scale up production even as human trials were still underway. Yet, Espinal believes that the end products are sound.

The leading vaccines are produced by drug makers Pfizer and Moderna, whose vaccines are up for final review by the FDA on Dec. 10 and 17, respectively. “Those are very strong companies worldwide, recognized with experience in vaccine production and new technology,” Espinal says. “I feel very confident with the information that they are providing.”

The companies’ drugs have shown 90-95 percent efficacy and a low percent of adverse events or side effects in clinical trials. Those results as well as the transparency with which the organizations have proceeded have convinced Espinal to encourage vaccination.

“I feel comfortable,” he says, “and I trust what they are doing.”

Program fosters change, embraces people with developmental disabilities

Gisela Maria Valencia — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 10:48:00 -0500

Dr. Yolangel Hernandez Suarez was not able to see her son for months after the pandemic began.

A 28-year-old man who is on the autism spectrum, her son lives in a group home. Until recently, visits to the home had been restricted for the residents’ safety. Attempts at connecting via Zoom were unsuccessful as her son cannot communicate verbally and finds virtual meetings confusing. So, Hernandez Suarez waited.

Currently the vice provost for Health and Wellbeing at FIU, Hernandez Suarez knows full well the value of limited contact to stem the spread of infectious disease. But that doesn’t mean it was easy. “It crushes your spirit,” she says. “I’m a doctor, but I’m also a mom.”

Many people faced – and continue to face – similar circumstances. Whether families are physically separated from a loved one who is vulnerable to COVID-19 or whether a person has now become the 24/7 caretaker of a disabled or elderly family member at home, there’s a lot of hard work, worry – and love – going around.

“I don’t think any of us are coming out of this the same,” Hernandez Suarez says. “We need to take a moment and think about how we want things to be after the pandemic, how we are each a member of a community and how we rely on each other.”

The point is, Hernandez Suarez says, people with disabilities can contribute to society, but they need help overcoming challenges. FIU is leading real change and providing real solutions.

Providing holistic care

Years ago, the university recognized the need to better serve people with developmental disabilities, and it developed FIU Embrace. The program initially provided health care at FIU’s Faculty Health Group Practice. The model was developed by Hernandez Suarez (who helped create the program) and colleagues at FIU and the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. The service was designed for young adults with developmental disabilities who had aged out of the pediatric care system.

“Regular doctor’s offices are not very well prepared to care for people with severe communication issues,” Hernandez Suarez says. She instituted a “one-stop shop” where patients could receive medical, psychological, psychiatric and gynecological care in the same place by a team of professionals trained to assist them. Hernandez Suarez knew that achieving wellness meant more than health care. She began to explore ways to expand the program and brought Nicole Attong aboard as the program’s director.

Today, FIU Embrace has blossomed into a university-wide initiative that promotes health, wellness and overall functioning for adults with developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The program’s mission is to help these folks lead healthy lives and maximize their potential.

What sets it apart: Its 360-degree approach. “Health and well-being are beyond medical health,” says Attong, who has been at the helm of FIU Embrace since 2015. “To be happy we need a job, a place to live, friends, all these things. FIU Embrace’s resources are geared toward that.”

FIU Embrace looked far and wide for both inspiration and real-world successes in developing its program. FIU has partnered, for example, with a nonprofit in Israel that provides holistic care to people with developmental disabilities, a reflection of that country’s approach.

Research

FIU Embrace is not just applying research – it’s creating research. “We are developing models of care that have been tested and evaluated by faculty on campus,” Attong explains. “These models are incubated on campus and transposed into the community.”

Case in point: FIU Embrace partnered with Citrus Health Network in Miami to house the program’s health care facility at a location on 107^th Avenue, across the street from FIU. Citrus Health professionals implement FIU Embrace’s model of health care daily.

FIU Embrace – part of the Office of Research and Economic Development – works with faculty from across the university, including the Robert Stempel School of Public Health & Social Work and the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, to evaluate existing models of care with a goal of moving them toward evidence-based practices.

The program has also developed a strong partnership with the College of Law. FIU Embrace connects people who have developmental disabilities and their families with faculty and law students at FIU’s Community Lawyering Clinic. The legal team provides services to these folks on a wide range of matters, including family law, immigration, guardianships, powers of attorney and more.

“Our clients come in with a diversity of needs,” says Michelle Mason, senior associate dean for experiential learning at the College of Law and the director of FIU Law’s Embrace partnership. “Part of it is making sure that families feel like they are supported and guided, and that their children will be taken care of even after they are gone.”

While helping out, future lawyers receive valuable training. “The law students are on the frontlines, closely supervised by an attorney,” Mason says. This is creating a generation of FIU lawyers equipped to help the developmentally disabled community.

Community

Educating community members and families is key. One workshop, for example, educates law enforcement and first responders.

Adults with developmental disabilities often fall prey to police violence; unnecessary arrests; or being Baker Acted (sent to mental health institutions involuntarily). Such fears are very real, adds Hernandez Suarez. “If your kid has a meltdown in Target and the ambulance picks him up and Baker Acts him, we don’t want your kid to end up in jail. This is the reality of this population.”

“Every year we train at least two sets of police officers on how to interact with folks impacted by autism,” Attong says. “The officers can go back to their unit and train people. It’s about building capacity and getting to a tipping point where the community knows how to interact.”

To continue building a community that will better serve those with developmental disabilities, Hernandez Suarez and her husband Dr. Jeffrey Simmons gave a $2 million gift to FIU to establish the Simmons+Hernandez Suarez Fellowship Program, which will support professionals who take an interdisciplinary approach to solving issues facing developmentally disabled adults.

“Our decision to give a planned gift to train the future leaders of this community was because we see that there are not enough doctors, nurses, civil servants, lawyers, or social workers that have a deep understanding of the [developmentally disabled] community,” says Hernandez Suarez. “If they walk out of here with a better understanding of what this is, little by little they are going to change the fabric of this community.”

Meet FIU Embrace's Class of 2019 and learn how the program changed these students' lives.

Education and jobs

At the core of FIU Embrace is a three-year program in which students take classes, earn micro credentials and prepare themselves for employment and independent living. Students engage with tutors, mentors and a life skills curriculum to learn about budgeting; time management; cooking; healthy habits and more. The program is currently serving 24 students and plans to admit students for the next cohort in the spring of 2021.

The students take regular FIU classes. “We don’t see their disability,” Attong explains. “We see who they are as people and what they bring to the table. They are leaving here with gusto and enthusiasm because they believe they have a lot to offer.”

Parents often worry about what will happen to their child after they’ve died. While not every single worry can be silenced, Donna Galloway says FIU Embrace has given her peace of mind. “I’m not even worried about when [my grandson] goes to get employment,” says Galloway, whose grandson is studying at FIU and participating in FIU Embrace. “The program is phenomenal. My grandson is growing, he’s become independent, he advocates more for himself. I just know that he’s going to be okay.”

FIU Embrace connects students with employers like Baptist Health South Florida to help them find internships or jobs in areas that match with each student’s interests and strengths, including office work, kitchen assistance and transportation of equipment.

Robin Tellez, a director of human resources at Baptist Health South Florida, says she’s proud her organization hires folks with developmental disabilities. “I call it the hidden talent pool,” she says. “This is a population of individuals that are able to do a job. They love the idea that they are coming to work every day, and it shows. It’s a fresh sprit. It changes the culture of the full department for the better.”

“Nicole’s desire for excellence in this program is really showing through her students and through the supports she has provided for employers,” she adds.

Leading change

For Attong, the program is personal. Like Hernandez Suarez, Attong is mother to an adult child with an intellectual disability. Her daughter, Kelly, spends her days at home unable to find a job. She cannot participate in programs that other young adults who are moderately impacted can access because of her age.

“What drives me, is that this is what is happening to me and Kelly,” Attong says. “For me, every minute counts. If there is one more student who gets a job somewhere and comes back and tells me, ‘I’m happy, life is good,’ it makes me want to continue this work. It’s one more person not living in the shadows, depressed and anxious about their life.”

The ultimate goal? To strengthen the community.

“Through FIU Embrace, students and faculty are becoming more compassionate and open to a segment of the population that have a disability,” Attong says. “They are learning how to work alongside these individuals. Think about five years from now, when our graduates are penetrating into industries, and they are not going to look at my students differently. Then, we will have achieved something far greater than educating a person.”

Newly created engineering degree encourages students to customize program

Ashley Garcia — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 14:00:00 -0500

Patricia Garcia and Naimah Woods are on track to be the first two graduates of the newly-created Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering (IDE) program, housed within the College of Engineering & Computing School of Universal Computing, Construction, and Engineering Education.

Rather than focusing exclusively on an existing engineering subfield, such as electrical or mechanical engineering, the Interdisciplinary Engineering program provides a customizable degree for students that enables them to learn across disciplines.

This people-centered, systems-focused approach allows students to optimize their opportunities to enter the workforce, including emergent entrepreneurial businesses. Interdisciplinary students are exposed to the fundamentals of science and engineering, while also developing their skills as leaders, systems thinkers and engineering designers through engineering leadership and business courses as well as a project-based course sequence.

Garcia, expected to graduate in Spring 2021, believes that the future of engineering is interdisciplinary, and looks to executives in tech companies like Apple and Microsoft as examples.

“Traditional engineering degrees are valuable, but I believe that the new IDE degree allows students to integrate expertise from different disciplines into a single context. I’ve been able to develop both business acumen and technical knowledge, which will serve as the optimal springboard for a future technical management role.”

Garcia is no stranger to the intersection of technology and business. She began her career at FIU in mechanical engineering and switched to interdisciplinary engineering last spring. The start-up she launched— College Thrifts, a peer-to-peer marketplace for individuals who want to purchase campus gear but can’t afford campus bookstore prices—is currently in the mobile app development phase.

Garcia—who is a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and was recently selected by media company Televisa to be the undergraduate face of their TECHNOLOchicas campaign to empower Latina women in STEM—recommends the IDE program when she does outreach.

“The interdisciplinary nature of the degree has opened a lot of doors and given me the flexibility that other traditional degrees did not to pursue my multiple interests.”

Woods, expected to graduate in Summer 2021, also thinks it’s important to integrate engineering with other disciplines.

“When you look at an engineering project, many people only look at it from one aspect,” she says. “But it takes a lot of different skills to make something like a jet or a car. You could have the best idea in the world, but if you can’t convince a company why they should invest in it, your idea won’t go anywhere.”

Woods, who is the vice president of FIU’s Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), has a job offer with Rolls-Royce and believes the IDE program helped her secure it.

“In engineering, you’re taught to think about what you’re making. In business, you’re taught to think about how to sell it. And, in leadership, you’re taught to think about the people involved in the process.

"Companies are starting to realize that people who can do multiple things are more valuable, and I was able to sell that interdisciplinary aspect of myself and of the program,” she says.

She also credits the strong support system of SUCCEED, where professors helped her prepare for technical interviews.

SUCCEED was formed in 2018, in conjunction with the STEM Transformation Institute, as the first engineering and computing education department at a minority-serving institution. The school was created in alignment with the university’s vision to be a “leading urban public research university focused on student learning, innovation, and collaboration.” Faculty within the school, along with students and staff, seek to connect research and innovation with student learning through collaboration with other members of the college and FIU as a whole.

Woods is not planning to let the white and male-dominated fields of engineering challenge her.

“As a minority student, I know that at the higher levels, there won’t be too many people that look like me, but I’m not going to be discouraged. Someone needs to be the first,” she says.

One in 10 Florida teens report engaging in ‘digital self-harm’

Morgan Hughes — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 12:29:00 -0500

Approximately 10 percent of Florida middle and high school students report having engaged in “digital self-harm” – they have cyberbullied themselves. It is an emerging form of self-harm that may be increasing among adolescents, according to a recent study led by an FIU researcher.

Digital self-harm is when an individual anonymously posts mean or hurtful comments about themselves online, according to Ryan Meldrum, lead author of the study and associate professor of criminology and criminal justice in FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. This behavior was first named following the suicide of Hannah Smith, a 14-year-old British girl who had made negative posts to herself on social media in the weeks leading up to her death in 2013.

Adolescents may be more likely to engage in digital self-harm after being bullied or cyberbullied, Meldrum explained. Being bullied can lead adolescents to have negative thoughts about themselves, and this is known to make adolescents more likely to physically self-harm themselves to distract from the emotional pain, he said. Digital self-harm might follow a similar pathway, where bullying victims turn to the internet to post hurtful things about themselves in hopes that others will respond positively and alleviate the negative feelings that stem from being bullied.

“Now that adolescents have digital outlets where they can go online and post negative things about themselves, they may do so in order to elicit comments from others saying ‘No, you’re not that, you’re beautiful, you’re great,’” Meldrum said. “They’re seeking some sort of validation that may alleviate those negative emotions.”

The team of researchers used data drawn from two questions about digital self-harm that were included on the 2019 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS), which collected data from 10,000 Florida middle and high school students. The survey found that 10 percent of Florida students reported having engaged in digital self-harm in the past 12 months, and 6 percent reported having done so in the past 30 days.

“The frequency of digital self-harm may be on the rise because, as a result of COVID-19, adolescents are spending a lot more time online and are having a lot less face-to-face interaction,” Meldrum said.

The study, published last month in Deviant Behavior, is only the second peer-reviewed study published about digital self-harm, Meldrum said. He says the research team is trying to bring knowledge and awareness to the behavior to aid professionals who may interact with adolescents engaging in digital self-harm. It’s possible that, like physical self-harm, digital self-harm may correlate with suicidal thoughts.

“This study is important for raising awareness about digital self-harm for people in the field, such as psychologists, pediatricians, school counselors, and social workers, as they may consider incorporating questions about the behavior into screening tools,” Meldrum said. “It’s especially important if digital self-harm may be a stepping stone to serious forms of physical self-harm. We may be able to prevent physical self-harm or later suicide attempts if we can predict that sequence of events.”

The research team also includes Justin W. Patchin from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Jacob T.N. Young from Arizona State University, and Sameer Hinduja from Florida Atlantic University.

Researchers investigate whether respiratory cells can be ‘trained’ to help control allergic asthma

Ileana Varela — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 10:30:00 -0500

Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. It affects people of all ages. As the name implies, it is triggered by allergens—substances that cause an allergic reaction. Common allergens include pollen, mold, dust mites, pets and cockroaches.

During an allergic asthma attack, patients suffer from wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing.

“All of these symptoms are manifestations of hyperresponsive respiratory cells that cause narrowing of the airway passages along with excess mucus/phlegm production,” said Hitendra Chand, a researcher in the Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

Phlegm is a thick and sticky secretion that plays a vital role in protecting the lungs from environmental factors by acting as a filter. It traps and removes inhaled allergens from the respiratory passages and lungs. But uncontrolled phlegm production can block the airways and severely affect lung function.

Dinesh Devadoss, a post-doctoral associate in Chand’s lab, studies the role of respiratory epithelial cells—which line the respiratory tract— in allergic asthma. In a recent study published in the Nature journal, Mucosal Immunology, Devadoss reports that “respiratory epithelial cells undergo a functional reprogramming to modulate mucus response, and these mechanisms are dysregulated (impaired) in asthmatics.”

Dinesh Devadoss, Ph.D., presented his novel findings at the Society for Personalized Nanomedicine Meeting at FIU in 2019.

Using next-generation sequencing and cutting-edge molecular imaging technologies, Devadoss and colleagues identified the genetic factors called long noncoding RNAs that help shape the immunologic memory of respiratory cells—also known as trained immunity. Immunological memory, or training, allows these cells to respond more rapidly and effectively to germs they have encountered before. The findings suggest these training mechanisms of respiratory cells could be targeted to help control allergic asthma.

There is no cure for asthma, and severe cases can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,000 Americans die from asthma every year. African-Americans are three times more likely to die from asthma than any other group.

Current treatments are effective in managing mild-to-moderate allergic asthma but are less successful in controlling severe asthma.

“This seminal research provides a key foundation toward developing new ways of diagnosing and treating diseases like allergic asthma,” Chand said.

Volakis, Almirall named 2020 AAAS fellows

JoAnn Adkins — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:41:00 -0500

Two FIU researchers have been named fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

John L. Volakis, dean of FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing and professor of electrical and computer engineering, earned the lifetime distinction for his leadership in engineering education, authorship of important texts, game-changing contributions to electromagnetics, and for developing and transitioning hybrid finite element into commercial tool sets.

José R. Almirall, a chemistry professor in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and director of the Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science, was recognized for his contributions to the field of forensic chemistry, particularly for efforts to standardize approaches in the detection and analysis of drugs, explosives and materials.

Volakis and Almirall have been named AAAS Fellows.

AAAS Fellows are elected each year by their peers serving on the Council of AAAS, the organization’s member-run governing body. The title recognizes important contributions to STEM disciplines, including pioneering research, leadership within a given field, teaching and mentoring, fostering collaborations, and advancing public understanding of science.

A virtual induction ceremony for the 489 newly elected Fellows will take place on Feb. 13, 2021.

To read AAAS’s news release regarding this announcement, click here.

Vice Provost's Council committee members feed students in Bayview Apartments over Thanksgiving

David Drucker — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:30:00 -0500

It was a table of Subway sandwiches and a spread of meal vouchers. For students who stayed in their apartments at Biscayne Bay Campus over Thanksgiving break, it was a little holiday joy.

About 50 students did not leave BBC for the break. To support these residents, members of the executive committee for the Vice Provost's Council purchased food and Panther Dining vouchers for them.

Lauren Schulman, an FIU alumna and member of the committee, provided the first meal. She stopped by Subway and picked up 70 sandwiches. Jon Warech, Hillel director for FIU, added in an assortment of chocolate treats.

"We're just trying to do nice things for our students. We know many of them had no family or friends to visit over the holiday weekend. Food insecurity is also prevalent on campus. We just need to pay attention and help out as best as we can," Schulman says.

A second meal came courtesy of Jonathan Evans, chair of the Vice Provost’s Council. He purchased 25 $10 meal vouchers to be used at Panther Dining.

"The need for food seems to be magnified by the crisis of the moment. I'm only too glad to help," Evans says.

The university has a food pantry available with non-perishable items for students in need. But Schulman and Evans wanted to do a little something extra.

"It's heartwarming to me. This is what the Vice Provost's Council is all about. To give back to students," says Annick De Bruyne, program coordinator in the Office of the Vice Provost. "I thought it was a wonderful idea from Lauren and Jonathan to do something special for Thanksgiving.

The Vice Provost’s Council is a community relations board in north Miami-Dade County. It is comprised of a diverse group of business and civic leaders who act as brand ambassadors and advocates for FIU, in general, and BBC, specifically. The group has raised more than $1.5 million in scholarships since its inception in 2015.

FIU experts available to discuss Everglades Restoration

Christine Calvo — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:28:00 -0500

FIU researchers have spent more than three decades guiding the management, restoration and protection of water resources. On Dec. 11, 2020 it’ll be 20 years since Congress passed the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan to restore, protect and preserve South Florida’s ecosystem while providing for water-related needs of the region.

FIU experts are available to discuss the health of the Everglades and plans for restoration.

Mahadev Bhat, Ph.D.
Professor of Natural Resource Economics
Department of Earth and Environment
FIU Institute of Environment
Bhat’s research focuses on economic and policy issues relating to natural resources management, including water resources, coastal and marine resources, ecosystem services valuation and agriculture.
Email: bhatm@fiu.edu

Robert Burgman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Earth and Environment
FIU Institute of Environment
Burgman studies the mechanists of predictability on sub-seasonal to decadal timescales. Within this framework, he explores two general issues: (1) Mechanisms of natural variability in the climate system on multiple timescales, particularly those related to air-sea interactions and (2) how these modes of variability lead to variations in North American hydroclimate.
Email: rburgman@fiu.edu

Edward Castañeda, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
FIU Institute of Environment
Castañeda is a wetland ecologist who focuses on nutrient biogeochemistry and ecosystem dynamics of coastal wetlands, including mangrove forests and marshes. He studies the effect of hurricanes and human disturbances on carbon and nutrient dynamics and vegetation succession to understand trajectories of ecosystem structure and function.
Email: ecastane@fiu.edu

James Fourqurean, Ph.D.
Director, Coastlines and Oceans Division
FIU Institute of Environment
Fourqurean is an expert of the ecology and water quality of the coastal bays and estuaries in the Greater Everglades. Over the last 10 years, Fourqurean has been helping translate the science of carbon dynamics in coastal ecosystems into actionable policy and climate change mitigation strategies.
Email: fourqure@fiu.edu

Evelyn Gaiser, Ph.D.
Endowed George M. Barley Jr. Eminent Scholars Chair
Professor of Biological Sciences
FIU Institute of Environment
Gaiser is an aquatic ecologist. Her research focuses on algal communities, particularly the unusual microbial mats of karst wetlands around the world. Her lab uses surveys, experiments and paleocological studies to address the mechanisms of community assembly over long temporal and broad spatial scales. Results are often directly incorporated into ecosystem assessment and restoration. She is the principle investigator on the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program.
Email: gaisere@fiu.edu

Sparkle Malone, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
FIU Institute of Environment
Malone’s primary research focuses on improving our understanding of how climate and disturbance regimes influence spatial and temporal variability in ecosystem structure and function. Using remote sensing, eddy covariance and spatial and temporal models, she explores questions related to ecosystem condition, sustainability and vulnerability to climate extremes.
Email: smalone@fiu.edu

Jayantha Obeysekera, Ph.D.
Research professor and director of Sea Level Solutions
FIU Institute of Environment
Obeysekera previously served as chief modeler at the South Florida Water Management District, where he had a leading role in modeling of the Everglades and Kissimmee River and Everglades restoration projects. He was co-author of the sea level rise projections report published by NOAA for the National Climate Assessment. He also co-authored a report on regional sea level projections for Department of Defense facilities across the globe. He has extensive media experience, including print and broadcast.
Email: jobeysek@fiu.edu

Rene Price, Ph.D.
Professor of Earth and Environment
Center for Aquatic Chemistry and the Environment
FIU Institute of Environment
Price conducts research in chemical hydrogeology, ecohydrology, stable isotopy hydrology, saltwater intrusion and sea-level rise. Her research involves using chemical tracers, including the isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen and major ions, to identify water sources, groundwater flow paths and groundwater-surface water interactions. She has investigated water-rock interactions associated with seawater intrusion into coastal carbonate aquifers. She has conducted research extensively in south Florida, including the Everglades, as well as in the Yucatan of Mexico and Mallorca, Spain.
Email: pricer@fiu.edu

Jennifer Rehage, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Earth and Environment
FIU Institute of Environment
Rehage is a coastal and fish ecologist. Rehage studies how hydroclimatic variation affects fish and the recreational fisheries they support in the Everglades and throughout South Florida.
Email: rehagej@fiu.edu

John Kominoski, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
FIU Institute of Environment
Kominoski is an ecosystem ecologist and biochemist. He studies how changes in water chemistry affect the rates of organic matter processes and the net effects on carbon storage in terrestrial, aquatic and coastal wetland ecosystems. He is a co-principal investigator on the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program.
Email: jkominos@fiu.edu

Michael Ross, Ph.D.
Professor of Earth and Environment
FIU Institute of Environment
Ross is an ecologist whose research includes environmental controls on plant community compositions and structure, the involvement of these controls in the successional process and implications of these dynamics for resource management. The majority of his research is directed toward restoration of the mixture of herbaceous coastal wetlands of the greater Everglades ecosystem.
Email: rossm@fiu.edu

Leonard Scinto, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor of Earth and Environment
FIU Institute of Environment
Scinto is a biogeochemist who studies the effects of land use and water management on nutrient dynamics in aquatic systems. His research focuses on the biogeochemistry of phosphorus, carbon and nitrogen in wetland and lake environments.
Email: scintol@fiu.edu

Panthers guide to Miami Art Week 2020

Tatianna Basanta — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0500

It’s the most wonderful time of year for Miami art lovers!

While Art Basel may have been canceled due to COVID-19, many museums, galleries and organizations, including FIU, are celebrating Miami Art Week—Nov. 30 through Dec. 6— virtually and with outdoor exhibitions.

Here's how you can take in some much-needed FIU art during Miami Art Week:

“Touch from Above” – Miami International Airport (MIA) Galleries

On display near gate D31 at Miami International Airport, alumna Gianna DiBartolomeo’s BFA ’07, MFA ’19 exhibit, “Touch from Above," is a series inspired by random acts of kindness.

The new exhibition features 11 thickly layered, labor-intensive, abstract paintings, each brimming with vibrant swirls of color.

The works’ rippled sculptural elements resemble swirls of decorated baked goods as if they were overhead shots of the world, where each dollop of frosting represents an act of kindness.

DiBartolomeo’s work is on display at MIA Galleries through July 2021.

“Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration – MoMA PS1 Queens, New York

Alumnae Jessica Gispert ‘07 and Crystal Pearl Molinary ‘06 are featured in the virtual exhibition, “Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration” at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) PSI in Queens, New York.

“Marking Time” explores the work of artists within U.S. prisons and the centrality of incarceration to contemporary art and culture; it features artists concerned with state repression, erasure and imprisonment.

The exhibition is on display until April 2021.

“Tesoro: Pepe Mar’s Love Letter to the Frost” – Patricia & Philip Frost Art Museum FIU

Alumnus Pepe Mar MFA ’12 has created an installation drawn from the Frost Art Museum’s collection titled “Tesoro: Pepe Mar’s Love Letter to the Frost”

Mar envisions the museum’s permanent collection of art from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe, as special treasures and presents them as gifts to the public.

The exhibit will be on view for two years.

PRIZM Art Fair 2020 – virtual exhibition at PRIZM

PRIZM Art Fair, founded and directed by alumnus Mikhaile Soloman M. Arch '11, returns this year for its eighth edition with a virtual exhibition titled “Noir, Noir: Meditations on African Cinema and Its Influence on Visual Art;” it is curated and organized by William Cordova and Solomon.

“Noir, Noir” revisits and contemplates the layered rendering of complex communal histories through the lens of African Diaspora filmmakers, both past and present, seeking a deeper understanding of global African identity through an evaluation of its intersections with contemporary visual art.

PRIZM Art Fair 2020 will be available for online viewing through Dec. 21, by way of the PRIZM website and Artsy.net.

FIU Online’s “Born of the 305: Beautifully Miami” – Miami Beach Urban Studios

FIU Online commissioned alumna Gianna DiBartolomeo BFA ‘07, MFA ‘19 for “Beautifully Miami” artwork.

Housed in the College of Communication, Architecture + The Art’s (CARTA) Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS), DiBartolomeo’s piece features 2,800 individual cafecito cups to create a pixel art installation that celebrates FIU, online learning and the beauty and diversity of the local Miami community.

“Resurfacing: Emerging from the Storm” – Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS) virtual gallery

Alumna Leandra Arvazzetti MFA '15 hosts her virtual exhibition “Resurfacing: Emerging from the Storm” at CARTA’s MBUS virtual gallery.

Arvazzetti’s practice explores the physical manifestation of the ephemeral through fiber-based sculpture and installation. Her materials reference identity through topics of industry, labor, family and cultural heritage.

“Resurfacing” premiered on Dec. 1 and is on display through Dec. 30.

“Teacher Talks” with Michael Klotz – Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS) virtual gallery

FIU School of Music faculty member Michael Klotz kicks off his interview series “Teacher Talks” with Elmar Oliveira, an internationally acclaimed violinist, prolific recording artist and Distinguished Artist in Residence at Lynn University’s Conservatory of Music.

“Teacher Talks” premieres Dec.2 at 7:30 p.m.

DISPERSED Art Exhibition – Miami Urban Contemporary Experience (MUCE) Campus

Alumnus Nathan Delinois “Nate Dee” will be featured in DISPERSED, an art exhibition that celebrates Black excellence and resilience and invites art lovers to dive into a mythological journey to the center of the universe where Black Gods (Orishas), mermaids and the ancestors await their return.

The opening reception for DISPERSED takes place on Dec.3 at 6 p.m.

Tickets for DISPERSED are $10.

“Exposed to our Methods of Being” – Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS) virtual gallery

Faculty member from the Department of Art + Art History Jennifer Printz hosts her virtual exhibition “Exposed to our Methods of Being” at CARTA’s MBUS virtual gallery.

Printz uses both photography and drawing as different means to observe her world and unifies them together to make poetic works that reflect the unseen structures of the universe.

Printz’s exhibition will premiere on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

Public virtual concert by Misty Shore Duo – Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS) virtual gallery

The Misty Shore Duo—comprised of husband and wife team Jacob Sudol, a composer and FIU School of Music (SOM) associate professor, and Chen-Hui Jen, pianist and SOM adjunct professor—is hosting a free virtual concert titled “Twilight Hour #8: Waking Illusion.”

“Twilight Hour #8” premieres on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

“3 x 3 x 3: Traditions” – virtual exhibition at Frost Art Museum FIU, the Jewish Museum of Florida FIU and The Wolfsonian FIU

FIU’s three museums – Frost Art Museum FIU, the Jewish Museum of Florida FIU and The Wolfsonian FIU – are hosting a virtual exhibit via Zoom where guests will work virtually with the museums to craft their own collection pieces inspired by the theme “traditions."

In this edition of “3 x 3 x 3”, participants will use colorful craft paper and pipe cleaners to create a flipbook.

“3 x 3 x 3” takes place on Dec. 5, from 1 to 2 p.m.

Breakfast in the Park featuring Jeffrey Gibson – virtual exhibition at Patricia & Philip Frost Art Museum FIU

Join 2019 MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient Jeffrey Gibson for a virtual art lecture at the Patricia & Philip Frost Art Museum’s 17^th annual Breakfast in the Park via Zoom or Facebook Live.

Breakfast in the Park has been an Art Basel Miami Beach staple since 2004; the Frost Art Museum welcomes visitors to enjoy a lecture by a noted sculptor and guided tours of the Frost’s exhibitions and Sculpture Park.

Breakfast in the Park will go live on Dec. 6 at 11 a.m.

Can’t get enough of Miami Art Week? Click here for a list of other virtual events and online exhibitions taking place around Miami this week.

The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU presents 'Tesoro: Pepe Mar’s Love Letter to the Frost'

Erica Corsano — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:37:00 -0500

This Miami Art Week Frost Art Museum FIU will present a new exhibition “Tesoro: Pepe Mar’s Love Letter to the Frost.” In Tesoro, Pepe Mar—an artist who marries a broad range of visual references and personal obsessions spanning art, fashion, queer history, and Mexican culture—has created an installation drawn from the Frost Art Museum’s collection. Mar envisions the Museum’s permanent collection of art from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe, as special treasures and presents them as gifts to the public.

“I wanted to make a collage of the collection as an extension of my artistic practice to create new definitions for the objects on view and encourage unexpected connections throughout the installation,” reflected Mar.

Organized visually across thematic chapters such as Theatre of the City; Mirror, Mirror; Procession; and Cabinet of Curiosities, Tesoro’s highlights include masks, ceramics, and paintings by René Portocarrero, Manuel Mendive, Thornton Dial, and Purvis Young, alongside select loans by artists such as Pawel Althamer and Anna Betbeze.

“A singular canon of art history is, by definition, exclusionary, and reflective of the social, political, and economic biases of a privileged few. I have winnowed through the museum’s collection and proposed an alternative narrative, one in which I focus on art made by artists of color, self-taught artists, LGBTQ artists, non-Western artists, and others regularly excluded from the dominant narratives of art history. I present this art in tandem with work that would more comfortably fit the established canon,” added Mar.

An FIU alumnus who has been living and working in Miami for the past twenty years, Pepe Mar’s recent solo exhibitions include presentations at the Mattress Factory Museum of Contemporary Art in Pittsburgh and Locust Projects in Miami. He received his MFA from Florida International University and his BFA from the California College of the Arts.

This is the second presentation in a series of exhibitions re-envisioning the Museum’s permanent collection and will be on view for two years, starting on December 1, 2020.

10 ways to slay your next semester online

Monica Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

This year offered many lessons on what we’re capable of as we endured stay-at-home orders, the threat of coronavirus, political and social turmoil—all while completing online and remote education.

What’s been gleaned is that no matter what happens in the world, education will continue unabated with online and remote options.

Understanding this, there are several resources to help make your journey successful. The following are some of the most useful apps and websites to download, bookmark and refer to often as they will help you as an FIU student.

1. Video yourself into presentations

In our remote world, finding a way to do a presentation can be difficult, but Loom.com offers a solution. The website is free to students and offers a way to upload your presentation with a recorded “picture in picture” option so you can walk viewers through each page of your document.

2. Create masterful graphic art

Need a quick poster, brochure, or flyer image for a class project? Canva, Crello, Snappa are free resources that offer graphic options for all sorts of projects to help enhance presentations.

3. References

A bibliography is one of the most important pieces of any research project and can also be one of the most time-consuming to complete. With papers and posts, you can be sure you’re using the appropriate APA style with EasyBib.com. While you’re there, you can also check your paper for plagiarism and grammar as well.

4. Keep your fitness

FIU’s Wellness and Recreation Centers offer a number of outdoor and virtual classes that current students can sign up for. PantherFIT TV also offers on-demand videos that are produced weekly and can range from short fitness tutorials to longer format full workouts. If you prefer something handy on your phone, consider a Seven-minute Workout app (there are many to choose from), which can help you relieve stress in between study sessions.

5. Newspaper subscriptions

While FIU libraries offer free access to publications for students, there are many periodicals that offer students discounted subscriptions. Using the FIU login, however, students can gain free subscriptions to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

6. Free classes

From LinkedIn Learning to FIU’s Open Community Courses, students are able to connect to some of the best resources to increase their skills and gain new knowledge.

7. Spelling and grammar

For those who want to be sure their posts and papers are as clean and error-free as possible, Grammarly.com can help ensure confidence when you hit the submit button.

8. Flashcards

Sometimes the best way to learn is through flashcards and games. Quizlet.com offers students several ways to learn class materials and can be shared within groups.

9. Collaborating with groups

Often, group work requires more than what a messaging app can handle. While the Canvas platform offers several ways to connect with classmates, for assistance outside of Canvas, there are many tools that can be helpful like Google Hangouts, DropBox, Doodle, etc.

10. Software
From Adobe products to Microsoft Office Suite to Zoom Pro version, FIU offers links to a range of software resources at no extra cost to students.

The growth of online learning across the nation has hundreds of thousands of students logging in to classes every day. For many of these students, online learning is a completely new modality to achieve an advanced degree; for others, it’s the only way to pursue a college degree because of life commitments. While there are many tips to be successful, here are five habits of some of FIU’s successful online students.

1. Carve out time to study every day

We all struggle with busy lives and obligations that fill our schedules; however, to be successful, you should set time aside every day for coursework and make it part of a routine like Teresa Hadjipetrou ’20 did for her master’s degree in mass communication. Working a full-time job and being a student requires time management, she learned.

“Carving out an hour a day to do the work during the week will help in keeping up with the course work so you can have your weekends free—you need to give your mind a break. Plan ahead and stick to your schedule, it will save you headaches later,” she said.

2. Use the resources offered

When Julio Toledo ’20 decided to go back to school to finish his IT degree, he was happy to discover all of the tutoring available. He had been a professional for many years and even owns his own business, but he yearned to achieve a degree to validate his years of experience. He found that online learning wasn’t easier, but the resources helped him achieve top grades.

“I could go online and everything was available to me on-demand, even tutoring. Math tutoring that was provided by FIU was also available online. That made it possible for me to return to school to not only be successful, but achieve top grades,” he offered.

3. Take your computer everywhere

Days can be busy, but fortunately, online learning doesn’t require classroom walls or a set meeting schedule. It’s education that’s portable, which Fiammetta Di Mauro ’20 found to be the key to pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“Online learning fits my lifestyle. I worked on my course anywhere I went. I took my coursework with me. It’s the flexibility aspect of online learning that helped my life,” she explained.

4. Stay connected with classmates

One of the best ways to stay engaged in online courses is to connect to other classmates. Whether through general discussion posts or team projects, successful students will reach out to classmates and the professor about coursework. According to Mark Higgins ’19, his cohort-style master’s degree program in health services administration required a lot of communication.

“The greatest misconception of online learning is that you are on an island by yourself. The online courses, because of how accessible they are with information and with my cohort, I never felt like we were so disconnected. I feel like the online courses keep you in constant communication and together as a team,” he said.

5. Rewind, hit play, stay inspired

Eloy Perez, who graduated in 2016 with a master’s degree in computer engineering and again in 2018, with a second master’s degree in engineering management said he watched lessons twice or more to fully grasp concepts.

“The way that online programs are organized allows students to go back and review what the professor was saying. I liked being able to relearn and review to study what was said and take notes,” he said.

Whether you’re just starting out or enrolling in new online courses, Perez pointed out that it is important to stay inspired and focus on what matters.

“My family is what inspires me to get ahead,” he declared.

With online learning growing in universities across the nation, most myths have been dispelled, but some remain. Several of Florida International University’s online alumni discuss what they feel are the biggest misconceptions regarding online degree programs and share their best tips to help current and prospective students.

1. Use online classes to graduate on time.

Hassan Hussein

“The misconception of online learning is that online classes are the easy way out, that they are for those who are lazy, and the classes are easy. You can’t be lazy, and classes are not easy. In reality, if you’re not going into it with 100 percent, you’re not going to get the best out of the program,” said Hassan Hussein, who earned a bachelor's in information technology in 2017 and a master's in computer engineering in 2019.

Hussein played basketball for FIU and his online classes helped free up his time when he needed to travel for games. They also helped alleviate his schedule with practices and gym time. No stranger to discipline, the student athlete maintained top grades while completing his master’s degree on time, with the help of online classes.

2. Manage your time to be successful.

Eloy Perez

“People think they won’t have time to pursue a degree online. You have to manage your time, but the programs can be accomplished,” asserted Eloy Perez, who is an industrial network design engineer at Chevron. Perez earned three degrees from FIU: a bachelor's in computer science in 2007; a master's in computer engineering: network security in 2016; and a master's in engineering/industrial management in 2018.

Vedner Guerrier

Vedner Guerrier agrees with Perez. Guerrier, whose workday starts before 6 a.m., is the vice president of oncology services of the Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, FL. He managed to complete his healthcare MBA in 2013, even with a rigorous schedule.

“Another misconception is that you’ll be able to do things fully at your pace, but this isn’t accurate as there’s accountability involved with fixed assignment due dates. So, time management is a priority,” added Guerrier.

3. Take advantage of all resources offered online.

“The misconception about online learning has to do with its lack of rigor and that the programs are not as deeply developed, but this is inaccurate,” said Jason Lafferty, associate dean/executive chef for the business technologies division of the Midwest Culinary Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jason Lafferty

Lafferty earned his master's in hospitality management in 2013. Originally an on-campus student, he switched to online courses because he anticipated some employment opportunities and a move to Ohio where his wife’s family lives. He wanted to be able to take his coursework with him. Lafferty offered that online students should try to take advantage of all of the resources FIU has available.

“I wish I had spent more time developing a relationship with other parts of the school,” he lamented. He explained that the resources offered to online students can help them feel more connected and supported. He encourages students to take advantage of this.

4. Force yourself to be engaged.

John Mulrey

“The misconception of online learning is that you’re not engaged. In order to be successful, you really have to engage yourself in the process. You have to commit the right amount of time and do the work that is required to maximize the output from the class,” said John Mulrey, regional director at FirstService Residential Florida.

Mulrey received his master's in hospitality management in 2008 but maintains that the principles of learning online remain the same. While you don’t have to physically be at a class every week, he said, you must consistently set aside time to do the online coursework.

5. Maximum effort means maximum learning.

Theodore Moore

“The misconception about online learning is that it’s not quality. Another misconception is that it may be more challenging. It depends on how much you put into your program. Everything is what you put in,” maintained Ted Moore, director of front office at The Confidante, a hotel within the Hyatt collection of properties.

Moore earned his master's in hospitality administration/management in 2014. He said the online degree program did not interrupt his career—he could continue working and collecting the experience needed to advance.

6. Accelerated online degree programs are available.

Karina Constantine

“People also think it’s harder online, but that’s because it does require a measure of discipline and commitment. If you stay disciplined and you follow instruction, you can do it,” said

Karina Constantine, who received her master's in special education in 2019. By day, Constantine, originally from South Africa, is a K-5 autism spectrum disorder special needs teacher at Whispering Pines Elementary in Boca Raton, FL. After school, she plays midi wind controller and keys for a musical group called Gypsy Lane Band.

“Online learning really makes sense for teachers like me who need to get education quickly. At 47, I wanted an accelerated degree because I was also working and have family obligations and performances with the band.”

7. Reach out when you have questions.

Delaney Verger

“Whenever I had questions, I could reach out and call my professors,” emphasized Delaney Verger, opening team concierge for Disney’s Riviera Resort in Orlando, FL. Verger received her master's in hospitality management in 2019.

“I think that assumption that you get a stronger connection in person isn’t the case. You could be sitting in class the entire semester and never talk to the professors. Professors in the online program were responsive,” she said.

Sometimes, we all need a little help. FIU understands the needs of its students, including its more than 7,000 fully online learners—those who take all classes through FIU Online—and has partnered with WellConnect to offer mental health counseling anywhere in the nation, 24/7, at no extra cost, for those currently residing in the U.S.

WellConnect’s network of more than 17,000 licensed clinicians all over the nation can provide FIU Online students and their family members digital or even face-to-faces services, says Todd Lengnick, director of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). With so many therapists in the WellConnect network across the U.S., it’s likely that online students may find a number of professionals close by.

Value

Mental health services paid out of pocket can be costly for students as they range between $80 to $250 per session, offers Lengnick. However, CAPS services through WellConnect are covered by the student health fee. This coverage allows students to take advantage of counseling face to face, via text, chat, video or phone for up to five sessions per presenting issue. (All other students—whether taking classes remotely, face-to-face or in a hybrid model—likewise have access to no-cost mental health services through CAPS and should acquaint themselves with what is available.)

Therapists who speak Spanish and other languages are also available. Students simply call 866-640-4777 and mention FIU as the school code or visit go.fiu.edu/counseling and log in with their FIU credentials to start taking advantage of the services.

“This is a convenience for all fully online students to get therapy on their own couch, on their tablet or phone,” states Lengnick, who stresses that it’s not just mental health counseling. WellConnect’s services also extend to couples and family therapy, financial planning and legal consultations.

Multiple stressors

“Most of our fully online students work and some are the primary breadwinners for their families. This period of time with COVID-19 has been particularly hard for students,” explains Lengnick. “There are a ton of stressors right now.”

One of the most common stressors for students is the uncertainty, Lengnick says. In addition, he points out that more than two-thirds of FIU’s online student population are caregivers for their families including supporting children and adult family members, and these additional roles can generate more strain.

Faculty and staff who want to help

“Being home all day long, morning to night, all in the same space, is creating a lot of struggle in many ways, so having an outlet is really important,” highlights Lengnick, who underscores the need for professors to be on the lookout for students who may be in need of these supportive services CAPS has arranged.

Faculty and staff can call 844-208-7070, which is a “fast” support line to get advice on how to help a student, should an issue arise, he offers. Aside from the help line, faculty and staff can also visit fiu.kognito.com to learn effective ways of empathizing, validating and recommending services to students, Lengnick points out.

“We are living through a uniquely difficult time,” Lengnick affirms, “but we are here to help and offer hope. We’ll get through this together.”

The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU celebrates 25 years and launches "Heritage Heroes” virtual fundraiser and celebration

Erica Corsano — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 15:00:00 -0500

The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU will launch a virtual fundraiser from Dec. 1 – 6 to celebrate the museum’s history, heritage, partners and friends, while raising much-needed funds to secure the museum’s future. Titled “Heritage Heroes,” the program will present the everyday heroes who have helped the museum over the past 25 years and will continue to support the museum’s important work for years to come.

Each day, the museum will present virtual programming that speaks to its work celebrating, collecting, preserving and interpreting Jewish culture and history in Florida. The celebrations kick off with Susan Gladstone, JMOF-FIU executive director, joined by Jonah and Henry Platt, of the famous singing and acting Platt Family. Their brother Ben is a Tony Award-winning actor honored for his starring role in “Dear Evan Hansen.” The program will include a video of the three brothers performing.

The virtual programming can be found at go.fiu.edu/JMOF25. It includes:

Tuesday, Dec.1 2020: Singing Heroes: The Platt Brothers join JMOF-FIU in conversation and in song.

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020: Founding Heroes: Looking back at JMOF-FIU’s history with Founding Executive Director Marcia Jo Zerivitz and other Florida Jewish heroes.

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020: Our Heritage Heroes: JMOF-FIU supporters will share why the museum is important to their family and to the community.

Friday, Dec. 4, 2020: Super Heroes: Virtual tour of JMOF-FIU’s new exhibition, Will Eisner: Comic Illustrator and Innovator

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020: Young Heroes: A Family Activity: Education Manager Luna Goldberg walks families through a fun art activity.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020: Heritage Heroes in Song: The annual Klezmer Music Concert, which will take place live at the museum from 3 – 4:30 p.m. and will be streamed virtually, featuring Klezmer band Heavy Shtetl.

Elliot and Bonnie Stone and family will match –dollar for dollar – up to $50,000 – all gifts made during the Heritage Heroes fundraising celebration. A former board president and current board member, Elliot Stone and his family have been longtime supporters of the museum.

The Jewish Museum-FIU illustrates, through its extensive collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, drawings, visual art exhibitions, and cultural public programing, the ways in which the challenges of immigrants are shared by all ethnicities in Florida. It celebrates the balance of the continuity and traditions of Jewish history and heritage, with the values and customs of the larger global society.

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA-FIU REMAINS CLOSED BUT OFFERS AN ARRAY OF COMPELLING VIRTUAL PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITIONS AT JMOF.FIU.EDU**

November 2020 in photos: A commencement caravan, a spirits classroom and a new season

David Drucker — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 14:45:00 -0500

This month, the university continued its commitment to making the best of coronavirus times, while simultaneously embracing the future ahead.

FIU hosted a commencement caravan celebration, welcoming more than 500 graduates for a variety of socially distanced activities. The university also opened up an on-campus testing site, and college basketball season kicked off this month with a Panthers win.

Here are some of our favorite photos from November, as captured by FIU photographers Margi Rentis and Mikey Berlfein.

This semester, the university went beyond the car caravan that entertained folks the last time around. Check out our full story about the amped-up farewell celebration that gave seniors a little something extra.

For more information regarding the campus testing site, check out our story.

Check out our full story for more information about the Bacardi Center of Excellence.

It was another busy month at the university. Homecoming week, which brought a flurry of activity both virtual and socially distanced, included a car caravan, a drive-in talent show and culminated at "The Cage" for the football team's first game on campus in nearly a year. Meanwhile, university faculty, staff and students carried on vital work to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are some of our favorite moments from October, as captured by FIU photographer Margi Rentis.

It was a Homecoming unlike any other. FIU News describes what the vibe was like at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Oct. 10.

Turtles swim and splash in the water beneath campus' iconic teal bridge. Landscapers ensure that every bush is manicured to aesthetic perfection. Football players wear masks and train on the practice fields. After the first full month of Fall 2020, the university looks like a place ripe for welcoming back more students as soon as it is safe and healthy to do so. Here are some of our favorite images and videos from September, as captured by Margi Rentis and Doug Garland.

Well that's one way to start off a season!@FIUFootball takes their first touch of the season ALL THE WAY to the 🏠

WATCH > https://t.co/uuGblAH6sk pic.twitter.com/re8l1L2YmZ
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) September 26, 2020

The first play of FIU's 2020 football season was a touchdown. Sophomore Lexington "Flex" Joseph, a Miami native, returned the opening kick for more than 100 yards.

For more on Panthers football, check out FIUsports.com. The team returns to campus for the Homecoming game vs. Middle Tennessee on Oct. 10.

Tejera, 23, reached out to FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg over the summer to share the story of how he met Garcia, 23, in GL. Check out the full story behind the proposal here.

Check out our full story on the Panthers Protecting Panthers ambassadors here.

A historic Fall has begun at FIU. While nearly all activities and events remain virtual for the health of the university community, some students, faculty and staff are now learning and working in person. Here are a few of our favorite images from the beginning of Fall, as captured by FIU photographer Margi Rentis.

Students moved into residential halls this month before the beginning of the academic year. Senior Tea Green, a human resource management major, was excited just to be back on campus. "I've been dorming all three years, but I'm looking forward to having my own space and independence again," she said.

For more photos and interviews from Move-in Day, check out our full story.

FIU Online commissions alumna for 'Beautifully Miami’ artwork

Monica Smith — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 12:30:00 -0500

Gianna DiBartolomeo diligently hand paints 2,800 individual cafecito cups as she checks her plans, mixes her color palette, and contemplates the next punch of color. There are 44 different colors to consider, and she knows exactly how many cups must be painted with each color. This project is special—FIU Online commissioned the piece as part of its annual community-focused campaign, Born of the 305. The theme this year is “Beautifully Miami.”

Housed in FIU’s Miami Beach Urban Studios, Lincoln Road, in time for Miami Art Week, which takes place Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, the artwork will form the basis of multiple PR and brand-awareness campaigns for FIU Online.

“We value our roots and community and we never want to lose sight of that as we grow our portfolio of learning products and continue to increase our reach in creating access to education worldwide—Gianna understands that firsthand,” says Lia Prevolis, FIU Online interim assistant vice president. “This year’s theme and Gianna’s creation symbolize the idea that our multicultural environment has created what is ‘Beautifully Miami.’”

The concept is simple: a pixelation of thousands of painted cafecito cups come together on a grid and form a larger image as you step back. In this case, the image is quintessentially Miami—an Art Deco lifeguard station on Miami Beach. DiBartolomeo balances coral-, salmon- and fuchsia-painted cups in repetition, adjusting and blending as she makes each placement.

Born of the 305: Beautifully Miami

The FIU Online Born of the 305 campaign was first conceived in 2019 as a celebration of the university’s ties to its community, diversity and the people of South Florida—all of which give DiBartolomeo great pride as she builds on a metaphor for her Beautifully Miami piece.

The metaphor goes deep, DiBartolomeo feels. Cafecitos bring people together—we all know that time of day, whether at home or at work, when the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air and cups are passed around—most everyone enjoys this small drink of liquid energy. It allows people to connect, laugh, share stories for a while, good or bad, and then press on with their lives. Wherever we are from, these tiny cups bring us together to create one of the many moments that make living in Miami beautiful.

“Cafecito cups read as ‘very Miami’ but also make the viewer reconsider the resources right in front of them. This piece challenges the viewer to see the commonly overlooked in a new way,” she explains as she plans her work. DiBartolomeo notes that education does the same thing—it offers students new perspectives, so when they graduate, they can see and be seen in a new way, too.

Homegrown, home-based

A Miami contemporary artist, DiBartolomeo is twice a graduate of FIU’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA). She keeps a drawer full of everyday materials for inspiration. She uses mixed media to inspire and stimulate new perspectives in those who view her art. For more than a decade, her work has been seen in exhibitions in Miami, New York, Chicago, Spain, Seattle, Las Vegas and Toronto. Her heart, she declares, stays with Miami because it is where she was born, where her family is and where her most meaningful moments have occurred.

More recently, DiBartolomeo was commissioned to produce an exhibition for MIA Galleries, Miami International Airport’s Arts & Exhibition program. The series of 11 abstract paintings, called “Touch from Above,” demonstrate her acclaim and proliferation and will be on display near gate D31 through July 2021.

“I love it here, there’s so much opportunity,” she professes. “I’m proud of being from Miami, so when I go to other places, I want to represent Miami.”

DiBartolomeo also values her FIU education because it taught her to create art that is idea based, so while the medium changes, there’s always a message.

“There’s storytelling involved,” she expounds. Every piece she works on is, in a lot of ways, a reflection of what’s going on in her life.

Community ties

In art circles, she’s simply known as Gianna D, and she holds no pretenses as she humbly speaks of her experiences and volunteer work. DiBartolomeo lights up when she describes working in underserved elementary schools and youth centers across Miami-Dade County. Art connects a community and offers hope, she feels. Her art, she asserts, is a defiant act of hope.

“It takes a lot of work to have hope—my art is a defiant act because it is so easy to get caught up in the storm—especially now with all of the negativity, chaos and despair,” she reflects.

“We chose Gianna because of her ties to FIU, and the fact that she’s truly a Miami artist,” reports Fabian De La Flor, art director for FIU Online, “She offers a fresh and innovative way to tell the story of our connection to our community during Miami Art Week.”

The in-between times

Obsessed with the in-between moments of existence, DiBartolomeo reveals that her motivation when she approaches new work is not so much about the milestones achieved, but the journey. Perhaps, much like the cafecito times along the way.

“It’s about that space to get into the milestone of crafting who you are, what you become. It’s about the process, which is why a lot of my work is process oriented,” she states and mentions that throughout her time with FIU, online learning was essential to help free up her schedule to work creatively and give her “room” to develop her processes.

This online learning time helped her build a strong portfolio as she participated in rapid-fire exhibitions while still a student. It also helped in the continuation of her progress toward a timely graduation.

Diversity

“Completing a degree through online learning is a process where little things combine together,” she says and moves to a discussion on the diversity of Miami. DiBartolomeo points out that her cafecito art is a nod to the multicultural nature of Miami and FIU. People from all backgrounds come together to form a bigger picture—one that hints of the richness of the diversity, she reasons, and one that is “Beautifully Miami.”

DiBartolomeo agrees that there is beauty in the small moments and in repetition because sometimes, that is where the real “art” occurs—it provides you the space to communicate what you can’t in words. She suggests that online learning is like that, too.

“It’s easy to see the connection,” concludes Prevolis, “both cafecito moments and online learning can happen any place and on your own time—both contribute beautiful moments in the tapestry of our lives.”

Ivan Roque sweats in the Miami heat, balanced precariously on a ladder. The hiss of his spray paint brings his latest mural to life with each stroke. The globally known Wynwood artist, recently featured in the New York Times, has painted more than 30 walls in the Miami art district, with two currently standing. He’s also traveled overseas for several projects.

“You have to live life, be open to new experiences, find purpose and education helps in finding a purpose,” he says while taking a break from painting his newest Wynwood “wall”, a mural on a shipping container commissioned by FIU Online.

Born of the 305

Roque was commissioned to paint the FIU murals to create brand awareness for FIU Online in the heart of the city where he was born and raised. The FIU Online mural message, Born of the 305, is one that resonates with him as his signature style is quintessentially Miami. It also resonates because he is an FIU alumnus who took online courses. He graduated magna cum laude in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in visual arts and notes that his online classes helped balance his schedule as he built his portfolio and progressed toward graduation.

“FIU rose up out of the Miami community and serves a specific need within this community with our online learning platform,” says Fabian de la Flor, art director for FIU Online. “The Born of the 305 project was our way of representing this symbiotic relationship between FIU Online and our learners, while contributing to the Art Basel season, now also definitively Miami.”

Art Basel event yard

There’s a great sense of pride in being asked to do the project for his alma mater, Roque adds. The FIU Online walls are located at the 1700 block of NE 2nd Ave., in a Wynwood event “yard.” The yard will reopen with seasonal kiosks and features for Art Basel Dec. 5-8.

Basel brings the international art world together, with the world's leading galleries showing the works of more than 4,000 artists. The event draws more than 90,000 international attendees. Roque’s new murals highlight FIU as an educational cornerstone in Miami and part of the contemporary art scene.

Son of Cuban immigrants

“I’ve always lived here. Like me, my art is born of the 305 and it has the colors of this vibrant city. If you look back to the ’80s to today, all of the aesthetics in my work are from Miami,” explains Roque, who is an avid fisherman and sports a blue marlin tattoo on his left upper arm.

As a native Miamian, Roque’s work is influenced by animals and nature. He frequently highlights conservationism in his pieces. His message through his art is to inspire people to find purpose in everything they do and understand their effect on the world. The son of Cuban immigrant parents, Roque describes how education and FIU’s diversity are shaping our global future, which is something he aims for with his work.

“I take pride in inspiring the youth,” says Roque, who grew up in Carol City. He proudly pointed out that his younger brother is a current FIU student, studying engineering. He believes he inspired his little brother. Roque is the first person in his family to obtain a university degree.

The Roque method

About 50 cans of spray paint will be used for the FIU Online murals. Roque says the best way to spray paint is to move quickly and learn from your mistakes as you fix them. Using a gridding system, he works fast.

Roque, who laughs at how much his skill has grown since his teen years, muses that he wasn’t the best student in high school, but to him, art just made sense and he loved the way it made him feel. So, after a few false starts for his bachelor’s degree, he decided to finish his educational “canvas” with FIU while he survived on meager means, living in a shady part of town in an office space, he says.

“Those were my dog days. I hit a really rough patch. I was a starving artist surviving off $30 a week,” adds Roque, who understands social struggles and many times, brings those concepts into his art.

Support from mom

The FIU grad says his mother, a mail carrier, encouraged him to pursue his craft early. She told him to do what he loved, so he’d eventually work in a field that excited him.

“She wanted me to wake up with a purpose, so she gave me a final push to be an artist even when everyone questioned me,” he recalls.

Since then, he’s worked with major brands including Samsung, Becks, Seagram's Gin, Microsoft and the Ultra Music Festival. He also just finished a mural for the Homestead Miami Speedway and has traveled extensively for various exhibitions and murals including shows in New York City, Dubai and Seoul. Roque has had three gallery solo shows and one museum solo show at the Coral Springs Museum of Art.

Perseverance pays off

Everyone can have their dream if they work hard at it and online learning puts education in better reach while you work on that dream, insists Roque. He plans on going back to FIU to pursue his master’s degree. Given his busy schedule, he will probably take online courses, he volunteers.

“Life is going to hit you in so many ways and it teaches you to be strong. Always keep your vision true. Don’t let the light go away,” he offers as he heads back to complete the FIU Online murals.

International educators turn to FIU for global learning expertise

Birgitta Rausch-Montoto — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 09:30:00 -0500

A decade ago, FIU implemented Global Learning for Global Citizenship, the centerpiece of internationalized undergraduate education.

This initiative involves every undergraduate in collaborative efforts to analyze and address complex issues that transcend borders. More than 145,000 students have benefited from taking global learning designated courses, and more than 850 faculty and staff have participated in hands-on, interdisciplinary workshops that have enabled them to develop courses, activities and assessments that address graduation-level global learning outcomes – global awareness, global perspective, and global engagement.

Due to the success of Global Learning for Global Citizenship, international educators around the world now turn to FIU for its global learning scholarship and practice. On Nov.16, FIU Global and the Office of Global Learning Initiatives partnered to host FIU’s inaugural global learning forum: Designing & Implementing Global Learning/ Internationalization at Home.

Almost 50 participants, including faculty, senior international officers, administrators of study abroad and language programs, a career coach and advisor, and others signed on to the full day virtual meeting to learn from FIU administrators and faculty, and exchange ideas with peers. While most participants were from institutions in the United States and Canada, others represented universities and colleges in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, China, Belgium, Ireland and Spain.

Topics on the forum agenda included the fundamentals of global learning; how to create buy-in from administrators, faculty and students for global learning; how to train faculty and staff who wish to infuse global learning into the curriculum; and, best practices in deploying global learning via Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). FIU faculty and administrators, including Provost Emeritus Douglas Wartzok, served as panelists to describe how the initiative evolved at FIU, resources necessary to institute university-wide global learning, and the varied approaches to facilitating global learning for students.

“Internationalization at home has a significant role in building the Internationalization Framework at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT),” said Marko Savic, senior manager of international relations at HCT, an FIU partner institution in the United Arab Emirates.

The forum “provided me with numerous ideas about how to facilitate students’ global experiences regardless of the COVID crisis,” Savic said.

In addition to engaging discussions with administrators and faculty who regularly use global learning practices in their courses, all forum participants received a complimentary copy of “Making Global Learning Universal – Promoting Inclusion and Success for All Students,” co-authored by FIU scholars Hilary Landorf, Stephanie Doscher and Jaffus Hardrick and co-published by NAFSA and Stylus. The book not only describes FIU’s journey in internationalizing the curriculum and co-curriculum, but serves as a replicable guide for institutions throughout the world.

Dawn Whitehead—vice president of the Office of Global Citizenship for Campus, Community, and Careers at the Association of American College and Universities (AAC&U)—moderated the forum’s opening session on the fundamentals of global learning.

Whitehead joined FIU’s event “because it shows the power in the exchange of ideas at the institutional level. FIU has put in time, energy, and resources to develop robust global learning initiatives, and now FIU is sharing this information in the spirit of global cooperation, not competition. It is a true model of global learning.”

Chaplin School, Bacardi USA name Brian Connors director of Bacardi Center of Excellence

Ivonne Yee-Amor — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management has named Brian Connors director of the Bacardi Center of Excellence, a one-of-a-kind educational partnership between the FIU hospitality school and Bacardi USA.

The Bacardi Center of Excellence offers the only spirits management curriculum of its kind in the country for students interested in a career in the spirits industry.

Connors has served as the center’s interim director since its creation. Under his leadership, the Bacardi Center of Excellence launched the Spirits Management major in fall 2020, with classes such as Beverage Law and Beverage Marketing. All the new courses this spring will be taught in the newly unveiled Bacardi Center of Excellence classroom located on the first floor of the Chaplin School's Southern Wine and Spirits Beverage Management Center.

“It's an honor to be leading this unique partnership between FIU hospitality and Bacardi,” Connors said. “Our goal is to make the Bacardi Center of Excellence the premiere learning and research center in hospitality industry education.”

Connors’ appointment to the Bacardi Center of Excellence is a result of an educational partnership created after Bacardi USA made a $5 million-dollar gift to the Chaplin School in February.

“We are amazed at the great opportunities Professor Connors has created so far for the Bacardi Center of Excellence,” said Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School. “He is putting our new program on the map and creating a path to success for future leaders in the industry.”

In addition to the curriculum, Connors spearheaded a collaborative-learning platform called BacardiTeach. The online series offers micro-credentials, certifications, and advanced learning opportunities for beverage professionals and individuals wanting to learn more about the global spirits world. To date, over 2,000 people have signed up and earned badges through the program.

Connors also launched BacardiTalks, a monthly guest lecture series with industry leaders. Speakers have included Pete Carr, president of Bacardi North America, Elizabeth Blau, founder and CEO of Blau + Associates, and Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group founder. The lineup of featured speakers continues weekly through another new endeavor, the podcast 2 BarStools & a Knife.

Connors is a teaching assistant professor at the Chaplin School and works directly with industry and academia to create innovative solutions for operational training, concept development and educational resources. He served as a wine and beverage consultant for Celebrity Cruises, a professor with Johnson & Wales University, and a consultant to independent and multi-unit restaurant groups, hotels, resorts, entertainment venues, private city and country clubs, retailers of natural and organic goods, hospitality REITs, and the mega yacht industry. He has developed nationally recognized, award-winning wine and beverage programs, and has appeared on the Travel Channel’s “Trip of a Lifetime,” as well as on national television and in print media features.

Connors has a master’s degree from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, and a bachelor’s degree from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He also earned his culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University, trained for his sommelier certification at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley and is certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers. He is also a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) through the Society of Wine Educators, International Bordeaux Wine Educator (IBWE) through The Bordeaux Wine Trade Council (CIVB) and a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) according to standards achieved through the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

Why gratitude matters – even during a pandemic

Gisela Maria Valencia — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 12:28:00 -0500

Every year, Thanksgiving Day ushers in a time of gratitude and joy. It prompts us to slow down, feast on turkey (and all things pumpkin spice), take stock of our blessings and give thanks with a full heart.

But, how exactly do we do that when there’s a global pandemic disrupting our lives? We choose to be thankful.

Yes, you read that right.

“Gratitude is a choice,” says Lisa Arango, an FIU psychologist in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. “[It] is noticing the good and recognizing where the good comes from, usually outside of ourselves. It doesn't mean there is nothing bad or negative going on around us, it means that we are intentionally looking for the good.”

Good circumstances and opportunities can include things like health (definitely not one to take for granted this year!), a job, a place to live, food, having our family and friends or a strong support system – the list goes on. These are often some of the blessings we attribute to God, the universe or a Greater Being, a Higher Power. This leads us to look beyond ourselves.

Shifting our focus from ourselves to someone or something else is a key part of the gratitude process.

Acknowledging the good that other people have done for us also takes us out of ourselves and lets us appreciate others. The people who show their love and support for us could be parents, spouses, children, siblings, grandparents, friends, mentors, supervisors – any source of good and joy in our lives.

Recognizing that others are helping us activates the reward centers of our brains, says Arango. We become aware of people’s intentions. We appreciate it. The positive thoughts this unleashes helps create hope and optimism – and motivates us to connect.

“We feel supported by others and less isolated and alone in the world when we recognize that people are bringing good into our lives,” Arango explains.

Gratitude can also impact our overall wellness. This is especially relevant during a time when social isolation, uncertainty and stress are weighing on many of us.

“Research links the practice of gratitude to improved self-esteem and greater life-satisfaction,” Arango says. “It has also been found that gratitude is a protective factor when it comes to stress and depression.”

Simply put, Arango says: Thanksgiving points us toward a way of life, not just an idea for one day of the year. “Gratitude is a practice, a mindset and an approach,” Arango explains. “[It] has the potential to heal, energize, change our lives and our relationships.”

Ways to embrace gratitude

So, how do you practice the art of gratitude this year? Here are some tips from Arango.

1. Reflect.

“Take a moment to reflect on the good that this challenging year has brought you,” she says. “Ask yourself: What lessons have I learned from this? In what ways, big or small, have I benefitted during this time?”

Did you take up a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try? Have you re-connected with old friends online? Have you spent more time with family members at home? Have you learned how to multi-task?

2. Keep a gratitude journal.

You can list things you are thankful for in a notebook, write out sticky-notes and post them around your desk or purchase an official gratitude journal, which often includes prompts to help you identify the positives in your life.

3. Express your gratitude.

Any way that you can communicate appreciation for someone works, Arango says. You can call, text, Zoom or send a thank you note.

You can also try a fun, interactive activity during Thanksgiving Day, whether you’re sitting around a physical dinner table with loved ones or hosting a remote celebration via Zoom.

Here’s how the activity works: Identify one to three adjectives that describe each person you’re celebrating with, and try to remember a moment when they exhibited this quality. For example, "I appreciate your thoughtfulness, like the time you made my favorite dinner without my asking.”

4. Find the good.

In the end, Arango says, it all comes down to two simple questions: What’s good in my life? And where does that good come from?

Answer that, and you’ll celebrate Thanksgiving every day.

Enjoy some nutritional food for thought this holiday season

Contributing Writer — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:25:00 -0500

By Dr. Steve Cohen

The holidays will certainly be different this year. Due to the pandemic, many families will avoid big gatherings. But there is one tradition bound to continue regardless of the virus—indulging in large meals and holiday treats. It's been a stressful year. Many of us will seek comfort in food.

I encourage marking the end of 2020 in a healthier way. Let's embrace this year of change and change the way we eat.

Nutrition plays a crucial role in ensuring overall health and can be incorporated into your holiday traditions.

I get it. For most people, it's hard avoiding sweets and other holiday specialties. It's especially difficult to go cold turkey on Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas and New Year's Eve. However, merely adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to meals in place of rich casseroles or heavy desserts is a small and easy step in the right direction.

Speaking of steps, going for a brisk walk before cozying up on the couch for games or movies is also something families can easily do to add a wellness boost to their holiday routines.

Minor, commonsense changes can make a big difference in preventing diseases like diabetes, one of the most common health problems Americans face today. According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 34 million Americans have diabetes.

In a nutshell, diabetes is a condition that occurs when your body can't use glucose normally. Glucose, a type of sugar that you get from foods you eat, is the main energy source for our cells. The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which helps move glucose into cells. In type 2 diabetes, your body makes some insulin but can't use it properly. People with type 1 diabetes don't produce insulin.

Diabetes type 2 is the most common type of diabetes, and it is highly influenced by diet and lifestyle. It is usually seen in middle age but is affecting ever more teens and even children. Type 2 diabetes puts you at risk for stroke, heart disease, kidney dysfunction, limb amputation, vision loss and poor wound healing. People with diabetes have much higher rates of serious complications and death from COVID-19 than people without diabetes.

If your health care provider believes you are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, there are things you can do right now to prevent it. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that losing just five to seven percent of your body weight can help. Incorporating moderate exercise for 30 minutes, five days a week can help, too.

It's also beneficial to avoid being sedentary and sitting for too long. And regular health check-ups are essential because many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it. There is no cure for it, but type 2 diabetes can sometimes be reversed if caught and addressed early.

I know this isn't a very "jolly" topic of conversation for the holiday season. But I, like many people, have taken stock of what matters most to me this year. For me, it's about health. And I cannot think of a better gift to give my loved ones, and myself, than taking care of my health.

ChutneyMex: Hospitality students' new restaurant concept wins top prize

Ivonne Yee-Amor — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 13:45:00 -0500

If you've ever had a fight with your friends or family about where to eat, well don't worry, some innovative students have your back with a brand new restaurant concept—ChutneyMex, a fusion of Indian and Mexican food.

A team of four Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management students took home first prize recently in the Redesign the Restaurant of the Future competition during Restaurant Finance Week. Their concept may be the first of its kind Indian-Mexican fusion restaurant.

The judges said that Neeti Ayare, Jean Carlos Baltodano, Tameria Benjamin and Edward Del Portillo made their mouths water and made them hungry when presenting their unique concept. Led by Chaplin professor and team adviser John Noble Masi, the students spent countless months and hours developing their idea.

"We're super excited that we won and this was a great opportunity given to us by the college, professor Masi, and our dean, Michael Cheng—who gave us all the support to compete on this platform. We are really, really on cloud nine," said Neeti Ayare, who is getting her master’s in hospitality management and expects to graduate in 2021.

The team held numerous planning sessions via Zoom to come up with the unique concept. From testing real recipes using unique spices, to creating a menu, to running the financials, to developing a solid business plan, a marketing plan and even designing a logo, the students thought of it all.

They even chose the location of their first restaurant—Dallas, Texas—which would serve the area's large Indian and Hispanic population.

The team brainstormed and surveyed more than 125 students and faculty and eventually moved forward with the fast-casual Indian Mexican fusion concept they branded ChutneyMex. The group's 10-minute, 40-plus slide presentation was highlighted by a video showing the concept and providing a virtual tour of the concept design. The group felt so confident in the concept, they registered the brand name and built a staging website.

"The team worked really hard with everyone tackling a different aspect of the presentation," Ayare said.

The competition was tough. The students competed against Michigan State University's The Greenhouse concept, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's mobile app called Pronto, intended for users to experience the world from their kitchen and the University of Nevada Las Vegas' team's The Way To Go, a fast-casual breakfast restaurant where customers can choose a burrito or a bowl to go.

"WOW!!!! You all did so great! It was fun to see your concepts. The judges were beside themselves with interest in your concepts!!! And they really enjoyed the experience," said Gayle Strawn, conference director at Franchise Times and Restaurant Finance Monitor, presenters of Restaurant Finance Week.

In addition to bragging rights, the FIU hospitality team members took home the first-place trophy and were exposed to investors, private equity firm owners, investment bankers and finance companies, which were attending The Restaurant Finance & Development Conference, the largest industry event that is exclusively focused on the finance side of the restaurant business.

We'll have to wait and see if this win is just the beginning of America's newest restaurant franchise. Team member Tameria Benjamin predicts ChutneyMex could become public in a decade, once and for all ending the debate: "What are we eating tonight?"

Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator fellows: Where are they now?

Tatianna Basanta — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 14:40:00 -0500

Three years ago, the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts and the Philip E. and Carol R. Ratcliffe Foundation sought to give FIU art and design students the tools they needed to turn their ideas into profitable businesses – and thus the Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator (RA+DI) was born.

Each year, a new cohort is selected to work with two faculty designers. The designers oversee the fellows’ development of startup businesses or patents.

Now with three cohorts in the books, FIU News caught up with some former RA+DI fellows to see what they were up to and how the incubator gave them their head start into the business world.

Latricia M. Russell '21

Russell (@lrbeautyco) joined the incubator in 2018 and is now the owner of LR Beauty Co., her namesake beauty brand that offers professional makeup, skin therapy and hair braiding. She discovered the incubator while on her way to class one day and asked Jacek Kolasiński, director of RA + DI, about renting out space for a beauty event she was hosting. Kolansińki ended up explaining how the fellowship program could actually grow her business and encouraged her to apply.

How has the incubator helped you grow or launch your beauty brand and career?

The incubator helped me to launch the next phase of my business, which was converting from a travel studio experience, where I drove to and serviced clients on-location exclusively, to now being able to service clients from my beauty studio, in a safe, clean, intimate setting.

How has the incubator helped you in your personal goals?

I’m a thinker. I like to plan everything before taking action but being introduced to the “Design Thinking Process,” that is covered at the incubator, has helped me to not just plan, but act on the plan. I feel more confident about testing my ideas, and now, affectionately refer to the incubator as “a space for doers.”

What is your favorite part about creating, growing and working in LR Beauty?

I would say the opportunity to use my gifts to generate income while impacting the lives of others. Whether it's the actual service they come in to receive, a word of encouragement, advice or connecting them with someone in my network who can help them with something they are working on, I’m always looking for opportunities to help, beyond the chair.

Second, my life is full in the most important ways. I am married with three children, all under the age of 8 years old so creating my own work schedule and finding a work-life balance that works for me has been essential! I also like that my children are seeing me create, grow and work in my own business and that expands their ideas of what they believe is possible for them.

How has LR Beauty grown since you finished your fellowship?

I finished my fellowship in the Spring of 2020 when we were working remotely, due to the pandemic. I immediately second-guessed my entire business model, but quickly pivoted and got creative about new offerings that would allow my business to triple its income, in such a short period of time.

Denis Rovinskiy '19

Rovinskiy (@deniscccp) is a two-time FIU graduate, artist, RA+DI 2018 fellow, and a former MBUS Leadership Engagement And Development Students (LEADS) member (’17). He joined both the incubator and MBUS Leads because of the experiences both programs provided “beyond the classroom.”

His work focuses on kinetic installations that use sound and light as a means of expression. Growing up in Russia, Rovinskiy didn’t think a career as an artist was in his future, however, he recently opened up his own art studio and has been featured in various online exhibitions since the start of COVID-19.

How have the incubator and MBUS Leads helped you grow or launch your studio and career?

The incubator created a base for thinking like an entrepreneur, and MBUS Leads introduced me to professionals working in architecture, communications and the creative fields.

It gave me great exposure outside the classroom and allowed me to connect with gifted students and professionals in my industry. It definitely helped me grow, gain confidence and laid the foundation for working independently and pursuing a career in the art world.

How have they helped you in your personal goals?

My personal goals are to be fulfilled creatively. The incubator and MBUS Leads showed me the path to becoming an artist and how to not starve doing it!

What type of pieces does your studio focus on?

I have been focusing on programming and coding sound and light installations and, gearing them for digital presentations due to COVID-19. The physical installations, however, are my real passion – allowing for a transformation of the space around the viewers and their total immersion into the sound and light. For now, though, I am directing the visual onto a projection screen and showing them virtually. So far, I have done two live iterations.

Quincy Chery '18

Chery (@cuttinggallery) is an artist and professional barber. He was a fellow in the incubator’s first cohort and is now the owner of the Cutting Gallery, a barbershop and art gallery storefront in Miramar, FL. The grand opening for the Cutting Gallery is taking place later this year. He discovered the incubator when Kolasiński noticed his self-made phone case and asked about the other designs he had. Before opening his own store, Chery would take the money he made from cutting hair to mass-produce his own products.

What was your RA + DI project?

My project was a brick-and-mortar store where people were able to come in and shop from. I have always had a passion for creating different things whether that be stickers, t-shirts, shoes, joggers, phone cases, etc. And a lot of what I would create people would buy, so I designed my project around this concept.

How has the incubator helped you grow or launch your business?

The program helped me structure and lay out my ideas more clearly. And essentially, I took my project idea of a brick-and-mortar store and combined it into my barbershop business.

Being involved in the incubator also allowed me to meet and connect with some truly talented artists. And now with my store, I get to showcase and expose their work to the community. As an artist, one of the things that hinder us the most is, you can be talented, but no one sees your work. I really wanted to take what I learned in school, and the connections I made, and combine them to benefit the art community.

How does it feel to be a sole entrepreneur at only 32?

Honestly, it feels great to have accomplished so much, but I always want to do more. Every day is rewarding, even when the days are long because I’m doing what I love.

Whether it is current or former fellows, the incubator has given each of them a space to turn their ideas into reality.

To learn more about the Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator visit, http://carta.fiu.edu/ratcliffe/

Three vitamins, minerals to boost your immune system and fight COVID-19

Gisela Maria Valencia — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 13:30:00 -0500

As we continue to keep an eye on COVID-19 and its new strains, now is a great time to strengthen our immune systems to combat the virus.

According to Associate Professor of dietetics and nutrition Cristina Palacios, supplements and foods rich in certain vitamins and minerals are crucial.

“Those of us that have a better nutritional status can fight the disease better than others,” says Palacios, a faculty member at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work. “We constantly have pathogens, such as virus and bacteria, coming into our bodies. If our immune system is working really well, we don’t get infected.”

She adds, “In general, nutrition affects our entire body. All body processes require enzymes, and many vitamins and minerals help enzymes work better. There’s the saying, ‘We are what we eat.’ It’s true. If you want to be healthy, you have to consume certain nutrients.”

So, how do we keep our immune systems healthy during this time?

To shed light on the matter, Palacios recently hosted a free virtual webinar for the community. The webinar was part of an ongoing series organized by Palacios and a team of graduate students to share information with folks who are trying to keep their families healthy.

Earlier this year, Palacios collaborated with a team of international experts to develop a guide, which was published in the official journal of the Latin American Society of Nutrition (SLAN), to help frontline workers protect their health through supplements and food. During the webinar, Palacios shared some of those recommendations—which are applicable for adults in the general public, as cities continue to reopen.

Here are the top three supplements adults should consider taking.

1. Vitamin C. This vitamin has been hailed for years as a go-to source for aiding the immune system. Palacios said vitamin C is vital for the health of leukocytes, a type of white blood cells that help fight infections. It’s particularly important during a pandemic. She recommends adults take a supplement of 1000 mg twice every day.

She also recommended consuming foods rich in vitamin C. These foods include the classics of orange juice and oranges as well as other citric fruits and vegetables including grapefruit, strawberries, tomatoes and cranberries.

2. Vitamin D. Most often we get our vitamin D through the sun, but throughout this time, Palacios said, taking a supplement is a good idea. She added that studies have shown that low levels of vitamin D have been associated with a greater risk of developing respiratory conditions in adults and children.

In fact, studies have begun to show that people with vitamin D deficiencies are at a higher risk of getting infected by the COVID-19 virus. The time to act is now.

Palacios recommended adults take a supplement of vitamin D3 of 1000 International Units (IU) once or twice per day, consumed during meals.

Additionally, you can boost your intake of vitamin D by eating fish and other foods fortified with the vitamin.

For those who have a vitamin D deficiency, consult with your doctor or dietician for an accurate dosage of the supplement.

3. Zinc. Palacios said that zinc is crucial for normal development and functioning of cells mediating part of the immune system. She added that studies have shown that increased concentrations of zinc can inhibit the replication of viruses like poliovirus and SARS-coronavirus.

She recommended adults take a zinc supplement of 40 mg or less once a day.

Nutrients through food

Palacios recommended adults work several other nutrients into their diet through foods. While the following nutrients have not been proved to help in the fight against COVID-19, they do boost the immune system in general, so consuming them through foods is the way to go.

Vitamin A. Palacios recommended consuming the vitamin through foods including milk, dairy products and eggs, as well as orange and yellow fruits.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin). This vitamin helps the immune system by reducing inflammation and damage to the lungs, said Palacios. Foods high in Vitamin B3 include chicken, meats, fish, grains, beans and legumes and nuts.

Vitamin B9 (folate and folic acid) – studies have shown this vitamin can prevent respiratory infections in children, Palacios said. You can consume foods with folate in leafy greens like spinach and folic acid in fortified foods including pasta and bread.

Probiotics – Palacios added that certain strains of probiotics in specific situations can prevent upper respiratory tract infections. You can find probiotics in yogurt and fermented milk.

The next webinar by Palacios' team will be hosted at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2. It will focus on how to whip up easy plant-based meals for the family.

FIU Law graduates' Bar passage rate top in the state

Morgan Hughes — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 16:15:00 -0500

Despite the challenges FIU Law graduates have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, FIU has once again ranked as the top-performing Florida law school.

The college’s graduates earned an 89.3% passing rate on the October 2020 bar exam, the highest of any Florida law school, and 18 percentage points above the state average. The July 2020 bar exam was postponed to August and then to October because of COVID-19. It was administered online.

“Our graduates confronted unprecedented hurdles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are very resilient and hard-working,” said FIU Law Dean Antony Page. “They earned this achievement because they remained focused and dedicated to becoming great new lawyers.”

FIU Law’s Academic Excellence Program, led by Assistant Dean Raul Ruiz and Associate Dean Louis Schulze, helps ensure that students have everything they need to maximize their performance. The AEP provides resources to help FIU Law students succeed in law school, pass the bar examination, and develop strong practice skills, starting in their first semester.

“Deans Ruiz and Schulze went well above and beyond in supporting our graduates during this unprecedented time,” Page said.

FIU Law has finished first in the Florida Bar Exam on six consecutive mid-year bar exams.

In 2020, the College was ranked among the nation’s top 50 public law schools, among the top 10 for evening programs, and sixth for Law School Diversity by U.S. News & World Report. The National Jurist ranked FIU Law number 11 Best Value Law School.

According to the latest figures, 90% of FIU Law graduates are employed in full-time, long-term jobs that require bar passage or a J.D. degree, with another 5% employed in other full-time professional positions or seeking master’s degrees.

Pandemic pomp and circumstance: FIU gives graduating seniors socially distanced campus send-off

Alexandra Pecharich — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 15:15:00 -0500

With cheerleaders revving spirits and the deafening beats of mostly 1980s music blaring, FIU on Friday debuted a new rite of passage to make up for graduation traditions that have fallen by the wayside. Going beyond the drive-by car caravan that entertained folks the last time around, an amped up farewell celebration gave seniors a little something extra.

“I think I’ll remember this day for years to come,” said Olivia Mancebo beneath sunny skies as she stepped off a decorated commencement-style platform erected between the Blue and Gold garages at MMC. Wearing a mask and full graduation regalia, and just weeks from earning a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from FIU Business, she beamed in the face of an unconventional situation. “I thought it was very innovative that [FIU] came up with some sort of way for us to participate and feel some sort of normalcy. I thought it was a great experience overall, considering the climate of 2020.”

Mancebo was among the approximately 700 soon-to-be alumni who drove onto campus in a show of love for their university and a collective recognition of their accomplishments. For many, it was their first time back in months.

The festivities helped the fall 2020 graduates and their families mark an impending milestone—commencement takes place on Dec. 13, online only—and substituted for some of the traditional graduation-day customs observed in pre-pandemic times.

Instead of tossing their mortarboards in unison against the soundtrack of shared whoops, students paraded in cars by the dozens, at scheduled half-hour intervals, through the main entrance on 107^th Ave.

Instead of taking selfies with favorite professors on the plaza of the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, they stood for complimentary professional photos with Roary.

Instead of proudly shaking the hand of President Mark B. Rosenberg while a dean presents their diploma, they waved to the prez as he remained a socially distant six feet away and staffers doled out bags of FIU-branded pens, water bottles and hand sanitizer.

The students were delighted.

“I really appreciate what the school has done. It’s been a crazy year,” said Merlin Perez, who is soon to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. “I’m very happy that the school did this for us, and it kind of makes me feel good about our graduation.”

Emilio Santisteban will receive a bachelor’s in travel management from the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He especially applauded Rosenberg’s presence at the event and noted the encouraging messages the university president has sent to students in recent months. “It was important to see him because he’s the face of this campus,” Santisteban said of one reason for attending. “He has our backs, so I wanted to be here and see him.”

Ana Garcia majored in chemistry and gladly accepted the chance for a bit of celebration with her mom, especially as plans for an after-graduation trip have been cancelled. She has worked in the forensic research lab of Provost and Executive Vice President Kenneth G. Furton and, like many who are graduating, has her eye on an advanced degree.

“I just keep thinking I want to continue my education, I want to stay at FIU,” Garcia said. “So, I’ll have my [in-person graduation] opportunity again.”

Josef Ghitis will shortly claim a doctorate of nursing practice in anesthesia from the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences and has a job waiting for him at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. His parents joined him on campus, and dad Jorge Ghitis put the experience of make-due commencement pageantry and virtual graduation into perspective.

“We’re living through hard times, and this is nothing hard compared to what could be,” he said of the awful circumstances that so many throughout the country are facing.

“So we’re grateful that we can breathe, that we can walk, that we can accompany him and that [all the graduates] did the journey they did and are ready for the next step in their lives. So it’s all good. It’s all positive. We are grateful that we can do this at this moment.”

Next month’s commencement ceremonies—10 in all, representing the various colleges and schools—mark the third time that graduates have been recognized via a virtual platform in 2020. FIU graduates more than 15,000 students annually. Visitors can watch here.

FIU engineers awarded patent to process and find computer data more efficiently

Diana Hernandez-Alende — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 09:30:00 -0500

Computers handle a lot more than we think. Take, for example, when a coworker sends a zip file via email. To read the documents within the zip file, a computer user has to decompress the file, which takes up memory space and processing time. As more and more data gets processed and stored, computers begin to show signs of performance issues and slow down.

Fahad Saeed, associate professor in the School of Computing & Information Sciences within the College of Engineering & Computing, and Muhammad Haseeb, a computer science doctoral student, recognize this universal challenge and specialize in enhancing the compression and computing of big data.

Recently, the team of computer scientists was awarded a patent titled, “Methods and Systems for Compressing Data,” to reduce the size of proteomics data in computers’ desktop memory, while ensuring data sets can be processed without the need for decompression. Proteomics refers to the large-scale study of proteins.

To make sense of these data sets, Saeed and Haseeb are using specific techniques to handle big data.

“Since mass spectrometry data, which measures proteomics, is large, the index that holds that data is also becoming very large,” said Saeed. “It’s getting to a point where our everyday laptops, and desktops, cannot handle the size of the index.”

Indexing allows computer algorithms to be able to identify particular data sets that users are looking for – the location of folders, files, or records. Indexing identifies the location of data based on file names, text within a file, or unique characteristics found within a graphic or video file.

The solution? A compression technique to compress the index of the data versus the actual data. “Initially, we thought of creating an index with terabyte files, but then the index itself would still remain too large,” said Haseeb. “By compressing the index, we make it smaller and we can find data more efficiently and quicker without the need for decompression.”

So how does this innovation benefit people in their day-to-day lives? “We want to move toward computational techniques that will allow patients to receive personalized medical attention,” adds Saeed.

If mass spectrometry data processing becomes more efficient with the compression technique, clinicians could easily and more quickly identify which proteins biomarkers in their patients’ bodies are showing up. If a protein biomarker is present, medical professionals can then tailor medicine prescribed to their patients. Biomarkers include genes and genetic variations and serve as a guide for medical professionals to detect diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or cancer.

Saeed, a National Science Foundation CAREER awardee, specializes in computer algorithms, big data, high-performance computing, and computational systems biology. Earlier this year, Saeed was awarded a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to design and develop machine-learning algorithms for biologists to make sense of proteomics.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded FIU researchers a $1 million grant to design and develop machine-learning algorithms that allow biologists to make sense of proteomics, or the large-scale study of proteins.

The study of proteins is critical for understanding and treating diseases. In the past, biologists have spent long periods of time – sometimes their entire lives – studying as few as one single protein. In recent years, mass spectrometers, machines that use electricity and magnetism to analyze atoms, have allowed biologists to generate massive amounts of data from a few samples. The challenge is the data is difficult to understand with the naked eye.

With this three-year grant, Fahad Saeed, principal investigator and associate professor in the School of Computing and Information Sciences (SCIS) within the College of Engineering & Computing, along with other FIU researchers plan to develop machine-learning algorithms that work with supercomputers to analyze and understand the data. Supercomputers are large computers used for complex mathematical calculations, with speeds that greatly exceed that of standard computers.

COVID-19 is an example of an area where Saeed’s machine-learning algorithms can be used.

“The reason we don’t have a vaccine yet is that we don’t know enough about the virus,” Saeed said. “With the ability to study more data, quicker and more efficiently, biologists can learn more about these types of viruses and work towards a vaccine.”

Saeed and researchers propose novel artificial intelligence (AI) models that will allow biologists to make sense of the mass spectrometry data sets much more accurately compared to traditional numerical algorithms that have been used for the past 20 years. The idea is to study millions of proteins at once.

One thing Saeed and his team are keeping in mind is cost. They want these computational solutions to be available to small labs and developing countries that may not have accessible supercomputers.

Saeed is actively working toward finding FIU graduate and postdoctoral students. Part of the funding is to help fund students involved in this research.

The code Saeed is developing will be available on his lab’s website, SaeedLab - High-Performance Data Computing for Advancing Science & Society. The researchers are looking to create a service to help people download the code. The models themselves run on supercomputers.

The co-principal investigators of the grant are Shu-Ching Chen, associate director and professor in the SCIS; Jason Liu, professor and graduate program director in SCIS; Francisco Alberto Fernandez-Lima, associate professor in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education (CASE); and SS Iyengar, distinguished university professor and director of SCIS.

Additional reporting by Diana Hernandez-Alende

Students receive policy training to advance health equity during pandemic, political transition

Contributing Writer — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:45:00 -0500

By Eric Feldman

Earlier this week, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially recognized racism as a threat to public health, for the first time in its 173-year history. Recently, 15 FIU seniors and graduate students got a sneak peek at how the AMA is advancing its health equity efforts, including this policy change, during the university’s “Future of Equity in Health and Beyond: COVID as a Catalyst for Change” virtual fly-in seminar.

The Fall 2020 iteration of the FIU in DC “Future of” Fly-In Seminar series in partnership with Campus Life included two sessions with Joaquin Baca, the AMA’s senior health equity analyst. After a morning presentation on how the organization was preparing to work toward its goals with newly elected officials after the election, Baca also served as a judge for the health equity policy proposals on transportation, food security and childcare prepared by FIU fly-in participants.

“I learned that even as a student, I can engage in dialogue with policymakers and that I have ideas worth sharing and questions worth asking,” said biological sciences major Innah Lachica.

The three-day seminar was designed by FIU’s Governmental Relations and Campus Life teams to take full advantage of the virtual format to craft a learning experience that highlights how health is affected by interconnected social determinants (such as transportation and education), and how the real-time factors of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 presidential election are playing a role.

For the first time, the fly-in took place not on consecutive days, but in two parts both before and after the Nov. 3 election. Highlights of the first days included a panel discussion on the relationship between transportation and health with representatives from Humana, Lyft and Planning Communities and a session on careers at the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services, featuring Geffrey Grant, director of operations at Healtcare.gov.

These sessions helped participants develop the necessary skills to engage in policy advocacy and to pursue relevant careers.

“I am now cognizant of specific attributes that I need to develop such as the practice of staying up to date with the results of recent Congressional hearings and proposed legislation,” said Vicky Vazquez, Ph.D. student in public health. “I have learned to appreciate the valuable traits I possess, including a deep desire to help elevate the needs of marginalized communities by using my voice.”

The second and third days included sessions focused on the pandemic and the election, including an election debrief with Carlos Diaz-Rosillo, senior deputy chairman at the National Endowment for Humanities; Livi Logan-Wood of the Center for Presidential Transition; and Kathryn DePalo-Gould, teaching professor and pre-law program director at FIU's Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. Students tuned in to the live CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices hearing on COVID vaccine distributions then had a private debrief with alumnus Brian Dean Abramson, an attorney who specializes in vaccine law. Other FIU alumni on panels during the seminar were Jesus Medina, a lead epidemiologist at DC Health and Amy Kennedy, health scientist administrator at the National Cancer Institute.

As is traditional for DC Fly-In Seminars, students had an opportunity to speak with staffers in Congressional offices. For one public health doctoral student, Ian Lee, this represented the capstone opportunity to ask for advice and gain practice in communicating policy positions.

“You don’t have to convince someone of a complex idea. You just have to convince them of your small story, with convincing factual information,” he said.

Panthers Spotted in D.C. this week (virtually):

Dr. Eneida O. Roldan, MD, MPH, MBA; Chief Executive Officer, FIU Health Care Network was a panelist during the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 2020 Health Summit.

Alumna makes her mark on the film and entertainment industry

Tatianna Basanta — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500

Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez MA '08 (@michellejubilee) is a self-proclaimed storyteller and has made a career for herself in the film and entertainment industry in whatever capacity she could - actor, voice-over talent, singer, stunt performer, producer and, most recently, writer.

Gonzalez graduated from FIU's School of Music with a master's in vocal performance; since then, her passion for movie-making has taken her to roles both in front and behind the camera, including working on blockbuster films like "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," "The Fate of the Furious" and "Stargate Origins."

As a lifelong learner, Gonzalez is constantly acquiring new skills to help her in the film industry, including martial arts and new languages—Arabic, French and Italian.

How did you first break into the film/entertainment industry?

When I first moved to LA, I signed with a wonderful agent, and she recommended I meet and train with some great people in the stunt community. At first flip, I felt right at home with these performers. Six months later, I got a chance to work on a show that needed a strong fighter, and with over a decade of martial arts under my belt at the time, I was the right person for the job. From there, one job led to the next. I took advantage of every job and used it as a launchpad to build toward the next. What you see today is the accumulation of lots of hard work, focused discipline and tenacity.

How did you go about attaining your current position?

It comes down to the formula of preparation + opportunity = success. I have been fortunate enough to be ready for every audition, every meeting and every booking that has allowed me to shine in whichever capacity they needed at the time.

What are some career highlights you have from all your years in the industry?

Some of my favorite highlights include working on films like "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," "The Fate of the Furious," "Stargate Origins" and my role on "Seal Team."

On "Seal Team," I did the audition in Arabic and ended up booking the role. A week before filming, I was asked if I could do the scene in Urdu, which was feasible. However, the day of filming I was asked to do the scene in Pashto. Thankfully, there was a linguist on deck to help me quickly learn how to translate and enunciate the words correctly. It was an emotionally heavy scene that demanded a good deal of depth and layers, so as an actress, the extra challenges made it all that much more special for me.

Ultimately, it's always such an honor and joy to work with some of the most exciting and talented individuals in this community of storytellers. I feel very fortunate and immensely grateful for every job I'm considered for, and more so for every role I book.

Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez on the set of "Seal Team"

What made you decide to pursue a graduate degree at FIU?

After completing my undergraduate degree and working as a freelancer for a year, I felt that something was missing. I wanted to arm myself with more knowledge and build my network within the world I was most familiar with at the time (i.e. music). I had looked into FIU and saw that they had a strong music program, so I decided to stay in Miami and knock on FIU's door. I owe a great deal of credit and thanks to Professor Robert Dundas who saw my potential and approved my application into the program. As a working artist himself, he knew how to recognize the challenges I experienced as my voice continued to develop. He was an excellent mentor to me, and I'm grateful for his insight that helped harness the wild horse of energy I was at the time!

How has FIU helped you get to where you are today in your career?

FIU has not only prepared me with a solid degree - that has been instrumental in helping me secure work opportunities - but more importantly, it has allowed me to establish a great network of professional colleagues and friends with whom I've stayed in touch throughout my career thus far. It's wonderful to see the FIU alumni thriving in various professional arenas, and I am excited to see how we continue to establish ourselves in our selective industries.

Gonzalez playing "Serqet" on "Stargate Origins"

Are you working on any new projects you can share?

In regard to acting, I will be appearing in an episode of season six on "Fear of the Walking Dead." You might also catch a glimpse of me in "A Quiet Place II"— which is set to release in April 2021. A new show on HBO titled "Hombre" has me in the role of a homeland security agent with some dialogue, so that should be fun.

And as for music, I've been collaborating with fellow FIU alumnus and composer Erick Bolivar on an upcoming album of epic trailer track songs - music, lyrics, violin and vocals performed by me and full production and arrangement of the album produced by Erick. Some of the songs can be heard here: SoundCloud

Gonzalez on set of "Fear of the Walking Dead"

What advice do you have for students interested in a career in the film and entertainment industry?

I think the best thing for students interested in a career in film and entertainment would be to explore the different departments within this industry as it will give you better insight into how they all support the "big picture." Get started now - whether a class is in session or not, capitalize on what you have right now. Learning to work with what you've got and making the most of it will sharpen your ability to be resourceful, creative and collaborative —these are three of the most important qualities one should develop if you want to work in any capacity in this industry.

Also, understand that this line of work is very unpredictable and far from the ideals of professional/economic "stability." Rejection is a given, changes are inevitable and politics and relationships are almost always at the center of every decision made. Don't do this for fame or money. Do it because you love it—in good times or bad; the love you have for your craft, your community and your vision will be the anchor that keeps you grounded when the inevitable winds of adversity are bound to blow through.

My year doing research at the National Institutes of Health

Ileana Varela — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500

In 2019, Reinier Alvarez was one of only 50 medical students chosen to participate in the National Institutes of Health’s prestigious Medical Research Scholars Program. A third-year medical student at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, he put his education on hold. And for a year, he worked alongside some of the best clinicians and scientists in the world, doing cutting-edge research at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Now Reinier is back to finish medical school and shares his experience.

What was it like?
It was an amazing experience. It was different from medical school as I was mostly in the lab every day. However, I still had the opportunity to participate in clinic and observe in the operating room.

What did you do?
I worked in the Neurosurgery Unit for Pituitary and Inheritable Disorders under the mentorship of Dr. Prashant Chittiboina. Our lab conducts translational and clinical research with an emphasis on Cushing's disease.

Cushing's causes the body to make too much of the hormone ACTH which leads to high levels of cortisol. Cortisol is an essential hormone and is very important to sustain life. However, if it's produced in excess, it has many adverse effects, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, psychiatric issues, even early death. Fifty percent of patients die within five years of being diagnosed.

The current preferred treatment is surgery, but many patients fail surgery, or it recurs years later.

One of my projects consisted of understanding the molecular reprogramming that causes the pituitary gland tumors that cause Cushing's disease.

What did you learn?
This was an opportunity for me to appreciate and be a part of bench to bedside research. We started out with this curiosity to understand how these tumors form. And we were able to identify one of the causes and how to potentially reverse it. As a translational researcher, I learned the importance of persistence and keeping the end goal in mind—improving patient care and outcomes.

This set your graduation back a year. Was it worth it?
I think it was definitely worth it. And I would definitely recommend it to others if they are considering a career in academic medicine or as a physician-scientist. For me, it helped me solidify the trajectory that I want my career to take. The caliber of mentors and friends I was able to gain while at the NIH has been fantastic.

Have you decided on a specialty you want to pursue?
Yes, I've decided on neurosurgery.

Apart from the fact that the anatomy is amazing, neurosurgery encompasses everything I've enjoyed in other specialties. One of them is the privilege of creating meaningful and long-lasting relationships with patients. Unfortunately, neurosurgical patients can be very sick. They can present in dire circumstances, and I think that forges a deeper connection. You also tend to follow them over a longer time, allowing you to really get to know them and learn so much from them.

It is also a field that is challenging on many levels. It is challenging technically, cognitively, physically and emotionally. Unfortunately, the outcomes are not always what we would wish for, but those challenges provide opportunities to grow as a person, surgeon and scientist. Ultimately, that allows you to provide better care for your patients.

Reinier Alvarez is currently interviewing with residency programs across the country.

FIU and Curative launch walk-up COVID-19 testing on campus

Morgan Hughes — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 12:40:00 -0500

FIU is partnering with Curative to expand COVID-19 testing by opening an on-campus walk-up testing station for students, faculty and staff.

Starting today, COVID-19 tests are administered at the new station at no cost to those being tested and results will be sent to patients via private portal within 24-48 hours. The testing station is located in front of the Student Health Center at MMC. Hour of operation are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please note this testing station is a walk-up only; there is no designated parking in the vicinity. To make an appointment at the Curative station, please visit Curative.com.

Increased testing is available just in time for members of the campus community to get tested before spending time with family during Thanksgiving and other holidays.

“In Curative we have found an ideal partner to offer our students, faculty and staff additional easy access to COVID-19 testing,” said Dr. Eneida Roldan, CEO of the FIU HealthCare Network and the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) associate dean who serves as clinical director for the testing site FIU operates in collaboration with Miami-Dade County at the Fairgrounds and the new testing station. “FIU has been a leader on the frontlines since this pandemic has hit the U.S. Today is just another testament to our commitment to the health and safety of our campus community.”

FIU also works with Curative at the drive-up testing site adjacent to MMC in partnership with Miami-Dade County, the Florida Department of Health, and the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition. The new mobile site offers oral fluid RT-PCR molecular tests, which are “the current gold standard for COVID-19 testing,” Roldan said.

“If a student doesn’t have a vehicle, this unit makes testing more accessible. It’s also more convenient, it’s right there as they’re walking by [the Student Health Center],” said Paola Berejuk, Curative’s growth coordinator for Florida.

The mobile testing station augments access to COVID-19 testing that is already taking place by appointment at the Student Health Clinic and at FIU Health.

At the Curative station, patients will be asked to cough into their elbow with a mask on and will then be observed and instructed by testing staff on how to swab their own mouths and seal the sample for analysis. Patients should not eat, drink, or smoke for 20 minutes prior to the test.

Curative has deployed testing stations at eight universities in Texas and one in Delaware. The FIU testing station will be staffed by Curative. Curative plans to hire local staff, especially from the FIU community, Berejuk said. Two other stations may be added at FIU in the coming weeks.

Fighting disease one cell at a time

Chrystian Tejedor — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 10:05:00 -0500

Popular Pandey envisions a world where diseases are diagnosed and treated at the cellular level.

For patients being treated for cancer today, well, that’s just not the reality. Cancer treatments are so toxic people often feel very sick afterward. They are nauseous and feel dead tired because the treatment attacks not just the cancer that invaded their body, but the healthy parts of their body, too.

But Pandey, one of three FIU distinguished postdoctoral researchers in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, is working hard to turn the world of science fiction into science fact.

Building on his physics research as a doctoral student at FIU, Pandey is trying to develop a minimally invasive way to inject microscopic genetic material inside a living cell or remove something without destroying the cell outright. The ability to study the same cell over time provides the basis for more accurate monitoring of disease progression, development of new classes of drugs and treatment of diseases as diverse as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

Pandey will be working with fellow researchers in FIU biophysicist Jin He’s nanobiophysics lab to monitor the topography and surface potential of the cell membrane to understand how it behaves after the procedure.

“If we know how a single cell behaves, then we can better understand the underlying nanoscale biological processes and functions,” Pandey said.

There was a time when Pandey was much younger and growing up in rural Nepal that he envisioned a different future for himself, however.

Back home, the skies are much clearer. Unmarred by light pollution, the stars, planets and constellations that swirl overhead are much easier to spot. And so, inspired by the nightly view, he dreamed of being an astrophysicist who would unlock the mysteries of the stars.

Working with professor He, however, introduced Pandey to a different application of physics — one that melded it with elements of biology and chemistry. In working instead to uncover the mysteries of how cells respond to changes in real time, there lies hope for being able to help treat people with diseases that are not curable today.

Pandey, for one, hopes his own journey inspires other students to explore all their career options and to embrace new challenges.

FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education Distinguished Postdoctoral program is designed to support and enhance the professional development of promising early-career scholars toward potential placement in tenure-track positions. For more information, click here.

Erin Abernethy can read the subtlest shifts and changes in the rivers and creeks that cut through the Appalachian Mountains.

Now, as a postdoctoral scientist, Abernethy will be working with FIU Institute of Environment researcher Elizabeth Anderson to take her research in a new direction.

Abernethy is going to explore new, urgent and very timely questions, like who has access to water resources and who is making those decisions about where the water goes.

This story also appeared on CASE News.

Play reading brings Charles Dickens and the story behind 'A Christmas Carol' to life

Ivan Lopez — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 09:45:00 -0500

Everybody knows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and how his bah humbug spirit was transformed on one fateful Christmas Eve. As with any iconic character, though, Scrooge was first born in the imagination of a gifted author and brought to life through hard toil.

Charles Dickens, and the story behind the beloved holiday classic A Christmas Carol, is the subject of a new stage play, The Man Who Invented Christmas, written by Distinguished University Professor Les Standiford. The play was recently performed as a virtual staged reading directed by Associate Professor Phillip Church and featuring 16 FIU Theatre alumni.

The play reading will be available for a special one-week online screening from Nov. 28 through Dec. 5, as a fundraiser for the FIU Theatre Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund.

The Man Who Invented Christmas tells the story of a 30-year-old Charles Dickens as he faces insurmountable debts and almost certain financial ruin. Although already an accomplished author, his latest books had flopped and whispers were circulating that the author’s once-promising career was over.

With doom closing in on Dickens, an idea took hold of him. Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future began haunting him until he had no choice but to risk everything to bring the story to life and rekindle the Christmas spirit in hearts and minds around the world.

“I believe the story of Dicken’s fight to create and distribute his heart-felt story is nearly as captivating as the original novel itself,” says Standiford. “No publisher was interested in the book and Dickens had to pay for its publication out of his own pocket.

Standiford, the founding director of FIU’s Creative Writing Program and a recipient of the president’s Worlds Ahead Faculty Award, first told Dickens’ story in the meticulously researched The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits. The book was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice and was adapted to a film starring Christopher Plummer and Dan Stevens in 2017.

But Standiford wasn’t done with the story. He decided to adapt it once again as a stage play.

“I thought a stage version could go a bit deeper into some of the human drama involved and provide an alternative for regional theater companies to put on at holiday time in place of yet another retelling of A Christmas Carol,” says Standiford.

Part of the development of any stage play includes a series of readings where the playwright is able to hear his characters come to life in the voices of professional actors and receive valuable feedback from those initial audiences. Readings are essential to the development of any play.

When the global pandemic made “social distancing” the new normal and forced theatres to shut down around the country, Standiford feared the development of his play would be delayed.

That’s when Phillip Church stepped in, gathering more than a dozen of his former and current students and putting together a virtual play reading through his theatrical company, What if Works.

“Our staged reading still adheres to the one-rehearsal one-performance norm which pretty much comes out of the professional playbook,” says Church. “Where we differed from a traditional staged reading was in adding some production elements to enhance the theatricality.”

Church enlisted the services of theatre alumnus and current technical director in the music department, Paul Steinsland ’15, to edit the play reading.

“We were able to get more creative with it than an in-person stage reading by adding things like sound effects, background music and images, titles, visual effects and motion,” says Steinsland. “Also, we had every actor use solid green as their virtual background so that they could later be inserted into different backgrounds along with other actors.”

The virtual nature of the play reading also gave Church an advantage he normally wouldn’t have, allowing him to include cast members that were scattered across the country.

Charles Sothers '03, who plays Dickens, found that to be a real plus in creating those authentic relationships.

“Working with so many FIU Theatre actors gave me a feeling of family,” says Sothers. “We all come from the same stock, right?”

Sothers also found inspiration in the creativity required to put this all together.

“I think it was ambitious in its scope,” he says, “getting many of us who are scattered from coast to coast to come together in these little boxes, these virtual environments, that would eventually be transformed into mid-nineteenth century England.”

The Man Who Invented Christmas premieres on YouTube at 7 p.m. on Nov. 28, and is then available on-demand until Dec. 5.

Although the play reading is free, those who are able to should consider a donation to the FIU Theatre Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund, which was created by the alumni of the theatre department as a legacy to support the future generations of FIU Theatre artists.

For Church, providing this screening as a fundraiser for scholarships was a no-brainer. “Charity and kindness is the bedrock of all Dickens’ work,” he says.

FIU, first four-year research university in the State of Florida to offer Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program

Cristina Jaramillo — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

The Florida Department of Education has approved Florida International University’s Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program (Cyber-CAP). The program combines technical skills, industry credentials, and on-the-job training to prepare learners to work in cybersecurity.

Funded by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, FIU’s Cyber-CAP program is aimed at addressing cybersecurity workforce shortages. According to a 2017 Global Information Security Workforce Study, the industry is expected to have approximately 1.8 million unfilled positions by 2022.

“FIU is well-positioned to shift the higher education paradigm to meet the needs of the rapidly changing world of work,” said Elizabeth Bejar, senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs and Cyber-CAP principal investigator.

The Cyber-CAP team leverages student support services within Academic and Student Affairs as well as the technical expertise provided by co-principal investigators Robert Grillo, vice president and chief information officer for FIU, and Selcuk Uluagac, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering & Computing.

FIU is partnering with several industry leaders to host apprentices in cyber occupations. Partners include Cylance, ForeScout Technologies, McAfee, the Beacon Council, and the Society for Human Resources Management Foundation. Companies participating in the program will work with FIU to develop a customized pathway for employers and learners.

“Data from the Department of Labor indicate that apprentices are retained at above a 90% rate after their apprenticeship is completed,” said Bridgette Cram, assistant vice president for Academic and Student Affairs and co-principal investigator. “Our program is open to employers who are looking to bring on new hires or re-skill their current workforce, providing them the flexibility to create a pipeline of skilled employees to tackle growing cybersecurity challenges.”

FIU will train 800 Cyber-CAP apprentices over a four-year period in critical cybersecurity competencies. Each apprentice will have 2,000 hours on-the-job training, receive related technical instruction through the College of Engineering & Computing, and receive exam preparation for cyber industry certifications.

For more information, please contact cybercap@fiu.edu.

Saif Ishoof joins Aspen Institute Fellowship for Civil Society

Contributing Writer — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:50:00 -0500

By Caryn Lavernia

Vice President for Engagement Saif Y. Ishoof  has been selected to be a member of The Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellowship Class of 2021.

The Civil Society Fellowship was created by the Anti-Defamation League and The Aspen Institute. The fellowship, part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, aims to prepare and engage the next generation of community and civic leaders, activists and problem-solvers from across the political spectrum.

“I am very proud to have a representative of our FIU family selected as a member of this impactful and highly selective fellowship,’’ said President Mark B. Rosenberg. “This designation is a testament to the work Saif and the Office of Engagement have done to build meaningful and deep connections in our community and will help FIU further our mission as a learner-centered university.

In a time of unprecedented divisions across political and ideological lines, the Civil Society Fellowship is committed to bringing the nation’s future leaders together to hone their leadership skills and build relationships across the ideological spectrum in an effort to build productive civil discourse and generate solutions.

“The strength of our democracy rests on the strength of our civic leaders, connectors, influencers, institutions and stakeholders,” said City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. “Saif Ishoof has been a trusted leader in Miami to build the common good, and I am thrilled to know he will help our community expand our reach and partnerships through his participation in the Aspen Civil Society Fellowship.” Mayor Suarez is a member of the Aspen Institute - Rodel Fellowship Class of 2019.

Ishoof leads FIU’s Office of Engagement in incubating transformational partnerships. In this role, he builds win-win-win partnerships that create sustainable change for the university and its students; public and private sector partners; and the global community. Ishoof's team led a university-wide effort for FIU to secure the prestigious Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2020.

Ishoof is also a Green Fellow at the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. Previously, Ishoof served as founding executive director at City Year Miami, which provides young people with an opportunity to serve one year in high-need schools as tutors, mentors and role models to address the opportunity gap. Under his leadership, the organization more than doubled in size and scope with an expansion from eight to 18 schools.

“The fellowship is an honor, and I am humbled to be able to represent FIU and our South Florida community,” said Ishoof. “I intend to channel my time in this fellowship toward learning and growing with an esteemed cohort of leaders who share a sense of urgency and purpose in refreshing and reimagining our public square to meet the challenges of the second half of the 21st century.”

The new class of Civil Society Fellows is hosting a town hall on Friday, Nov. 20 at noon to engage in a national conversation about the state of the United States.

President Rosenberg: 'As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let's make smart choices for everyone's safety'

Mark Rosenberg — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:00:00 -0500

Dear members of the university community,

The holiday season is upon us, a time for all of us to take some well-deserved time off and celebrate our many blessings. At our FIU, we have much to be thankful for – the success of our students, the real impact our university has made in our community during this difficult time, and the overall unity and strength of our Panther family.

On Thanksgiving Day, and throughout this entire season of giving and gratefulness, may we cherish all that we have and continue to find ways to make a difference. May we also remember and reach out to those around us who may not feel as joyful this year. A kind word or a gesture of compassion can go a long way, especially now.

Making smart choices during Thanksgiving

While we can look forward to the forthcoming holiday season, we must not let our guards down. COVID-19 still poses significant health threats, with rising cases both locally and nationally.

To ensure the health and well-being of our university community, holiday gatherings will not be permitted on our campuses this year. Anyone wishing to celebrate with colleagues or business units can do so virtually. Hopefully next year we can resume traditional holiday celebrations.

It is also important that we all adhere to COVID-19 mitigation measures while we mark this holiday. Please limit the size of your gatherings and consider skipping “Friendsgiving” this year. The virus can spread even in small group gatherings, especially among family members or neighbors. No matter how small the group is, if the people gathered do not live under the same roof, there is a high potential for the virus to spread.

Anyone can spread the virus while being asymptomatic, but this is particularly prevalent among 18-35-year-olds. Because they tend to be healthier, they contract the virus, are unaware they have it, and become spreaders due to their social habits. This pandemic knows no limits or boundaries and slowing the spread should be everyone’s priority.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations for holiday celebrations to help you and your loved ones stay healthy. I urge you to follow these guidelines as we work together to keep everyone healthy and safe. Among the recommendations is to follow physical distancing guidelines, wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, and wear a face covering at all times to protect yourself and those around you. You might consider getting together without sharing food. Experts agree that seeing friends and family outdoors while wearing face coverings is much safer than gathering indoors.

In addition, please get your flu shot. For students, the Student Health Clinics are providing FREE flu vaccines, while supplies last. Call 305-348-8385 (MMC) or 305-919-5620 (BBC) to schedule an appointment. For faculty and staff, call 305-348-3627 to make an appointment at the FIU Health Faculty Practice.

On campus housing residents

The CDC recommends college students NOT travel home for Thanksgiving due to the possibility of spreading COVID-19. If you do plan to leave campus for Thanksgiving, please consider the following ways to reduce the spread of the virus and keep the FIU housing community safe:

Get your flu shot
Get tested for COVID-19, preferably a RT-PCR test, before going home
Engage in a conversation about the pandemic with your family and discuss precautions to reduce risk. Remember that gathering outdoors is safer than indoors.

On campus residents must fill out a registration form by clicking on “Thanksgiving Break Registration” in the housing portal. We need to know who will remain on campus during the break. Registration must be completed by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 20.

Thank you for your cooperation. I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving. Please stay safe and healthy!

Sincerely,

Mark B. Rosenberg

President

Alumna to lead refugee team at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Tatianna Basanta — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Architecture alumna Ileana Rodriguez ’08, M.Arch ’11 was appointed chef de mission for the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

As chef de mission, Rodriguez will be a mentor, sponsor and spokesperson for the RPT team throughout the Paralympic games.

Born and raised in Cuba, Rodriguez found her love for sports when she was very young. She began swimming when she was 7 years old and later developed a strong passion for ballet. But, when she was 13, she was diagnosed with a spinal cord malformation and a stroke left her unable to walk.

Rodriguez and her family moved to the United States when she was 15 years old, where she began swimming again for her high school team. Her coach at the time believed she had the potential to make it far in the sport, but her citizenship status left her unable to compete for her country.

At 21 years old, while earning her degree in architecture at FIU, and after becoming a U.S. citizen, Rodriguez returned to the pool and started retraining with her high school coach. In 2012, Rodriguez made the U.S. national team and went on to compete for Team USA in the London 2012 Paralympic Games. She was a finalist in the Women’s 100m breaststroke SB5 in London.

Rodriguez competing in London 2012 Paralympic Games

Rodriguez credits the Department of Architecture faculty for helping her balance her swimming career and her architecture degree at the same time.

“The faculty was amazing and very flexible with my competitions and training schedule,” she says. “I am very grateful to Marilys Nepomechie, in particular, who guided me on this crazy road between architecture and competitive swimming.”

Nepomechie, who served as Rodriguez’s faculty advisor during her master’s project, says Rodriguez has always been an inspiration, and the IPC is fortunate to have secured her participation as Chef de Mission for the RPT.

“I first met Ileana as a student in an architectural theory course,” Nepomechie says. “Her work there, and in subsequent courses that I taught, raised the bar for all students.”

While going to school full-time, Rodriguez was also training about eight times a week in preparation for London 2012. She qualified for her first Paralympic Games two days before she was set to present her final project.

Ileana Rodriguez (center) and her siblings Ana Maria (left) and Eloy J. Rodriguez (right) at London 2012.

Rodriguez says she chose to study architecture because she wanted to “design accessibility” and “make buildings more inclusive.

“Living in Cuba was very tough because nothing is really prepared for someone with a disability,” she adds. “Moving to Miami opened up a whole new world of opportunities and allowed me to be independent. I studied architecture because I don’t want to just go over codes and regulations to make buildings accessible, I want to actually design them to respond to accessibility.”

Rodriguez currently runs her own design consulting firm, I Design Access where she consults for the Paralympic Games to ensure all installations are meeting accessibility standards.

The Tokyo 2020 Refugee Paralympic Team will consist of six athletes from around the world who cannot compete under the flags of their respective countries. As chef de mission for the RPT, Rodriguez will also work with the IPC to select the refugee team.

The IPC hopes the refugee team will create awareness of the “plight” faced by refugee athletes and send a message of hope to those in similar situations.

“It is an honor to be appointed for this role by the IPC,” Rodriguez says. “I definitely understand where the athletes from the RPT come from and the struggles they’ve faced. In my opinion, this is one of the best teams in the games because it represents all countries, and it really shows that sports go beyond politics. It gives an opportunity for these athletes to compete. If I would have had this opportunity when I was younger and not a citizen, I would have taken it.”

When asked what advice Rodriguez would give to students facing a similar situation as herself, she says, “Stay focused on what you really want and have a goal – whether it is a long-term goal or short-term goal, it doesn’t matter. Just know what you really want to pursue and work for it. You’ll always get something in return from it.”

Learn more about the IPC’s Refugee Paralympic Team initiative for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Alumnae use art to empower incarcerated teenage girls

Zion Sealy — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:00:00 -0500

Fifteen years ago, Art + Art History alumnae Jessica Gispert '07 and Crystal Pearl Molinary '06 worked with incarcerated teenage girls from the outreach program Women on the Rise! Together they created pieces that envisioned what their lives would be like outside of prison.

Their work is now featured in “Marking Time: Art In The Age of Mass Incarceration," an exhibition—organized by Nicole R. Fleetwood—on display at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) PS1 in Queens, New York.

CARTA recently spoke with Gispert to learn more about the exhibition and her experience.

What path did you take to attain your current career as an artist?
My path as an artist actually started in FIU's Photography Labs at MMC! It was a very open and creative space, where students could explore the medium freely. I was supported by teachers but had the ability to work independently in order to discover my artistic language. This was a very fruitful environment for me creatively and led me to develop an artistic collaborative toward the end of my studies called GisMo alongside another FIU alumni, Crystal Pearl Molinary. With GisMo, we explored tropes and gender roles within Latin-American subcultures through performance, photography and video.

My time at FIU encouraged me to continue my career as a visual artist, so I went on to receive my Master's in Fine Art from New York University Steinhardt in 2012. Soon after, I moved to Germany to work as a visiting lecturer at the Art Academy of Mainz and continued exhibiting my artwork throughout Europe, most notably at institutions like Museum Abteiberg in Mönchengladbach, Dortmunder Kunstverein and Bonner Kunstverein. I currently live between Miami and Cologne, where I am completing a postgraduate fellowship at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne.

What has been the coolest thing about having your work featured at the MoMA?
It’s been a humbling experience being part of Nicole R. Fleetwood’s exhibition, “Marking Time." This exhibition tells the stories of individuals and how they’ve used art to fight an apparatus, which deprives, distorts and disenfranchises. The work selected for the exhibition is a GisMo piece, which came about from a collaboration with the outreach program, “Women on the Rise!,” created by Jillian Hernandez— an FIU alumna as well. This project let us work closely with incarcerated teenage girls and resulted in a series of performative photographs exploring those girl’s dreams.

What was it like working with these young girls who were incarcerated?
It was an eye-opening experience. We learned that the majority of these girls were incarcerated due to faults in the system, neglect and simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Our visits provided some refuge from their day-to-day penitence, giving them a break in which to explore their imagination.

Since the nature of GisMo’s work was performative, we decided to create blank paper dolls resembling us and asked the girls to imagine and design what they’d be doing if they weren’t there at that moment in time. They immediately left that cell space and dreamed big; they set us off to recreate experiences from their imagination. We later returned to the detention center and made a scrapbook with the girls to place all of the photos we took recreating their fantasies.

How did you feel when it was announced that GisMo’s work would be a part of the exhibition?
I was absolutely thrilled and surprised! It was incredible to know that the work I made nearly 15 years ago as a fresh FIU graduate would still be relevant today. I’m truly honored.

What made you decide to get involved in outreach and programs such as Women on the Rise!? Why is this so important to you?
I was drawn to this program as a young artist because I wanted to learn more about feminism and empowerment. Women on the Rise! was an introduction to learning about the injustices of systematic racism and how it affects gender roles within our communities. Teaching teenage girls about women artists who use their creativity to talk about the injustices they’ve experienced helps show them that art is a legitimate tool for asserting their voice.

How does your work connect back to your time at FIU? Were there any classes or professors that influenced where you are today?
Every single professor I worked with at FIU's Art and Art History Department had a deep impact on my artistic growth. It was in their classes that I learned about artists, theories and techniques that still influence my practice as an artist. The professors fostered an environment for students to engage in making contemporary art and that absolutely aided me as an artist participating in the art world today.

I’d like to give a big thank you to professors Bill Maguire, Manolo Torres, Donna Torres, Peggy Nolan, Carol Damien, Jacek Kolasinski, Pip Brandt, R.F. Buckley, Clive King, Bill Burke, the late Juan Martinez, and all the others at FIU who encouraged my start as a visual artist.

What advice do you have for students interested in the visual arts and involving themselves in outreach through art?
I would encourage art students to get involved in outreach through art because it can help inspire marginalized groups, help them engage in critical dialogues about identity and culture. Art can be a tool for empowering people, boosting self-esteem and developing critical thinking. As a young artist, my work with outreach allowed me to learn about the systemic injustices women of color go through and the importance of expressing your social and political voice.

Marketing Time will run through April 4, 2021.

In addition to this exhibition, Gispert has earned many awards and honors throughout her career, including several grants for teaching and artwork across Europe. Learn more about her work.

Beloved hairdresser new owner of on-campus salon—Wayki's

David Drucker — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:20:00 -0500

After 20 years as one of FIU's most loved hairdressers, Waykin Perez is reinventing herself as a business owner.

Perez, who also goes by "Wayki," has purchased the on-campus staple, Santi's Salon, from Santiago "Santi" Ruiz, who retired earlier this year. The new name of the business is "Wayki's Salon."

“Santi’s Salon is one of Business Services’ longest partnerships at FIU”, says Aime Martinez, associate vice president of Business and Finance. “Though we're sad to see Santi’s come to an end, we're excited to welcome Wayki and are grateful that she will continue the long-standing tradition here at FIU. We look forward to seeing the fresh ideas Waykin will bring to the salon in the coming months.”

There are fewer people than usual on campus these days due to the coronavirus pandemic, but patrons are still seen shuffling in and out of Wayki’s Salon on a regular basis.

“I feel grateful, happy, nervous and scared,” Perez says. “This year is really tough. So many things have happened. But I feel OK. I trust me and my team."

Located next to the campus barbershop and across from the dry cleaners, the salon has become a staple for generations of Panthers and Miamians.

“I first started going there as an employee in the 90s. I’ve only had one person cut my hair since then. That’s Wayki,” says Maydel Santana ’91 MS ’16, associate vice president of Media Relations and Communication in the Division of External Relations, Strategic Communications and Marketing. “I brought my baby there when she was born. Now, 20 years later, my baby is a client. She has never had a haircut that is not from Wayki.”

Perez has many loyal customers in the Panther family. Karen Fuller ’92, director of the School of Music, has also been seeing the hairdresser since the 90s.

“It’s funny, she has a sign that says ‘I’m a beautician, not a magician.’ But let me tell you, that's not true. Sometimes, she works magic,” Fuller says.

For Perez, becoming a business owner has been an exciting development in her career. Growing up, she was focused on becoming not a master of hair, but of charts and formulas.

Perez was born and raised in Cuba, where she studied mechanical engineering. She wasn't able to finish her degree, though, because she and her husband, Franz, left the island nation for the United States.

When the couple arrived in Miami, Perez considered becoming a professional hairstylist. She had practiced on Franz and his friends in Cuba for fun. Her aunt, who worked at a local salon, encouraged her to go for it.

“She told me, ‘Mama, you have a lot of ability, and you love this. You need to do it,’” Perez says.

Her aunt made a key introduction. At that time, Santi was working at the same salon as Perez's aunt. In a few years, he opened his own place at FIU and invited Perez to work there. Over time, the two became close friends and even next-door neighbors.

“I am very happy for Waykin,” Ruiz says. “This is something I’ve always had in mind. I've worked with her for 24 years. I feel very calm and confident that the salon will continue to the best it can be because of her professionalism.”

Perez has simple advice for those who want to own their own businesses.

"The most important thing is you need to love what you do. If you think about it as 'I need to get my money,' or something like that, you're never going to earn people's trust," Perez says.

5 ways to gain control over your emotions

Contributing Writer — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500

By Karina Taylee

Have you been feeling stressed, sad or disappointed during the last several months?

Pause. Before you start repressing those feelings and wishing they’d go away, remember that all feelings are meant to be felt. Feelings communicate your needs and give you feedback on your current situation. So how do you listen to your emotions and respond to them, instead of reacting?

If you're not using effective self-regulation strategies, those poor coping skills are not going to cut it when you face challenging situations, says Assistant Professor George Buzzell, a neurocognitive researcher at FIU. "And that can really be a big problem,” he adds.

Buzzell studies the brain’s executive functions, which is a fancy way of saying the system your brain uses to monitor and adapt itself as it receives new information. We currently know that this system has three branches: working memory, inhibition and task switching.

At its core, emotional regulation is your ability to use these three functions to make use of your emotions.

Have you ever noticed yourself getting emotional and then forgetting things, saying something you don’t mean, or struggling to get tasks done? That’s what poor emotional regulation looks like. That means that your executive functions need some TLC. Lucky for us, emotional regulation is a skill that can be improved upon with some research-based techniques.

Self care

Basic functions—because of lack of sleep and loneliness—can be impaired as a result of stressful situations. To have a healthy relationship with your emotions, the key is to keep your executive function system healthy and that starts with self-care.

Buzzell emphasizes the impact of sleep and stress on your executive functions. It has been shown that a lack of sleep can impair self-regulation, meaning you may have less control over your responses to your emotions, which is why you’re snappy when you’re tired. Sometimes, your negative emotions can keep you from falling asleep, creating a vicious cycle further promoting the problem. This can also happen with stress, meaning having a healthy stress reduction system can also help your executive functions.

So what’s the solution? Find activities you enjoy and incorporate them into your daily routine, like journaling and exercise. If you struggle with stress or sleep, the Healthy Living Program (HLP) offers sleep and stress management consultations.

Maintain healthy relationships

We can also use healthy relationships to regulate emotions by having a trusted friend or loved one to confide in, which is why you usually feel better after venting to a friend. Socializing can help to calm your mind and can even help regulate your body’s physical response to emotions. Although we can’t see people face-to-face as often right now, you don’t want to cut yourself off from people you were previously close to.

Buzzell recommends trying to maintain previous social connections as much as possible in safe ways like phone calls, Zoom calls, or outdoor socially distant hangouts because they’re good for your mental health.

Stop suppressing and start reappraising

Two of the most studied emotional regulation techniques are called reappraisal and suppression. Suppression is when you try to stop yourself from feeling emotions. When we do this, we often find that negative emotions return stronger than before.

Buzzell recommends practicing reappraisal instead. Reappraisal is changing the way you think about a negative emotion before having a response.

For example, if you made a mistake and feel disappointed, you can tell yourself that it was a learning experience and then you are more likely to have a positive response instead of a negative one. This promotes a growth mindset, which studies show promotes healthier relationships with emotions. The good news is that people can actually change how they regulate their emotions to be more in line with reappraisal.

Practice mindfulness

One way to practice nonjudgmental awareness is to meditate, and it’s a lot easier than you might think. Simply taking five to ten minutes a day to notice what your body and mind feel like can help you gain an understanding of your emotional habits. This can act as a practice for when you experience emotions in your regular life. When meditating, play close attention to any emotions that may arise and how your instinct tells you to respond. You can ask yourself:

What kind of emotions arise, and how often do they come?
How does your body feel when they arise?
How does your mind respond?
Are there any judgments when emotions arise?
Is that response helpful? Is there a better way to respond?

Prevent emotional outbursts If you’ve ever blown something small out of proportion, you probably felt pretty bad afterward. The good news is that Buzzell believes that the best way to manage explosive emotional experiences is through a regular practice of prevention.

He recommends practicing reappraisal daily with small instances. This makes it less likely that you’ll yell at someone the next time Zoom kicks you out of class.

“The problem is if it’s a really intense situation, that’s not the time to try to do some mindfulness or reappraisal strategies for the first time,” Buzzell says.

Having a healthy relationship with your emotions is more likely to make challenging times easier by preventing tense emotional interactions.

If you have been struggling with controlling your emotions, know that it’s normal for you to not feel like yourself during unusual times. While we’re waiting for the world to go back to normal, don’t forget to take care of your emotional wellness. Practicing these techniques can help you get a grasp on your emotions, and help you relax, feel good and be well.

5 tips for veterans returning to civilian life and education

Monica Smith — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 11:00:00 -0500

There are unique challenges that make a return to civilian life somewhat difficult for those in the military. From understanding the nature of processes for veterans and their benefits to how to dress for work, the consensus among veterans is that there is a readjustment period. Many will consider advancing their education, however, that route can be daunting without the support of resources and a military-friendly institution.

Recognized as a 2020 Top School for Veterans by U.S. Veterans Magazine, FIU has consistently been listed as a top-ranked university for veterans by U.S. News & World Report. The university also holds a ranking as a 2020-2021 Military College of Distinction and it is one of the few universities in Florida to feature a dedicated Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA).

In addition to what the VMA provides, here are five tips that may help support veterans.

1. Consider online learning

Matthew DeBord, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2002 to 2014, is pursuing a double major—a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in business analytics and a second bachelor’s degree in religious studies. Stationed all over the U.S. and overseas, DeBord settled in Florida to be close to family. Soon after being discharged, he realized that securing the kind of job he wanted would be challenging without a degree, so he applied, tapped into his benefits, and enrolled.

Today, DeBord works in FIU’s VMA and he “pays it forward,” helping veterans with his firsthand knowledge to make things easier. What’s helped him, he says, is all of the resources available, staying disciplined with coursework and online learning.

“The most attractive part about online learning is that most courses allow you to work ahead and there is no scheduled class time. I am a family man and it makes it easier as I can do coursework whenever I have time in the day, to meet my deadlines. This gives me more time with my now 3-month-old son,” says DeBord.

2. Explore all GI Bill benefits

The needs of veterans are unique, says Amber Webber, FIU Online instructional design manager. A veteran and professor of online courses, Webber earned her undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees fully online; so she completely understands the veteran experience. Webber served in the U.S. Air Force from 2000 to 2008.

“Adapting to civilian life can be difficult, reach out to your civilian network, grow your connections and consider advancing your education,” she says. “Make the most of your GI Bill as it can pay you for more than just higher education. If you’re not aware of something, keep asking questions.”

Sometimes the first person doesn’t know the complete answer, Webber explains, and you have to dig a little deeper, so you don’t miss out.

3. Use the Disability Resource Center

Jennifer Puentes ’19 feels the same about the flexibility afforded to students with online learning. Puentes is currently pursuing her master’s degree in international and intercultural education and she also works within the VMA.

From 2009 to 2013, Puentes served in the U.S. Navy. As a veteran, she’s found that the greatest resource beyond the VMA is FIU’s Disability Resource Center. The center helps with accommodations for classes. It can also act as a liaison on behalf of students with professors.

“FIU means opportunity and it means growth. I’ve been able to meet amazing people who have helped me achieve my education and career goals. I have also received lots of support adapting to an academic setting,” says Puentes.

4. Lean on friends

Three days after leaving active duty, Webber interviewed for her first civilian job as a veteran. Her entire wardrobe was jeans, t-shirts and casual wear, she laughs as recalls how she asked her friends to help her build a work wardrobe and practice interviewing with non-military folks.

Both DeBord and Puentes agree that part of their success with being a student is their connections with others who have served; they both suggest students, especially if they're online, find a club either on or off campus.

5. Keep copies of your DD-214

Realize that being a veteran, no matter where you go, makes you a special case, says Webber.

“Make lots of extra copies of your DD-214—you’ll need it for everything from a store discount to applying for benefits, jobs, and for veteran preference for things such as renting housing or school placement for children,” she offers.

While there really are so many tips for every situation, stick to your military service core value, adds Webber, which includes duty, ethics, honor, courage, commitment, respect and excellence.

DeBord stresses that it is normal to feel isolated, but there are other veterans going back to school—you’re not alone.

Puentes’ best advice is not to be afraid to “take a break” because there will be time ahead to do what you need to, and people will be there to help you.

Veteran and Military Affairs is housed inside FIU’s first building, the airport tower.

FIU’s Veterans and Military Affairs (VMA) has partnered with the Veterans Education Project to help provide veteran students and veteran dependents additional support as well as develop models on how to address obstacles they may face as they progress toward graduation.

The Veterans Education Project is a nonpartisan research, engagement and policy program that works with higher education institutions and helps them meet the needs of student veterans.

Through joint programming and evaluations, the Veterans Education Project will work with FIU to develop innovative holistic prior learning assessments and competency-based evaluations for student veterans and increase the number of credits accepted by universities.

“We are proud of our new partnership with FIU,” said Daniel Elkins, founder of Veterans Education Project. “FIU is doing amazing things to help student veterans. With unique programs designed to help service members to gain degrees faster and a team of staff dedicated to specifically serving the student veteran population, we encourage veterans everywhere to look at FIU.”

With more than 1,400 veteran students, FIU has developed programming and systems that are aimed at helping student veterans succeed. This includes a dedicated veterans resource office and staff, housed inside FIU’s first building, the airport tower.

FIU has a long-standing history of advocating for and was the first in the state to offer in-state tuition to veterans regardless of their state of origin and has developed programs aimed at teaching veterans’ life skills such as beekeeping and farming. The university also is a host site of the prestigious Vets Success on Campus that give students the additional support services provided by the Veterans Administration.

Most recently, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs held its second Graduating Veterans Recognition Ceremony to honor veteran and military-affiliated graduates of the class of Spring 2019. In addition to the customary red, white and blue cords, veterans received honor stoles and certificates. This year, dependent scholars were also given a challenge coin in the military tradition.

“At FIU we are eager to partner with like-minded organizations to provide our veteran students the necessary support they need,” said Amanda Niguidula, director of the Veteran and Military Affairs. “We know well the dedication, service and sacrifice of our students who are in the military or are military veterans. It is an honor to be able to provide them with educational opportunities that will help them translate their valuable skills and give them the tools to succeed in college and beyond.”

Florida International University has been recognized for its efforts to support military-affiliated students and those who are veterans.

It was recently recognized as a 2020 Top School for Veterans by U.S. Veterans Magazine, which came on the heels of ranking as a 2020-2021 Military College of Distinction last month. U.S. Veterans Magazine works to inform veterans and their families of opportunities and information that can help ease the transition from military to civilian life.

“These recognitions reflect the efforts to improve processes, procedures, and tailored services for our veteran and military-affiliated students,” said Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Anthony DeSantis. “We’re making sure this population of students’ needs are being met.”

FIU works to achieve a “holistic approach” to supporting veterans, DeSantis explained. The FIU Office of Veteran & Military Affairs (VMA) offers services to veterans and military-affiliated students that includes sorting through Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits, career support, connecting students with disability services and counseling resources, and scholarships for veterans. There are over 1,600 veteran and military-affiliated (active duty, reservists, dependents, and national guardsmen) students at FIU, and 125 faculty and staff veterans employed at the university.

The VMA office, according to student-veteran Matthew DeBord, also serves as a place to connect with others from similar backgrounds. DeBord, a junior dual degree student studying accounting and religious studies, spent 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He works in the VMA office, which he describes as a safe haven for students adjusting from life in the military to life at a university.

“It’s the camaraderie,” DeBord said. “It helped with the transition from military to higher education a lot. My first semester was really rough. It felt good to know that we are going through the same sort of process with other people - to know that, that you’re not the only veteran scholar transitioning into higher education.”

DeBord is involved with many aspects of veteran life on campus, and has worked diligently as a voice of change within the VMA office to improve student life for veterans. He was the president of the Student Veterans of America chapter at FIU, worked with the Student Government Association to tend to student veterans’ needs, pushed for more scholarships, and organized and participated in community-building events with other veterans.

“The directors and staff in the VMA office have been great advocates for students like me,” DeBord said. “I am proud of this recognition, and I’m looking forward to the work to come.”

Florida SBDC at FIU Business helps local aesthetic and wellness business navigate the pandemic

Cynthia Corzo — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Nearly a decade after the Florida SBDC at FIU Business (FSBDC) helped her launch her own business, Rosanna Bermejo again turned to the small business development center. This time, she sought help for her business, Med Aesthetics Miami, in recovering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The skincare and wellness center was closed for two and a half months during the lockdown. For Bermejo, pivoting in the pandemic meant that virtual consultations with patients became the norm, new products and services were introduced, and in-person treatments were redesigned, much of it thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) assistance Med Aesthetics Miami received with the FSBDC at FIU’s help.

“The PPP was critical to keeping our doors open – maintaining employees’ salaries, covering utilities – during the lockdown,” said Bermejo. “The SBA loan let us adapt the operations to our new reality.”

The FSBDC is working hand-in-hand with local businesses to help them adjust to a new landscape. Today, consultants are seeing increased demand for guidance on financial management and retaining or recruiting employees as well as marketing, e-commerce, website development and social media activation.

“The goal is not just to help these business weather the pandemic, but also to make them stronger and more resilient moving forward,” said Brian Van Hook, regional director of the FSBDC.

Since the pandemic began, the FSBDC has helped owners in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties navigate disaster assistance programs, getting funds into the business’ hands and developing strategies to weather the crisis.

As of October 14, FSBDC had helped 293 small businesses in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties secure $40.4 million in COVID-19 assistance:

$18.8 million in SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Assistance
$17.1 million in SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
$4.5 million in Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans.

Small businesses in South Florida aren’t strangers to disaster and many have successfully recovered from hurricanes, but the pandemic is uncharted territory.

FSBDC consultants guide applicants to the best resources for them, explain the eligibility criteria, assist with applications, walk them through the review process, determine how to put the funds to their best use, and ensure they have the right plan to be successful when conditions improve.

The FSBDC at FIU, which began offering services in Miami-Dade County in 2014, has helped launch more than 193 businesses and assisted over 3,500 local entrepreneurs and small-business owners in creating or retaining 9,990 jobs; generating $1.33 billion in increased sales; acquiring $123.3 million in government contracts; and accessing $144.5 million in capital via loans and equity investments.

Med Aesthetics Miami was launched in 2010 and two years later, when Bermejo decided to set off on her own with the business, she recalls that it was the team at FSBDC who helped her develop a mission statement, establish a brand image, create a website and get her business off the ground.

“They helped me with the different aspects involved,” she added. “We went through tough times and kept going.”

The recent funds and guidance from FSBDC consultants, Bermejo explained, helped the Med Aesthetics Miami team establish virtual consultations and digital wellness programs, expand the services it offers, and incorporate home delivery of products. She hopes that once the post-COVID-19 future becomes bright, she’ll continue to expand virtually and plans to open a new Med Aesthetics Miami center.

“As a business, we’re operating under a big cloud,” said Bermejo. “My hope is that the economy keeps opening and we can maintain stability.”

Resources available for small businesses:

My internship with Cortada Projects

Yenisleidy Simon Mengana — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Name: Patricia Maria Menendez

Hometown: Miami

What is your major? B.S. in Digital Communication and Media, B.A. in Sustainability and the Environment, Global Learning Medallion student.

Where did you intern? Cortada Projects at Pinecrest Gardens

What was your title? Media and communications coordinator

How did you get your internship?
Last year I was looking for an internship that combined both of my majors in some way. A friend put me in contact with the director of Cortada Projects, Adam Roberti. The organization was looking for someone who could take charge of its social media and needed someone fast. I was lucky enough to be available at the right time with the right connections.

What did you do there?
I worked for Cortada Projects from September 2019 to March 2020. Cortada Projects is Miami-based environmental artist Xavier Cortada’s participatory art practice. The organization uses the power of art to engage the public in learning about and taking action on environmental issues. As the media and communications coordinator, my job was to help increase audience engagement and brand awareness via social media channels and website content.

During my seven months there I strategized and managed the Instagram and Facebook accounts and created content for campaigns. I also organized, edited and designed web pages for both cortadaprojects.org and cortada.com, and assisted in the transition from an old to new website.

What projects did you work on?
My internship began along with the launch of a new eco-art project Cortada was working on. Plan(T) aims to raise awareness in the South Florida community about climate change and help people prepare for its impacts, such as sea level rise and saltwater intrusion, by encouraging every resident to plant a saltwater-tolerant mangrove seedlings in their yards. In addition to the mangrove, residents are also encouraged to plant an elevation-marked flag next to it to symbolize and start preparing for the future of sea level rise. The participatory art project also consisted of the display of mangroves in a grid-like pattern in clear cups, which was installed on the windows of libraries, schools, museums and universities throughout South Florida. Plan(T) was also featured in Art Basel Miami 2019.

The promotion of Plan(T) was my primary focus throughout the internship, but I also had to promote other Cortada Projects such as the Underwater HOA, Letters to the Future and DO NOT OPEN.

How did your internship connect back to your coursework?
My internship connects back to my coursework because I had to communicate environmental issues on digital platforms in a way that engages the audience. As a sustainability major, the internship strengthened my knowledge of local environmental issues and taught me a new way of thinking about how to approach these issues. Through art, Cortada Projects helped promote sustainable practices within the South Florida community as well as mitigate climate change – an objective in most of my courses. In addition to this, the internship helped me develop my digital media skills and apply concepts that I have learned in my digital media courses in a real-world setting.

What was the coolest thing about your internship or that happened during your internship?
The coolest thing that happened during my internship was when Cortada Projects was invited to be a part of UNTITLED, ART, an art fair that is featured in Art Basel Miami. Not only did I get to promote this on social media, but I also had the opportunity to attend the fair and experience Art Basel for the first time. It was fun, and I had the chance to meet people from all around the world.

What did you enjoy most about your internship?
What I enjoyed most was that I got to be part of a movement. Not only was I helping to spread the word about climate change, but I was also helping my hometown learn about its impacts and how to adapt to them. It was an overall rewarding experience.

What did you learn about yourself?
Through this internship, I learned that in my future career I want to do something that is impactful. I want to work towards something that will make a difference in the world. I do not want a job that just pays the bills, I want a job that has a purpose for the betterment of society and the environment. The internship further solidified my desire to pursue a career that uses media platforms to inspire action on environmental issues.

What advice do you have for those beginning the internship process?
Network, network, network. I cannot stress the importance of connections. You never know if who you are talking to can offer you a future job opportunity.

Aside from networking, never underestimate your value. Even if you think you are not qualified for an internship because you aren’t good enough or skilled enough, still apply. No one is ever fully prepared for anything. Take the chance and see where it takes you.

How did the position increase your professional confidence?
Working at Cortada Projects helped me gain and strengthen the necessary skills in managing, strategizing and creating social media campaigns. Not only did I develop professionally but also personally. I learned how to value myself and my work in a way I hadn’t before.

How did the internship expanded your professional network?
Prior to my internship, I had never been exposed to the art world. Interning for a prominent environmental artist introduced me to a whole new industry that I didn’t even know existed. It definitely expanded my options and network beyond the communications industry.

New postdoc is ready to run for the rivers

Angela Nicoletti — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 11:03:00 -0500

Erin Abernethy can read the subtlest shifts and changes in the rivers and creeks that cut through the Appalachian Mountains.

Now, as a postdoctoral scientist, Abernethy will be working with FIU Institute of Environment researcher Elizabeth Anderson to take her research in a new direction.

Abernethy is going to explore new, urgent and very timely questions, like who has access to water resources and who is making those decisions about where the water goes.

This story also appeared on CASE News.

FIU’s Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator awarded $2.5 million to develop entrepreneurial leaders in the creative sector

Millie Acebal — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

FIU’s Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator (RA+DI) has received a gift of $2.5 million from the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation to develop diverse, entrepreneurial leaders in the creative sector and boost South Florida’s economy.

This gift marks the third awarded to FIU’s RA+DI by the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation, which is focused on providing access to education and training for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to grow their ventures, create jobs, and expand economic opportunities in local communities.

“With this gift, the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation is inspiring artistic entrepreneurship at FIU and helping set RA+DI fellows on the path to success,” said Howard Lipman, chief executive officer of the FIU Foundation. “We are grateful for their partnership, which has for years helped this university advance creative innovation that will shape the South Florida community and beyond.”

Housed in the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA) the Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator’s focus on art and design sets it apart from other incubators. Fellows learn about the business side of an artistic operation, including marketing, running a business, scaling and packaging. They come to understand how their practice as designers and artists translates directly to business as they design, demonstrate, pitch and sell their products, combining experiential learning, field work and professional networking.

The gift also supports micro-credentialing, co-curricular and experiential programming, and competition and entrepreneurship showcases, among other initiatives.

“Entrepreneurship education within academic art and design departments has been introduced into university curricula to prepare graduates to actively participate in the process of building creative economies in our discrete communities,” said Jacek Kolasiński, director of the RA+DI. “These initiatives have focused on a search for new strategies and prospects to empower young artists and designers to create more sustainable economic futures for themselves and foster their creative energies to re-envision our future and prepare them to solve society’s most pressing challenges.”

RA+DI trains students to become employers who will create jobs. Additionally, there is a focus on developing entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds who design products for underrepresented communities. Fellow Latricia Russell launched LR Beauty Co., her namesake beauty brand that offers professional makeup, skin therapy and braiding.

“I’m a thinker. I like to plan everything before taking action but participating in RA+DI has helped me to not just plan, but also how to act on my plans,” Russell said. “I feel more confident about testing my ideas and now affectionately refer to the incubator as ‘A space for doers.’”

The late Phil and Carole Ratcliffe created the foundation in 2003 with a vision to provide access to education & training for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to grow their ventures, create jobs, and expand economic opportunities in local communities.

“The FIU Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator aligns closely with our foundation's vision and we are deeply pleased to support its mission to provide students in creative fields with the tools necessary to succeed as entrepreneurs,” said Carlene Cassidy, chief executive officer of the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation.

Earlier this year, the Ratcliffe Foundation provided an additional emergency grant of $10,000 for the purchase of five 3-D printers that allowed the incubator to print more than 1,000 face shields for local healthcare workers in conjunction with FIU’s Miami Beach Urban Studios and College of Engineering & Computing. It gave the RA+DI fellows a unique opportunity to learn how to produce essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and serve the community.

“This new four-year commitment from the Ratcliffe Foundation is a testament to the success of the early stages of this program and to its bright future. We are deeply grateful to the Foundation for its partnership as we continue to elevate and expand the Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator,” said Oliver Ionita, CARTA’s senior director of development.

Located on FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus, RA+DI was launched in 2017 with a cohort of eight fellows tasked with turning their ideas into viable products, services and businesses as part of their two-year residency. There are a total of 22 fellows currently participating in the program, which is on its fourth cohort.

For a video about the Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator please click here.

FIU campuses will reopen on Tuesday, Nov. 10

Contributing Writer — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:20:00 -0500

FIU campuses and facilities will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 10. Classes and university operations will resume the normal rotation schedule while observing physical distancing and COVID-19 mitigation measures.

8^th Street Campus Kitchen and the Market @ Breezeway at MMC and Roary’s Café at BBC will be open this afternoon to serve on-campus residents. Please check Shop FIU for hours of operation.

Due to flooding and other damage caused by Tropical Storm Eta’s heavy rains and gusty winds, we ask that everyone take precautions as you return to our campuses. Please be extra cautious around downed powerlines in the community and avoid driving through floodwaters.

FIU will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observation of Veterans Day.

Campuses will be closed Monday due to Tropical Storm Eta

David Drucker — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 13:40:00 -0500

Dear members of the university community,

FIU campuses will be closed tomorrow, Monday, November 9, due to Tropical Storm Eta. All classes are canceled, including remote and online classes. Please stay alert to communications regarding university operations beyond Monday.

South Florida is currently under a tropical storm warning, a hurricane watch and coastal Miami-Dade County is under a storm surge watch, with periods of heavy rain and gusty winds expected starting this afternoon. Please take necessary precautions, look for downed powerlines and avoid driving through flood waters.

Members of the university community and neighbors are welcome to park their vehicles on levels 2-4 of FIU parking garages. For further information or questions, please contact Parking and Transportation’s Customer Service Center via the live chat feature at parking.fiu.edu or at 305-348-3615

Please monitor local media and pay attention to updates from the National Hurricane Center. Please note that FIU has a communication protocol to keep the community informed about university operations during emergencies, including storms. Please look for emails, follow FIU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and, check FIU News and monitor local media for updates.

Storm preparation may be a new experience for many members of our university community. For tips on what to do, please visit the FIU Department of Emergency Management website or Miami-Dade County’s Hurricane Guide

This weather system must not take our attention away from the things that we must all do to stop the spread of COVID-19: Wear your face covering, keep physical distance and wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

Stay safe.

Thank you.

Tropical Depression Eta could bring tropical storm conditions to South Florida

Contributing Writer — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:51:00 -0500

Dear members of the university community,

Tropical Depression Eta is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm today and could bring tropical storm conditions as it approaches South Florida on Sunday. Our area is under a flood watch.

Periods of heavy rain and gusty winds are expected in our area. Please monitor local media and pay attention to updates from the National Hurricane Center.

We expect university operations will continue as scheduled.

Please note that FIU has a communication protocol to keep the community informed about university operations during emergencies, including storms. Please look for emails, follow FIU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and, check FIU News and monitor local media for updates.

Stay safe.

Thank you.

Researcher explores ways to increase COVID-19 testing among poor minorities

Alexandra Pecharich — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 15:27:00 -0500

Testing for COVID-19 seems ubiquitous these days, but how many folks from low-income neighborhoods have taken advantage of it?

That’s a question Marianna Baum and a team at FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work want to answer. With as many as a million people per day currently submitting to free testing across the country, one might expect that individuals from all economic strata have come forward in proportional measure. But less-than-perfect data—positives are reported by zip code but not the actual number of residents in each who are tested—and Baum’s own observations have pushed her to explore potential barriers to testing.

Are people without cars, for example, getting to the drive-through testing facilities in South Florida, and would they remain in line when confronted with hours-long waits in the sun?

“That’s just one really obvious barrier,” says Baum, who adds that walk-up testing sites exist in Miami-Dade County but are too few for the size of the population. “We need to talk to the community leaders to see what they perceive as barriers and how to overcome them.”

What is known: Death rates attributable to COVID-19 among Latinos and Blacks are several times higher than among whites.

The team is collaborating with the Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program run by the Wertheim College of Medicine. The program has longstanding connections within the study’s target communities, among them the grassroots leaders—church pastors, individuals who run community organizations and others in contact with sizeable numbers of people the study hopes to reach—whose help Baum needs. They will be consulted about possible barriers to testing and, critically, asked to encourage others’ participation at temporary testing sites associated with the study. The facilities will be set up by the publicly funded Borinquen Medical Centers in locations such as church parking lots and near other gathering spaces.

The plan is to test as many as 200 people per week at a given location. Samples will be processed in the campus-based clinical lab that Baum manages, and results will be available to tested individuals within 24 hours at an electronic portal. Importantly, participants will complete questionnaires (in English, Spanish or Creole) that ask if they had previously sought testing and, if not, what specifically stopped them from doing so.

Baum points out that many of those she seeks to reach work in low-wage jobs, such as grocery bagger and fast-food worker, that put them in close proximity to the general public. “So if they’re infected, everybody else will get infected,” she says. “It’s important that all segments of the population are tested and quarantined if infected and that we contact trace.”

Another goal is to evaluate the success of community leaders’ efforts to encourage testing. That information will inform the drafting of strategies to promote vaccination in the future. After all, Baum explains, “We can have the best vaccine in the world, but if people don’t use it, it will not help.”

The research is funded with a grant from the National Institutes of Health and will contribute to a multicenter study.

SOBEWFF® creates Thanksgiving packages to fund relief efforts

David Drucker — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival Presented by Capital One® has partnered with Constellation Culinary Group to spread holiday joy and give back to the community.

SOBEWFF® is offering Thanksgiving Table To-Go packages for sale this November. The packs come in three different varieties and include an entree, salads, freshly baked breads, desert, La Crema wine, Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water, S. Pelligrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water and ILLY coffee. Flower arrangements from Anthology Co. are also available for purchase.

One hundred percent of net proceeds will benefit the Festival’s relief efforts, and for every 25 meals sold, SOBEWFF® will donate a meal to a member of the local hospitality community impacted by the pandemic.

Check out the full selection of Thankgiving To-Go packages here.

SOBEWFF® was started in 1997 as a small venture with students of FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. It has grown into a national destination event for food and drink lovers of all kinds. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, the Festival has been reaching out to the community where it grew its roots to financially support people and businesses.

FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is helping to put money into the hands of cooks, servers, dishwashers and all the people at South Florida’s favorite restaurants and bars through a new partnership with the South Beach Wine & Food Festival®.

The SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund will provide immediate financial support to independently owned and operated restaurants and bars impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

Many of these family operated establishments have hired FIU student interns and even given graduates their first jobs, so now the Chaplin School is giving back to the community who has supported it for the last 50 years. The effort is a partnership with some other big-name leaders in the hospitality industry.

The fund was launched with $1 million, including a founding donation of $500,000 by the Chaplin School, taken from the proceeds given yearly to the school by The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One to support operations and scholarship at the Chaplin School. Founding Partners Bacardi USA, Badia Spices, Luxco, Mast-Jägermeister US, Shaw-Ross International Importers and Voli 305 Vodka also provided financial support.

“We are so appreciative of existing partners like Bacardi and Badia Spices that have already stepped up to support this important effort, and know there are many more out there who are ready to do the same,” said Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School, one of the top 50 hospitality schools in the world.

“Our educational mission to cultivate the future leaders of hospitality would not be possible without those current leaders and individuals – from chefs, servers, and hosts, to bartenders, sommeliers and dishwashers – who work so hard day in and day out to support our students, and who feed and serve our community. We are happy to give back to our hospitality heroes in their time of need.”

The Chaplin School and the FIU Foundation are working with SOBEWFF® to help the hospitality community and the people who really need it.

Grants of up to $15,000 will be provided to independently owned and operated restaurants and bars that have had to temporarily cease operations, lay off employees, or whose businesses have been severely diminished due to locally mandated closure orders. Financial support will enable those owners to provide continuity of compensation and other benefits to employees who have been furloughed, laid off or whose incomes have been significantly reduced due to the pandemic. Business owners must apply for the grant, but the money is intended to be given directly to employees, up to $500 per person.

“The Festival’s success over the past two decades has been dependent on the support and participation of so many talented chefs, restaurant owners, and bartenders from our local community,” said Lee Brian Schrager, SOBEWFF®.

“With the hospitality industry facing unprecedented devastation, it’s our turn to give back to the people in the industry who have been there for us, and we are prepared to come to their aid now, when they need us the most.”

Besides the initial monetary commitment, grant awardees will get access to resources provided by the FIU Chaplin School, such as support to business owners through a complimentary one-year membership to StartUP FIU Food's Entrepreneurs Educational Development (FEED) program, which offers ongoing industry expertise and management training in areas such as marketing and finance. Business owners will have the full use of the Florida Small Business Development Center at FIU.

Relief fund participants also will have access to further their education through BacardiTeach, a dynamic learning partnership between Bacardi USA and the Chaplin School. When operations return to normal, recipients can choose to place up to two FIU interns at no cost to the restaurant owner to support their business operations.

To apply for a relief grant or to donate to the fund, visit https://sobewff.org/industry-relief/ or visit the FIU Chaplin School website at https://hospitality.fiu.edu/save-our-industry
for more information.

For the latest FIU coronavirus updates, visit the university's resource site.

Got milk? For countries that do not, calcium-fortified food might be the way to curb bone defects

Alexandra Pecharich — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:00:00 -0500

Whether one lives in a country where quesadillas, pizza and quiche are on the menu or one where non-cheesy foods take center plate, getting enough calcium can be difficult.

And that has to change, says dietetics professor Cristina Palacios of the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work. She is calling for putting the bone-supporting dietary mineral on the growing list of nutrients already being added to food around the world.

Palacios recently published two WHO-funded research papers that survey global intake of calcium and address the potential to incorporate it into foods consumed in countries with a high prevalence of nutritional rickets. The disease is characterized by the softening and weakening of bones and considered a major health problem in many parts of the world.

While a variety of foods offer a significant source of calcium—among them leafy greens, beans and canned fish with bones—dairy packs the biggest nutritional punch.

In cultures where animal milk and products such as cheese and yogurt have not traditionally played a role in diet, such as Japan, and in those developing countries without easy access to such foods, such as Nigeria, the prevalence of nutritional rickets can be several hundred percent greater than elsewhere.

But even in the United States and United Kingdom, where dairy production and consumption are among the world’s highest, Palacios found that calcium intake would fall below recommended levels were it not for the practice of food fortification. She highlights the correlation between the mandated calcium enrichment of wheat flour—the base ingredient for homemade breads and pastries as well as commercially produced baked goods and cereals—and adequate levels of dietary calcium in the United Kingdom.

She cites that country’s National Health Service, which found that without fortification, about 21 percent of girls and 12 percent of boys would have intakes below the minimum nutritional requirements. Additionally, a significant percentage of women of child-bearing age would experience a shortfall, putting them at potential risk for gestational hypertension (preeclampsia). In the United States, wheat flour, orange juice and other foods are often fortified with calcium.

Palacios suggests that introducing calcium fortification programs in other countries could have a positive return on health. She recognizes potential barriers in poor nations, among them cost and lack of technically trained personnel. And she notes the possibility of a program’s inability to reach rural residents who rely on locally grown foods over processed ones.

Despite the perceived obstacles, however, there is good reason to expect that calcium fortification could expand worldwide: fully 155 countries, including many developing nations, are already adding nutrients such as iodine, iron, folic acid and vitamin A, which have been prioritized in recent years.

“The consequences of deficiency in these”—anemia (iron) and childhood blindness (vitamin A), for example—“have been viewed as far greater than calcium deficiency,” Palacios points out. “It takes a longer time to see acute bone issues, and they’re probably not life threatening in the general population. But now that some countries have already implemented important programs to address these issues and already have plenty of nutritional strategies to deal with that,” she continues, “we’re looking at other nutrients of importance, such as calcium.”

Palacios is an expert on vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of dietary calcium, and has previously conducted research for the WHO in support of its guidelines on the vitamin. Notably, dietary increases in vitamin D alone will not always stave off bone deformities without an increase in calcium intake, a fact that prompted the current scientific inquiry.

President appoints Gloria Johnson-Cusack as his senior advisor

Contributing Writer — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

President Mark B. Rosenberg named Gloria Johnson-Cusack to be Senior Advisor to the President, a role she will play to accelerate success for every student at the Miami-based University, which is the 4th largest higher education institution in the U.S., and holds the highest research classification: Carnegie Research 1–Very High Research Activity, with $226 million in research expenditures last year.

FIU is a rising force of good in South Florida, the country, and international arena. According to U.S News and World Report, 26 FIU programs are ranked in the top 50 among public universities; FIU Undergraduate International Business Programs are ranked Number 2; and FIU is ranked number 13 among public universities as Top Performer on Social Mobility. Also, FIU is ranked among the top 25 public universities in the world for the number of U.S. utility patents produced, is ranked the top U.S. institution in awarding bachelor’s degree to Hispanic students, according to Excelencia in Education, and is ranked among the top three universities in the U.S. in four categories by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings based on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“I am thrilled that Gloria is bringing to our enterprising team a wealth of expertise in leading higher education and creating national service programs for the White House, as well as her extensive experience in the public, private and charitable sectors,” said President Rosenberg. “Her counsel will be invaluable as we develop strategies and partnerships to create opportunity for all and equip all students to excel, drive economic prosperity and transform lives globally.”

“Her expertise in advocacy/authentic community engagement, brand positioning/marketing, crisis management, diversity/equity/inclusion, governance, strategic communications and strategic planning will strengthen our ability to meet the needs of internal and external communities who depend upon our expertise and collaboration to accomplish their objectives.

She will provide executive level collaboration and guidance to the new Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. For that unit and others with whom she works, Ms. Johnson-Cusack will focus on efforts relating to public policy goals, philanthropic initiatives, performance metrics, and institutional learning. We are excited that we can be the newest home for Gloria Johnson-Cusack, a dynamic leader who will help us to accelerate our momentum and achieve the range of goals as a preeminent Top 50 public university.”

Johnson-Cusack is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Silicon Valley-based Firelight Foundation supporting community organizations in Africa, a part-time lecturer for the Master of Science in Nonprofit Management program at Columbia University, Board Member of the Patients for Affordable Drugs NOW (a bi-partisan 501(c)(4) public education and advocacy organization focusing exclusively on lowering prescription drug prices), and consultant for leaders in the nonprofit sector and philanthropy.

She is the immediate past President and CEO of the National Human Services Assembly (NHSA), a Washington, D.C.-based association comprised of over 80 of the largest national human services organizations. Prior to that, she was Executive Director of Leadership 18, an alliance of 18+ CEOs responsible for leading national nonprofit organizations including American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Charities USA, Girl Scouts of the USA, The Salvation Army, The YMCA, and United Way Worldwide. In that role, she was a lobbyist and a principal strategist for the national Charitable Giving Coalition focused on preserving charitable tax incentives in the U.S.

She also served as a Senior Vice President at GMMB, a cause-marketing advertising and communications firm serving nonprofits, membership organizations, and foundations; Chief of Staff of the D.C. Office of the Inspector General; Director of the Office of Congressional Relations at the U.S. Peace Corps; Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of National Service; and Director of Constituent Relations at the Corporation for National and Community Service. She has been policy advisor to members of Congress and a US Senator.

Johnson-Cusack completed a year-long United Way Worldwide Executive Leadership Development Program conducted at Harvard Business School, the Center for Creative Leadership, and Deloitte University. She holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from the American University School of Public Affairs and Columbia College, Columbia University.

Student co-founded startup that gives businesses data-driven insights

Jacqueline Herrera — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 16:51:00 -0500

Eric Azcona, an undergraduate information technology student at FIU’s School of Computing and Information Sciences (SCIS), is proving that you can pursue your career and study at the same time.

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Azcona immigrated to the United States in 2006, dreaming of the opportunities available to him in technology. A passionate entrepreneur, he has been actively pursuing startups since 2003, when he founded his first company. The company focused on selling mobile phones and providing satellite internet access and long-distance phone calls to rural areas and those in need. It was acquired before he moved to the United States.

Creating that startup was essential for Azcona. “That experience set the grounds for my entrepreneurial career,” he says.

On a trip in 2012 to New York City with his brother, Azcona began thinking about the opportunities that could arise through a technological platform allowing businesses and consumers to communicate more effectively. After his move to Florida, he spurred a product – through his own funding – that ultimately resulted in PointGenie, a software tool that uses machine learning to provide visitor analytics to business owners of all industries, including retail.

The software can be used by any electronic device and utilizes an artificial intelligence bot powered by machine learning to make sense of available data and generate a report for business owners. The data provides meaningful insights, including customer counts during the day as well as demographics (age group, gender, etc.).

The tool can be particularly useful to business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when there are occupancy restriction requirements, the tool provides businesses with data on customer counts, helping management and owners create business opportunities during this difficult time while adhering to occupancy guidelines.

Azcona and his team are currently planning an expansion of PointGenie as a mobile application that can be downloaded by everyday consumers, giving them the ability to drive even more meaningful insights to business owners – and allowing customers to access important data.

Consumers will have the ability to report the status of physical locations in real time with symbols that indicate traffic-like customer patterns through green, yellow and red indicators. These reports can also be shared with friends to tag certain physical locations as having large or small crowds.

Azcona acts as the CEO of PointGenie. He also speaks with users about the software and spends time learning how he can create a better user experience. A group of advisors and various team members focus on the back-end development of mobile and other technology (such as Python, JavaScript and programming).

Azcona says his education at FIU is helping him as he continues developing PointGenie. He has already applied many lessons learned from his course experiences and LinkedIn learning courses (available to FIU students), and continues to do so.

For example, he’s taking a human and computer interaction course this semester that is proving essential for his work. “This class is helping me with the user experience component of the application,” he says.

When not focusing on his undergraduate degree and entrepreneurial career, Azcona enjoys spending time with his family and being a part of FIU’s culture and diversity. His biggest advice to other students? Take the opportunity during their coursework and certifications to build on their experience and go after their dreams.

Azcona plans to graduate with his degree in information technology and a minor is social media and e-marketing analytics by 2022.

Proud of his Latino roots, Azcona has another project on his mind – with the goal of giving back. “I’m planning to create my own Angel Funding group to empower the Latino community.”

Faculty experts to discuss Election 2020 on FIU Insights

Contributing Writer — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 16:00:00 -0500

Amid a deeply polarized electorate, a record number of mail-in ballots and early voting, along with unsubstantiated charges of widespread voter fraud, all eyes are on the U.S. as states continue to count ballots that were cast in the general election. Experts are worried about a contentious – and lengthy – post-election struggle.

On Thursday, November 5 at 2:30 p.m., FIU faculty will be taking an in-depth look at the election, what it means and what comes next. The university community and anyone interested in the 2020 election can follow along using the registration link below.

Registration Link: go.fiu.edu/fiuinsights

Panelists:

Kathryn DePalo-Gould
Teaching Professor
Department of Politics and International Relations
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

Kevin Evans
Associate Professor
Department of Politics and International Relations
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

Eduardo Gamarra
Professor
Department of Politics and International Relations
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

Dario Moreno
Associate Professor
Department of Politics and International Relations
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

Moderator:

David Kramer

Senior Fellow
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

FIU Foundation announces new board leadership and member

Contributing Writer — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

Florida International University has appointed four prominent South Florida leaders and FIU alumni to serve as officers on the FIU Foundation Board of Directors: Humberto “Burt” Cabañas, Adalio T. Sanchez, Andre L. Teixeira and Jill M. Granat.

“We are grateful and excited to have these exceptional individuals lead our Foundation Board of Directors,” said Howard R. Lipman, CEO of the FIU Foundation, Inc. and senior vice president for University Advancement. “The FIU Foundation plays a key role in our university’s ability to provide the finest teaching, cutting-edge research, and service to our local and global communities. As we enter into the final phase of the Next Horizon campaign, these leaders will support the continued growth of our dynamic university.”

The officers and their positions are as follows:

Humberto “Burt” Cabañas has been named chairperson, having been elected as a board member in 2014 and serving as vice chairperson since 2017. Cabañas is the founder and chairman of Benchmark, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company and recognized global leader in the management and marketing of resorts, hotels and conference centers. Cabañas graduated from FIU in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management, and has served as chairman of the Industry Advisory Board for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at FIU. He has also received the Torch Award from the Alumni Association and the FIU Medallion Alumnus Award.

Adalio T. Sanchez has been named vice chairperson, having been elected as a board member in 2010. Sanchez is a 34-year technology industry veteran with a track record of transforming and growing many complex multi-billion dollar global businesses. As president of S Group Advisory LLC, he and his firm provide clients management consulting services and expertise around technology and business strategy, operational excellence, and business transformation. He also serves on the board of directors of ACI Worldwide, a software company in the electronic payments space. Sanchez earned a master’s degree in business from FIU in 1987.

Andre L. Teixeira will continue as treasurer, having been elected as a board member in 2015. Teixeira is executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Graham Companies, a privately owned, real estate company best known for the development of Miami Lakes. Before joining The Graham Companies in 2002, he held various senior positions at Mars, Pepsi-Cola and Ernst & Young. He was also a co-founder of a technology company providing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems as a service in 2000. Teixeira earned a bachelor’s degree from FIU in 1992 and a master’s degree the following year in 1993, both in accounting.

Jill M. Granat will continue as secretary, having been elected as a board member in 2013. Granat is general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer for Restaurant Brands International. In her role, Granat is responsible for Burger King Corporation’s (BKC) global legal and corporate governance affairs as well as managing the company’s worldwide ethics and compliance program. Granat also serves as president of the BURGER KING McLamore Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the BURGER KING system. Granat earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from FIU in 1987.

In addition, the FIU Foundation Board of Directors welcomed its newest member, Francis A. Hondal. Hondal is president of Loyalty and Engagement Services at Mastercard, and a member of the company’s management committee. A first-generation Cuban-American, she has been named to Fortune’s Top 50 Most Powerful Latina Women in corporate America, ranking 19^th in 2018 and 15^th in 2017. She serves as a board member of FIU’s Chapman Graduate School of Business and was inducted to the College of Business Administration Hall of Fame in 2015, receiving the Global Leadership Award. In 2013, she received the International Business Woman of the Year Award by the Organization of Women in International Trade. Hondal earned a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1987 and a master’s degree in business administration in 1994, both from FIU.

Exceptional Alumni: Indie music business pro John Guinan

Sarah Hernandez — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 15:40:00 -0500

School of Music alumnus John Guinan (@jay.__.peh) graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s in music business and has been steadily making a name for himself in the industry ever since. He currently serves as the head of content and operations of InnerCat Music Group (@Innercatmusic)– an independent record company based in Miami – and co-founder and head of operations of the rock and metal band record label, Apocalypse Records (@apocalypserecordslabel).

What path did you take to attain your current position in your career?
I started out of high school in a band that contracted a manager. The band did not last, but I did end up becoming very close friends with our manager, Paris Cabezas of InnerCat Music. Paris has become a very close and important associate in my other music business endeavor of Apocalypse Records along with my partner Mariano Aponte, who was a producer for the band I was in.

What has been the coolest thing about your job so far?
The coolest thing has been being at the forefront of the industry as it changes and adapts. Many of these mid-to-large indie groups’ size allows them to incubate many great ideas or artists and quickly move them out into the world. We work at the same tier as the majors but without the weight of the upper levels of the company slowing down decisions.

What made you decide to work in the indie music business field?
One of the bigger deciding factors was my relationship with my friend and business partner Paris Cabezas. He supported my ideas and goals rather than pushing me to seek work stability. I feel like there is not enough of that kind of support nowadays, and it prevents very capable creative people from achieving their goals in a timely manner.

I was lucky, more than anything, to have the opportunity I did so early in my career and it’s clear now that more of these opportunities exist than when I first started almost eight years ago.

How have your responsibilities shifted since the pandemic, and how have you been managing all these changes?Around the world, for the first time in a very long time, artists are unable to perform live in front of an audience and are using this to their advantage at a creative level by recording new content. The uptick in not only creation but consumption from those unable to work and stuck at home means we have been working almost double what we did last year to keep up with the demand to push content.

Also, since many of the consumers are unable to pay for the premium services they have moved to free services, which carry a lower payout across most territories. My job is to find ways to bridge that already existing gap and economic pressure.

What has been the biggest influence on your work?
This city and its music community have been at the forefront of my career development and shaped many of my decisions. Despite it being so underserved, there is still a substantial group of musicians and artists that call Miami their home. I chose to create a label that specifically serves Miami bands because I know what kind of talent is here. I pride myself on being from Miami and defining my career as having helped this community is my ultimate goal because of how influential it has been in my life.

What are some well-known bands have you worked with? Which are some successful projects have you produced?
At InnerCat, we have worked on projects for artists like Gilberto Santa Rosa and Charlie Zaa as well as Albita (one I personally had a hand in) and Jose Luis Rodriguez “El Puma.”

Most notably, though, we have had our hands in working with artists and their labels to create foundations for exponential growth. Some examples of hands-on, ground-up, development are Farruko’s Carbon Fiber Music label where InnerCat helped them become one of the quintessential indie Latin hip hop labels in the world launching acts like Lary Over and Menor Menor.

We started off Tainy and NEON16 with the marketing of their keystone products leading up to and including “NEON16 Tapes – The Kids Who Grew Up On Reggaeton” featuring tracks from artists like Sean Paul, Kali Uchis and Dalex. We have also worked alongside Sony U.S. Latin to market products when they needed extremely detailed campaigns deployed.

How does your job connect back to your time at FIU?
During my time at FIU, I was just beginning to work in the music industry. I started at FIU in 2013-2014, which marked my first year at InnerCat Music Group and a very crazy start to my life outside of performing music. Every memory I have of FIU is connected to my time spent in the office, at the studio recording or spending time with friends talking about my day, which was consumed by music. It was at FIU that I realized I wanted to focus less on performing music and more on the creation and development of artists and music.

Were there any classes or professors that influenced where you are today?
Professor Karen Fuller was definitely a key influencer in my time at FIU. She took every part of what I was doing outside of school into consideration and always pushed her students to incorporate that into our studies. This really helped hyper-focus my goals.

A standout moment though is something Professor Jamie Ousley said to me after I said I didn’t think I had any more time to do something. He said, “Whatever you need to do to get better, start it now because you’ll never have more time than you currently do [in college].”

Right now is the time you have, and you don’t get more of it. So, capitalize and always progress.

How did your music business degree help you excel in what you’re doing today?
FIU’s music business program was pivotal in helping me understand what kind of path I wanted to take in my life when it came to music. Getting to familiarize myself with aspects of the industry in a controlled environment allowed me to experiment and take what I learned into the field knowing better what kind of outcomes I would expect. I didn’t waste any time wondering what I wanted to do, learning in those courses practically handed me my career goals. There really is no better way to kick-start your path.

What advice do you have for students who will be entering the workforce soon and are interested in a career in music business?
Finding that starting point in this business is not always easy. Finding exactly what you want to do in the industry can be even harder, but never stop looking and do not let it out of your sight when you find it.

You will not always move quickly, and you might feel like you fell off somewhere at times, but please just don’t give in to that part of you saying, “stop.” There is work, money to be made and success available in this industry to everyone.

Remembering that you are always within that grasp of whatever it is you want or need from this industry will keep you looking up and moving forward.

Happy brain chemicals: How they can make you a better professor or student

Contributing Writer — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 15:20:00 -0500

By Oren Hertz, clinical assistant professor at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.

Our brain regulates our behavior. Nothing we do is random. Every move, thought, mood, feeling and many other functions are directly related to our brain. As it turns out, there is a pattern related to the chemicals produced in our brain. In order for us to teach and learn at the highest brain capacity, we can follow certain actions to ignite positive energy that will in turn become a breeding ground for teaching and learning.

The following statement is going to be difficult to digest, especially for those who teach: We cannot teach anyone anything. We can, however, lead them to knowledge.

To break it down and simplify this statement, learning happens at will. It should be our goal as educators to activate the free will in learners. In order to create a positive and inviting teaching and learning space where learners are receptive to new knowledge and learn at their will. At the same time, students can boost their learning by following some of the same principles.

Both teaching professionals and students should consider the following scientific knowledge about the human brain and utilize the available actions to activate those happy brain chemicals prior to entering the classroom, regardless of delivery modality (face-to-face, online, remote, hybrid, etc.).

Oxytocin is known as the love hormone. It is activated in the human brain when we play with a pet, play with a baby, hold hands, hug, or pay someone else a compliment. A good example of activating the love hormone prior to entering the classroom would be paying someone a compliment. The compliment must be genuine and from the heart. In other words, it cannot be forced or fake.

Consider complimenting complete strangers. If you get a coffee before class and you noticed the barista’s hair color is unique, pay them a compliment. It costs you nothing, and it will activate oxytocin in your brain as well as the barista’s brain. A win-win situation.

Dopamine is the reward chemical. It is activated when we finish a task, eat nutritious food, celebrate accomplishments regardless of how big or small, and engage in self-care activities, such as getting a haircut, getting a manicure or a pedicure, trimming or styling a beard, etc. If possible, consider options to activate dopamine prior to starting a class. It could be as simple as eating a nutritious salad for lunch just before class time.

Endorphins are the painkiller brain chemical. Endorphins are activated when we laugh, exercise or eat dark chocolate. Consider aromatic scents in your office. This could benefit you as well as other visitors that show up in your office.

Laugh as much as you can. Laughter is good for us! Additionally, adopting an exercising routine will result in endorphin kicks, so exercise when you can and try to exercise regularly and before class time if possible.

Serotonin is the mood stabilizer. All humans have mood swings to a certain extent. In order to stabilize our mood throughout the day, try to engage in daily meditation, go for a run or jog, take a walk in nature, especially when the sun is out and it is not too hot. Swimming also activates serotonin. If possible, engage in a serotonin-activated activity prior to class, especially if you are feeling you are having a rough day, which we all do at times.

So before you dial into your next Zoom or walk into a classroom, don't worry, be happy. It could go a long way.

History alumnus awarded ACLS Emerging Voices Fellowship

Daniel Lederman — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500

Felix Jean-Louis, an alumnus of the FIU Department of History, was recently named an American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Emerging Voices Fellow, which helps fund scholars during the COVID-19 socioeconomic downturn.

During this time of financial and academic uncertainty, ACLS rolled out the Emerging Voices Fellowship to help amplify the voices of scholars affected by the pandemic. Both institutions and individuals are making difficult financial decisions that will ripple throughout academia.

The fellowship will allow recent Ph.D. grads in the humanities and related social sciences to take up one-year positions at select institutions in ACLS’s Research University Consortium, beginning in August and September of 2020. The program provides a $60,000 stipend plus benefits, as well as $5,000 in research/
professional development funding, childcare or eldercare costs, and access to ACLS professional development resources.

One of only 40 recipients, Jean-Louis is currently working at UNC Charlotte.

“I feel lucky I was chosen for this fellowship that was specifically crafted in terms of COVID-19,” said Jean-Louis, who began the fellowship in August. “Going into [the job market] before COVID-19, we knew that jobs were precarious.”

Jean-Louis' experience and expertise span various regions and cultures and are focused on internationalism. He was a fellow in the U.S. Department of Education’s inaugural Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship in 2014 with FIU's Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center. At FIU, he received his master’s in African and African Diaspora Studies and completed his doctoral thesis in 2014, titled “Between Harlem and Paris: Haitian Internationalism in the Interwar Period, 1919-1937.”

“I grew so much [at FIU],” said Jean-Louis. “The professors there really helped shape me from mere potential to the scholar I am today.”

Jean-Louis’ thesis highlighted the contributions of Haitians in mitigating the racial subjugation of people of African descent in the years between 1919 and 1937. In his dissertation, Jean-Louis argued that these Haitians were key participants in the effort to boost Pan-African solidarity and promote anti-colonialism in the United States and abroad.

President, provost name 2020 Top Scholars

David Drucker — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 11:00:00 -0500

President Mark B. Rosenberg and Provost Kenneth G. Furton have named the Top Scholars for 2020. The group comprises 35 faculty members who are excelling in research, creative work, publications and other areas.

“At FIU, we truly value the meaningful and life-changing work of our faculty. Our top scholars, through their knowledge and learning, are committed to the success of our students. We are grateful to them for sharing their talent and passion for teaching with our university community," Rosenberg said.

The honorees are normally treated to a ceremony at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential House, where they receive their Top Scholar pins. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the president and provost hosted a virtual gathering instead. Pins are being sent via the mail.

“It is a pleasure to recognize these exceptional faculty whose advances in research and student success have helped FIU make record jumps in national rankings in 2020, including numerous Top 50 rankings in recent months,” Furton said.

For the recipients, being named a Top Scholar is nice because it is praise from the top level of the university.

“You never know if all of this work, even for your own students, is being noticed by the people who are evaluating your productivity," says Professor Jesse Blanchard Ph.D. ’18, who was recognized for his work creating interactive experiences for his online students.

"I’m in the classroom, but the people that I see every day are not the people who are evaluating me. So it’s nice to get that acknowledgment coming back on the other side."

Associate Teaching Professor Katie Rothfield saw the award as an opportunity to reflect upon and appreciate her career at FIU. She came to the university as a full-time interior design professional more than a decade ago. Now, FIU Top Scholars recognizes Rothfield for the learning and professional engagement experiences she organized for students outside the classroom.

"As a busy professional, I think it is easy move forward in life and not look back at what you accomplished, and the process of applying for FIU’s Top Scholars helped me to see the outcomes I've created in a clear way. To be further acknowledged with the award was validation that my work made a difference for people," Rothfield said.

Here is the full list of 2020 Top Scholars.

Barry P. Rosen - Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Bilal El Zahab - College of Engineering and Computing

Jesse Blanchard - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Nathaniel Cadle - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Celine Leboeuf - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Elizabeth Cramer - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Cristina Palacios - Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work

Michelle Cumming - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Daniela Radu - College of Engineering and Computing

Danielle Clealand - Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs

Desmond Neil Leach - College of Communications, Architecture + the Arts

Remy Dou - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Ebru Ozer - College of Communications, Architecture + the Arts

Elizabeth Anderson - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Eugenio M. Rothe - Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Felix Martin - Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs

Michael Grafals - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Joelle Moreno - College of Law

Katie Rothfield - College of Communications, Architecture + the Arts

Lidu Yi - College of Communications, Architecture + the Arts

Louis Schulze - College of Law

Sarah Mathews - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Matthew Mirow - College of Law

Maureen A. Donnelly - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Melissa Baralt - Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs

Miguel Angel Cano - Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work

Raul Ruiz - College of Law

Rodolfo Rego - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Sat Gavassa Becerra - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Seema Pissaris - College of Business

Stav Fainshmidt - College of Business

Suzanne Koptur - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Adela Timmons - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Tomas Guilarte - Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work

Aza Weir-Soley - College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Four things to watch for on Election Day – and the days after

Contributing Writer — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 12:01:00 -0500

As part of an op-ed series, FIU News shares the expertise and diverse perspectives of members of the university community. In this piece professors Kevin Evans and Sara Moats of the Department of Politics and International Relations share their views on what we can expect to see on Election Day.

By Kevin Evans and Sara Moats

The 2020 election has been turbulent to say the least. Among the American electorate, there is anger, mistrust of the opposition party and a raw partisan divide that is seen on nearly every issue. As the polls close on Election Day, voters will watch the returns with excitement and anxiety.

Here are four things that we think are worth watching for on and after Election Day.

The Blue Shift

On election night, President Trump may take an early lead in key battle ground states. That lead will inevitably narrow and, possibly, flip as votes are counted late into the night and in subsequent days. This phenomenon is referred to as the blue shift.

The blue shift appears to happen because voters casting in-person ballots tend to lean slightly more Republican while voters using mail-in and provisional ballots tend to lean slightly more Democratic. In-person ballots are easier to process so they appear in tallies first (Republican leaning), while mail-in and provisional ballots (Democratic leaning) often take multiple steps in order to count. Some mail-in ballots may even arrive after Election Day and still be included in the final calculations depending upon individual state laws and various court rulings.

While political scientists are still teasing out why mail-in and provisional ballots lean more Democratic, a recent working paper by Li, Hyun and Alvarez (Caltech) reveals that the blue shift appears to be linked to the demographic characteristics of groups that are more likely to cast such ballots (young, nonwhite, voting for the first time, etc.).

Unfortunately, as Foley and Stewart note, all of this “raises the possibility that losing candidates and their supporters may increasingly, even if mistakenly, regard the vote count as ‘rigged’.” In fact, President Trump made this argument during the 2018 midterm elections when he tweeted: “The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!”

So, if there is no concession on election night, watch the blue shift and the resulting rhetoric coming from both campaigns and their supporters. The shift may provide a pathway for attempting to call the results of the election into question.

Too Close to Call

Not every state will call a winner of the presidential election on election night. State laws vary on when mail-in ballots are counted. Florida begins counting mail-in ballots prior to Election Day. Other states, among them Pennsylvania, begin counting ballots on Election Day. Additionally, state laws vary on when ballots must be postmarked and received to be counted. Expect election results that are too close to call in some states, particularly because of the increased use of main-in ballots due to the pandemic. If things are not decisive on election night, keep an eye on these states, especially if they are important for the Electoral College count. In this scenario, they will become a focal point of rhetorical and legal challenges.

The Balance of Power in Congress

We often focus our attention on the presidential election, but congressional races are important to consider on election night as well. The balance of power in Congress will impact the President’s ability to implement his agenda. A president going into his second term (Trump) or starting a new administration (Biden) will find their agenda stalled without unified control of government.

Election forecasters think that the Democrats are “all but certain to keep their majority” in the House of Representatives. As a result, Senate races will be much more interesting and consequential on election night. Most of the 35 seats up for election are uncompetitive, but there are a few that could alter the balance of power in the chamber. A party must hold 50 seats to control the chamber if the President is from the same party because the Vice President breaks a tie in the Senate. Republicans currently hold 53 seats and Democrats currently hold 47 (two of which are Independents that caucus with the Democrats). Republicans are likely to gain a seat in Alabama with incumbent Sen. Doug Jones (D) likely to lose to his challenger Tommy Tuberville (R). However, there are a number of seats currently held by incumbent Republicans that appear to be on shaky ground when looking at state-level polls and other fundamentals, these include races in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Of course, not all of these seats will flip, but unified government is within the realm of possibility for a potential Biden administration, while divided government is likely to continue if President Trump is re-elected.

Mandates

As Robert Dahl stated in his article “Myth of the Presidential Mandate,” no president nor any other elected leader “is uniquely privileged to say what an election means – nor to claim that the election has conferred on the president a mandate to enact the particular policies the president supports.” Nonetheless, that will not stop them from trying.

Citizens will vote for any number of reasons for Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Regardless, the winner and his supporters will seek to bring meaning to the election by framing the results as a victory for the candidate's policy vision. If most of the votes for Joe Biden are simply cast as a repudiation of President Trump, does that give a hypothetical Biden administration a “mandate” to enact the policies that he has advocated? If President Trump wins, how are we to understand what the voters are saying?

Ultimately, the winners will tell us what it all means, but they will be wrong. The outcome is an aggregation of millions of individual decisions (some about economics, some about race, some about group interests, some about single issues, etc.). In the end, all mandates are politically constructed. Watch closely to see how the winner and his supporters frame the results to try and bring the power of the “popular will” to the support of their agenda.

The 2020 election has produced rhetoric that has inflamed the electorate and caused many to question the electoral process. During these times of anger and uncertainty, it is important to note the strength and resiliency of our democratic institutions. We rely upon our constitutional procedures to guide us through any contention that may arise in the days after the election. In the coming days, we will witness American democracy in action.

FIU Theatre's Pipeline takes the virtual stage

Tatianna Basanta — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 11:30:00 -0500

When the world closed down due to COVID-19, it seemed that theatre productions would be a thing of the past. But what are theatre artists if not resilient? Since March, FIU Theatre has deftly stuck to the time-honored saying “the show must go on.” So much in fact, that FIU Theatre’s production of Pipeline by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Dominique Morisseau kicks off this week and has been remarkably adapted to fit the Zoom screen.

Pipeline tells the story of Nya, a black, inner-city high school teacher who sends her son, Omari, to a private boarding school, desperate to give him opportunities her own students will never have. In this modern-day tale, director Marshall Jones III and the ensemble cast comprised of six FIU Theatre students – Ana Maria Gorayeb, Cameron Holder, Dayron Leon, Priscilla Montano, Emily Taylor-Madrid and Warren Welds – take a deep look into a family trying to connect with each other and overcome a system that is rigged against them.

Emily Taylor-Madrid, Priscilla Montaño

“I was really excited to be cast in this production because it doesn’t tell the stereotypical ‘black’ story,” says Leon, who is playing the role of Omari. “It’s about a kid whose parents have tried their best to give him a better life, but he still has to deal with the ‘black’ narrative. Even though things like segregation and more obvious signs of racism aren’t acutely present, there are still these underlying rules and signs that are virtually doing the same thing.”

So, just how does FIU Theatre make a production of this magnitude, and with such a timely message, work in the virtual realm?

Instead of a live table read, the cast and crew of Pipeline are pre-recording the production on Zoom for streaming and are adding all the bells and whistles a live theatre production would entail, among them lighting, sets and costumes that were carefully chosen to create the atmosphere envisioned by the story., with design students working on bringing all of those scenic elements to life in the zoom box.

“When researching costume ideas for Pipeline, I was most inspired by the contrast of colors and how they would stand out in the play’s ‘subtle’ suggestion of some schools being bleak and like a prison,” says costume designer Glennys Jean. “So, my vision was to emphasize each character’s personality traits through the use of hues of color. Like how we as humans react emotionally to everyday exposure to colors, the characters of Pipeline remind me of a family whose actions/behaviors always seem to bounce off of each other.”

Ana Maria Gorayeb, Cameron Holder, Priscilla Montaño

All of the sets, materials and equipment were chosen to bring cohesion and allow the audience to connect more deeply with the story and its characters without the presence of the actual stage. In keeping with all Panther Protecting Panthers safety protocols, packages were put together for actors that included costumes, props and scenic and lighting suggestions. The students then used these to create their character’s environment at home.

“We want to create a climate and culture that allows the artists to excel and dive deeply into their characters, so they can bring them to life in a really meaningful way,” says Jones.

Priscilla Montaño, Dayron Leon

Leon says he can feel himself growing from the experience of acting in a virtual performance.

“Because it is such a different medium, I feel like I have the opportunity to connect more,” he adds. “When you have a live production, the director tells you where to move, stand, exit, etc., and the production can spend a lot of time with the director almost acting as a traffic cop. Here though, it’s all about the acting. The audience will see our background and our costumes, but what’s going to make this interesting and hold the audience is just the acting. So, I feel like there’s so much to take away from this and I think FIU Theatre has done a great job of allowing us to learn from it.”

Will Omari be able to rise above the stereotypes and stigmas being forced on him? Find out at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, when Pipeline streams free on ShowTix4U. Free tickets should be reserved in advance. Donations will also be collected at checkout and proceeds will benefit FIUStrong.

U.S. Department of State campaign on democracy recognizes FIU hospitality professor and Fulbright Scholar's public service work on COVID-19

Ivonne Yee-Amor — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 11:00:00 -0500

A professor in the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is being recognized for public service work on democracy and media literacy leading up to Election Day 2020.

Carolin Lusby received a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund in April to address media literacy education and community resilience, topics of increasing importance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lusby's two-part project includes an online module aimed at increasing well-being and resilience in times of crisis, and a mock trial that teaches democratic principles such as media literacy, decision making and provides information on COVID-19.

The mock trial is currently being used at Georgetown University Law School, and later will be used at the University of Sao Paulo, the World Leisure Center of Excellence in Sao Paulo and in high schools and communities across the world.

She worked with partners in Brazil, where she served as a Fulbright Scholar for the 2019/2020 year, and Washington, D.C., to develop a program to fight increasing feelings of despair, anxiety and depression due to the crisis. Using mock trial as a learner-centered approach, the project teaches how to interpret information, evaluate sources and critically analyze a best course of action.

“Receiving the grant was an honor, but to see students and educators around the world using my ideas and the program to strengthen civic society and democracy is amazing,” said Lusby, who leads the Chaplin School’s tourism program and actively conducts research on international tourism issues.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Lusby worked with several research groups at the University of Sao Paulo to increase well-being and resilience through community-based tourism. Part of that included working one-on-one with quilombo settlements, marginalized communities founded by fugitive slaves in Brazil. Selected as a Young Leaders of the Americas last year, she advocated for members of the quilombo, who face a lack of education and integration into society.

Since April, the U.S. Department of State, through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, has funded more than 25 projects that address the current global health crisis in cities and towns across the United States and virtually with international partners in communities around the world. Alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs submitted proposals for public service projects that help build community resilience.

Exchange alumni are contributing in meaningful ways by sharing media literacy best practices that help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, increasing access to virtual and at-home education for youth and their families, providing artistic and creative outlets for local and global audiences, and responding to other community needs.

“We are thrilled that our U.S. alumni are using the skills and knowledge they gained during their exchange programs overseas to join the worldwide effort against COVID-19,” said Marie Royce, assistant secretary of state for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. “These Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund public service projects uplift communities and provide them with resources and education needed to fight the pandemic.”

Sing for Hope Piano uplifts, engages FIU early voters

Tatianna Basanta — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400

As early voting continues in Florida, in what many argue to be one of the most critical elections in a generation, FIU School of Music has collaborated with Sing for Hope Pianos to help get out the vote.

Sing for Hope Pianos placed one of its iconic artist-designed pianos near FIU’s early voting site to inspire voter engagement, bring joy and create community through the arts.

Sing for Hope Pianos is a community initiative that places custom pianos in parks, public spaces, refugee camps and transit hubs in what is the country’s largest recurring public art project. This year, due to COVID-19, instead of the annual public art installation in New York City, Sing for Hope Pianos is creating vibrant, pop-up events around the country that encourage voter registration and concerts for frontline workers and isolated patients.

FIU School of Music students and faculty artists are giving pop-up performances on the piano as many students, faculty, staff and community members patiently wait in line to cast their ballots during the last weekend of early voting.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to provide arts advocacy and the power of music,” says Karen S. Fuller Veloz, director the School of Music.

The piano was designed and hand-painted by acclaimed Cuban-American artist Alexis Mendoza. When early voting is over, the piano will be donated to FIU’s School of Music where students will be able to enjoy, learn and practice on it for many years to come.

Sing for Hope co-founder Camille Zamora says, “The Sing for Hope Pianos aim to democratize the arts. Like voting, they speak to our belief that everyone has a voice and every voice should be lifted. Music helps us mobilize. It powers social movements and that’s why it’s so vital right now. It’s one of the few things big enough to connect us across division and to hold both our struggle and our hope.”

The piano will remain near FIU’s Student Academic Success Center (SASC) through Nov.1 to continue inspiring and entertaining voters.

To learn more about Sing for Hope and its Sing for Hope Pianos initiative, visit singforhope.org.

Fear of predators shapes entire ecosystems

Angela Nicoletti — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:11:00 -0400

It doesn’t take much for a predator to terrify their prey. No tricks. No treats. Just good old-fashioned fear of being eaten.

A predator could just be exploring and wandering around — perhaps not even in the mood for its next meal. But prey don’t care about a predator’s intent — they know what could happen and that’s enough. That fear is a good thing for not only the prey but also for maintaining healthy, balanced ecosystems.

FIU marine ecologist Mike Heithaus and University of Washington ecologist Aaron Wirsing collaborated with colleagues from Yale, University of Illinois at Chicago and more to examine the “ecology of fear” — or the ripple effect that predators have on the behavior of prey. They wanted to better understand the different stages of predator-prey interactions that don’t necessarily end with someone getting eaten.

They found examples from across the animal kingdom to understand when fear of predators matter most to their prey and ecosystems. In most casess, when predators are present, prey move to areas that give them a better chance of escape. For example, mule deer move to higher-elevation places to avoid grey wolves. Grasshoppers avoid areas where spiders sit and wait. Gerbils don't forage for as long when hungry barn owls are actively hunting.

Heithaus, who is also dean of the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, and Wirsing also looked at an example from their own research.

They have conducted one of the world’s most in-depth studies on sharks — answering critical questions about how sharks live and function, as well as how they help maintain healthy populations of other animals and even ocean plants. In Shark Bay, Australia, dolphins, dugongs, green turtles, sea snakes, pied cormorants and fish are all on the menu for tiger sharks. When they enter the bay, tiger sharks head to the shallower waters where prey spend time. And the other animals quickly scatter and move to safer areas where they can hide or escape.

By taking a closer look at these subtle shifts in movement and changes in behavior, scientists can better predict when a loss of a predator's fear factor could cause dramatic changes in the environment.

The review was recently published in Ecology Letters.

October 2020 in photos: Homecoming, research and Roary get his flu shot

David Drucker — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Here are some of our favorite moments from October, as captured by FIU photographer Margi Rentis.

It was a Homecoming unlike any other. FIU News describes what the vibe was like at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Oct. 10.

Well that's one way to start off a season!@FIUFootball takes their first touch of the season ALL THE WAY to the 🏠

WATCH > https://t.co/uuGblAH6sk pic.twitter.com/re8l1L2YmZ
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) September 26, 2020

The first play of FIU's 2020 football season was a touchdown. Sophomore Lexington "Flex" Joseph, a Miami native, returned the opening kick for more than 100 yards.

For more on Panthers football, check out FIUsports.com. The team returns to campus for the Homecoming game vs. Middle Tennessee on Oct. 10.

Tejera, 23, reached out to FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg over the summer to share the story of how he met Garcia, 23, in GL. Check out the full story behind the proposal here.

Check out our full story on the Panthers Protecting Panthers ambassadors here.

For more photos and interviews from Move-in Day, check out our full story.

As summer goes by and fall comes into view, the university celebrates its grads while preparing for the future. FIU welcomed hundreds of soon-to-be grads–official commencement ceremonies take place online on August 2–for the first-ever commencement caravan on campus. The bookstore at FIU also added a dose of eye candy this month with a new mural painted by a student. Here are some of our favorite moments from July, as captured by FIU photographers Margi Rentis and Lucy Logan.

In lieu of a traditional graduation, summer grads received a week of celebrations. Check out what the university did for them here.

For more on Nelson's journey to the university, check out our full story.

For more information regarding the Fall, check out the university's coronavirus updates page.

My virtual internship with the Department of State

Yenisleidy Simon Mengana — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 14:20:00 -0400

Name: Sabrina Pecorelli

Hometown: Florence, Italy

Major: International relations, political science, certificate in Middle Eastern studies. Global Learning Medallion student.

Where are you interning? Bureau of Oceans and International, Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the Department of State

What is your title? Virtual student federal Service intern, Latin America team leader

How did you get your internship?

I was enrolled in FIU’s Diplomacy Lab, which is an Honors course that conducts research in partnership with the Department of State. My group was tasked with researching the human rights violations in the extractive industries of Latin America, and our project focused on a Canadian gold mine in Argentina called Veladero. Our supervisor and liaison to the State Department was a retired Foreign Service Officer who currently works at the Bureau of Oceans and International, Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

When Diplomacy Lab finished and the spring semester ended, she offered me a chance to continue working with her on other research during the summer. So, I applied to the Virtual Student Federal Service, and I got accepted into her project.

What were you doing there?

During the summer when I was an active intern, my country of focus was Guatemala, and I was specifically looking at the violence toward environmental defenders and indigenous leaders. I compiled an in-depth analysis of such violence and created a 150 slide PowerPoint presentation that I will present to the American embassy in Guatemala City in November.

During the fall semester, although my internship period technically ended, I was asked to remain in my position as Latin America team leader and supervise incoming interns. I was then assigned four new interns to mentor, and I am currently guiding them on the research process and helping them create their own in-depth case studies. I am also still working on the Guatemala project and hope to present it to the embassy in the coming weeks.

Tell us more about your project?

I looked at specific incidents of violence in Guatemala across different sectors of industry, including mining, hydroelectric and palm oil. The mining sector was the most violent, with more than 20 killings of environmental defenders in the last 5 years, while hydropower followed closely with approximately 12. I also analyzed the causes and factors behind the violence, providing key takeaways and policy recommendations to both the U.S. embassy in Guatemala and the Guatemalan government.

How does your internship connect back to your coursework?

While the internship does not directly correlate with my coursework, it helped me understand larger trends and patterns in a country’s international and domestic affairs, which I am now applying to my classes. The internship was on Latin America with a heavy focus on Guatemala, but my certificate and field of study is the Middle East, and while these are very different areas of the world, it was interesting to see how they operate.

Outside the classroom, my involvement in the Global Learning Medallion had prepared me for the kind of broad-minded thinking that was required in the internship. I felt ready for the challenges and the research and was able to excel because of my global learning experience.

What is the coolest thing about your internship or that has happened during your internship?

At the end of the internship, all of the interns got the chance to meet with Jonathan Moore, the acting assistant secretary of the Bureau of Oceans and International, Environmental and Scientific Affairs. We had an hour-long Zoom meeting with him where we got to ask him questions and learn more about his experience in foreign service. He was incredibly friendly and really talkative; he told us all about his past foreign service officer tours in Bosnia and Namibia. It was really interesting to learn about his career and how he got to be acting assistant secretary.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience?

While I have enjoyed every part of this internship—from researching such important issues to meeting so many diverse people and growing in a leadership position—the thing I enjoyed most is that it was virtual. In the time of a global pandemic when every shred of normalcy had been stripped from our lives, it was comforting to have an opportunity to connect with others and to do some meaningful work. The virtual internship allowed me to forget about the state of the world for a little while; it gave me something to do and helped me keep my mind busy while also staying safe in the comfort of my home. I loved being able to connect with others interns across the country and talk about our experiences.

What have you learned about yourself?

I learned that I can be a great leader. I was pushed into this major leadership position without much of a choice; my classmates nominated me as team leader during Diplomacy Lab and when we transitioned into the VSFS internship, our supervisor asked me to remain as team leader because she thought I had done a great job. I mainly managed all four Latin America interns, and I was in charge of coordinating with the Asia team and the Africa team. I think I did really well mainly with communication between the interns and with our superiors. I hosted biweekly meetings, was in charge of deadline and due dates, coordinated the group chat, and sent notes after every meeting. I learned that I can be a great leader, and I will definitely keep aiming for leadership positions in future internships.

What advice do you have for those beginning the internship process?

My advice is to apply for everything! Do not overlook the smaller opportunities or the ones that do not exactly fit your career choice. Almost any internship is better than no internship. You will still gain valuable interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills, which will help in the future.

Even though this internship was not in the same field that I want to work in, I still learned so much and made so many amazing connections. The quality of my research has improved immensely, and I definitely feel more comfortable and confident for any future position.

How has the position increased your professional confidence?

This internship has skyrocketed my professional confidence. First, it’s a really strong entry on my resume that always gets people interested so I feel confident when I apply to other opportunities. Second, I feel ready for almost any other internship or position that I am applying to. I gained such valuable research skills and professional experience that I feel very confident I will excel in any future opportunities.

How has the internship expanded your professional network?

During the internship, I made a lot of connections within the Department of State, which is where I want to work in the future. My supervisor is helping me get an internship for the spring semester in Washington, D.C., as well as helping me find work after graduation. She connected me with other foreign service officers who've helped me on applications for the State Department. I also got a letter of recommendation from Jonathan Moore, the acting assistant secretary of the Bureau of Oceans and International, Environmental and Scientific Affairs. So overall, my professional network expanded a lot because of this internship, and it’s been helping me grow and find new opportunities.

Researchers look to control organ function through new computational model

Diana Hernandez-Alende — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400

The human body’s nervous system is complex. Consisting of the brain, spinal cord and sensory organs, the nervous system acts as the communicator of the body, receiving information, deciding what information to deliver and sending messages to organs to take action. At times, these messages may not be delivered properly due to damaged nerves, causing organ dysfunction.

Understanding nerve activity is something Zachary Danziger, assistant professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the College of Engineering & Computing, has been researching for years. Focusing on the nerves located in the urinary tract, Danziger is looking to improve the efficiency of stimulation technology to restore bladder function and ultimately improve people’s lives.

Through the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC) program, Danziger and researchers from other institutions across the nation have received more than $1 million in funds. Their goal is to create a computational model using machine learning that can guide the development of new therapeutic electrical signal stimulations and effectively identify a nerve that can control the bladder.

Bladder dysfunction, or urinary incontinence, is more common than most think. It affects about 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men. It is also seen more often in women over the age of 50 or women who’ve recently given birth.

“The problem with the nervous system is that it is immensely complicated. Current experiments are more of a trial and error. We want to find a way to be more efficient and reduce animal testing,” said Danziger, principal investigator on the project. “Take, for example, mechanical engineering. Engineers don’t build multiple buildings and see which one stands. We want to be able to know exactly which nerve to use to get an organ to do what we want.”

Danziger adds that the mathematics of the nervous system doesn’t make it any easier.

“We don’t have these fundamental principles to look to. The nervous system is difficult to predict because of its many complex interactions. If we target a specific nerve, we don’t know what else can happen or how other nerves might react.”

The multi-institutional team is using machine learning to connect individual mathematical equations developed by scientists. During the first year of the research, the team will take an inventory of existing mathematical equations that link to physiology and the lower urinary tract system.

Taking these equations and developing algorithms to allow computers to predict how the lower urinary tract system will function when external stimulation is introduced will be managed by Giovanna Guidoboni, professor of electrical engineering and computer science and professor of mathematics at the University of Missouri. Professors of electrical and computer engineering Deniz Erdogmus and Sumientra Rampersad from Northeastern University will contribute machine learning and computational modeling expertise to the joint effort.

“The possibility to stimulate the neurological system from the outside would allow a person to regain control of that activity, which would really improve the quality of life for many people. That comes after you gain the understanding of what to do. Our project is aimed at trying to provide this understanding,” said Guidoboni.

At the end of the two years, the team will have developed a new modeling framework—which, through biophysics models and machine learning, can emulate an entire organ system.

The interdisciplinary team is composed of mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers and experimentalists from various institutions: Danziger at FIU; Guidoboni from the University of Missouri; Erdogmus and Rampersad from Northeastern University; John Yin, professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Elie Alhajjar at the United States Military Academy.

All involved met virtually through NIH’s 2020 SPARC Ideas Lab, a four-day conference inviting individuals to bring their innovative ideas to the table when it comes to transforming the future of bioelectronic medicine.

“An exciting and unprecedented feature is that our collaboration was conceived and is being carried out entirely online,” said Yin. “We are part of a big experiment that points toward the future of collaborative science and engineering.”

Danziger is the director of FIU’s Applied Neural Interfaces Lab and is recruiting graduate students and post-doctoral researchers to participate in the research. In the near future, there may be a student exchange opportunity among all institutions involved in the project.

She saw a scary shark movie as a little girl — now she studies sharks up close

Contributing Writer — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:33:00 -0400

By Catherine Guinovart
Angela Nicoletti and Christine Calvo contributed to this story.

Deep Blue Sea may not be the most well-known horror film about sharks. But, it’s still pretty iconic. (Spoiler alert: Samuel L. Jackson gets devoured by a shark while delivering a speech about teamwork and unity!)

Instead of developing a shark phobia after watching this movie as a child, Laura Garcia Barcia was fascinated by the on-screen scientists.

Today, Garcia Barcia is a Ph.D. candidate in FIU’s Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab. She’s not trying to create more intelligent mutant sharks in a search for the cure to Alzheimer’s Disease like in Deep Blue Sea. But, under the guidance of FIU marine scientist Demian Chapman, she’s examining the levels of toxic chemicals, like mercury, found in sharks and other large marine animals like whales or giant squid.

Garcia Barcia grew up in Castellar del Vallès in Spain. Forests covered her small village, which was about one hour away from the coastline of Barcelona.

It was a visit to the L’Oceanographic in Valencia — the largest aquarium in Europe — that brought the ocean to her. She saw animals she’d never seen before. Seahorses. Beluga whales. Shark species only found all over the world. She was captivated. And this is where her love for marine animals truly began.

Garcia Barcia came to FIU as an undergraduate study abroad student from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She took several marine biology electives that were not offered back home. She worked in the Heithaus Lab surveying bull sharks in the Everglades, as well as studying the foraging ecology of green sea turtles in the Caribbean. By her senior year, she was hooked.

These experiences made her realize what she perhaps knew all along — she wanted to be a scientist and spend her life studying large marine predators. Instead of returning home to Spain, Garcia Barcia decided to stay and pursue her Ph.D. at FIU.

Garcia Barcia has already conducted groundbreaking research. Working with Chapman and a collaborative team of researchers from the United States and Hong Kong, she recently published a study that found dangerously high levels of toxic mercury in shark fins sold in Asian markets.

The Hong Kong Center for Food Safety has been made aware of the study and are working to enhance surveillance of fins on the market. Garcia Barcia also plans to use the findings to launch educational campaigns in Hong Kong and China to drive down demand for shark fins.

These days, Garcia Barcia spends most of her time in the lab.

If she’s running samples, she will work 10 to 12-hour days. When she’s not in the lab, she’s writing grants and proposals. Despite her busy schedule, she makes time for what she loves. And that’s mentoring students.

To date, she’s worked with three FIU undergraduate students — Juana Argiró, Yaniela Lorenzo and Tatyana Brewer-Tinsley.

We are happy Tatyana is part of our lab working with @lauragbarcia! https://t.co/VTsJsK5e6Q
— Predator Ecology & Conservation Lab (@peclabfiu) October 19, 2020

“I think FIU is just a great place to boost representation of underrepresented groups in science simply because of the diverse student group we have,” Garcia Barcia said. “I do everything I can to help them find opportunities, grants and scholarships, and also meet with them regularly to discuss their career goals.”

To read the rest of the story, please click here.

Shark fins recently sampled from markets in China and Hong Kong contained dangerously high levels of mercury.

FIU marine biology Ph.D. student Laura Garcia Barcia — collaborating with a team from the United States and Hong Kong — conducted the first study measuring levels of toxic mercury in shark fins sold in Asian markets. The team found the samples all had staggeringly high amounts of mercury that are dangerous to human health — far surpassing guidelines and legal limits set by the Hong Kong Center for Food Safety.

“The results were astonishing,” Garcia Barcia said. “The mercury levels are super high and, on average, 6 to 10 times higher than what a safe level of mercury would be considered in Hong Kong.”

The team examined 267 shark fin trimmings from the nine of the most common shark species in the fin trade, testing each one for levels of total mercury and methyl-mercury — the organic, highly toxic form of mercury. The concentrations in each shark fin sampled for this study exceeded the maximum legal limit in Hong Kong of 0.5 parts per million.

The highest of 55.52 parts per million came from a great hammerhead. The lowest level found in the fins sampled was 0.02 parts per million from a blue shark — the most common species found in the trade.

While it’s still unclear whether high levels of mercury impact sharks, the impacts on humans are well-known. Prolonged exposure to mercury can lead to brain and central nervous system damage. It can also interfere with fetal cognitive development.

Yong Cai, co-author of the study and chair of FIU’s Chemistry and Biochemistry department, points out that fish species containing mercury higher than one part per million are often listed as “Choices to Avoid” by the Food and Drug Administration. Mercury concentrations at 50 parts per million is considered extremely dangerous.

FIU marine scientist Demian Chapman, co-author of the study, said exceeding these limits isn’t just a health concern — it’s actually illegal. The Hong Kong Food Adulteration Legislation states anyone who sells a food product with levels above the legal limit can face fines and criminal charges.

The findings from this study will be used to launch educational campaigns which, the scientists hope, will help reduce demand for shark fins. According to FIU research, around 100 million sharks are killed every year. They are being illegally fished and their fins and meat illegally traded and nearly one-third of the shark species in the global fin trade are at risk of extinction. Other campaigns have focused on the role sharks have in maintaining healthy oceans, but that message hasn’t resonated with the older demographics in Hong Kong and China who purchase them.

“Not every human cares about eating an animal that’s endangered. But every human is worried about their health,” Chapman said. “That could be a very powerful driver of change in the future.”

The research was supported by Betsy & Peter Snow and the FIU Institute of Environment. The findings were published in Marine Pollution Bulletin.

FIU has been ranked No. 9 in the world for positive impact on life below water by The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The university ranked third in the United States and is the only institution in the state of Florida to make the list.

5 habits of successful online students

Monica Smith — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 09:15:00 -0400

1. Carve out time to study every day

2. Use the resources offered

3. Take your computer everywhere

“Online learning fits my lifestyle. I worked on my course anywhere I went. I took my coursework with me. It’s the flexibility aspect of online learning that helped my life,” she explained.

4. Stay connected with classmates

5. Rewind, hit play, stay inspired

Whether you’re just starting out or enrolling in new online courses, Perez pointed out that it is important to stay inspired and focus on what matters.

“My family is what inspires me to get ahead,” he declared.

A growing number of adult learners choose to pursue their degrees completely online.

For FIU, with close to 9,000 online-only graduates, the trend is reaching even higher numbers. According to several alumni, online learning was a personal preference. For others, it was a necessity.

1. Portable program

Jason Lafferty

FIU alumnus Jason Lafferty, who graduated in 2013, switched from face-to-face courses to online learning early on because he anticipated a career change that would take him away from Miami.

“While pursuing my master’s degree, I received an opportunity to start a culinary school, in Mobile, Alabama,” he says. “FIU’s online master’s in hospitality management allowed me to have access to the same world-class faculty teaching face to face. That’s what attracted me to the program.”

Lafferty acknowledges that online learning made things easier for his transition and offered him the ability to take the position and his studies with him.

2. Life balance

Vedner Guerrier

Likewise, Vedner Guerrier, who graduated in 2015, needed portability. He is now the vice president of oncology services for Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, FL, and says he returned to school to earn his degree online to advance his career. He chose to pursue the health care MBA completely online because of FIU’s reputation, but most of all because it worked with his busy schedule.

“With my online program, I didn’t have to put my career on the sideline. It had minimal impact on my daily nine-to-five work schedule. You don’t want to sacrifice your career for higher education, and with FIU Online, I didn’t have to,” he says.

3. Brand recognition

Alexander Melcon

Alexander Melcon, who graduated in 2015, pursued his engineering management master’s degree fully online. He chose his program because it is well-known in the Miami Area.

“There’s recognition in South Florida. Everyone knows FIU; it’s respected. I also chose FIU’s online program because of this brand recognition.”

While interviewing, Melcon found that people were complimentary when they saw he graduated from FIU. Frequently, he found that his interviewers happened to be FIU alumni as well.

“A degree from FIU in South Florida has that brand recognition and it validates their degree, too,” says Melcon.

4. Accelerated program

Giselle Martinez

Giselle Martinez, who graduated in 2015, chose online learning because she wanted to complete her education fast. Her graduate degree in human resource management took just a year, but she offers a warning about being disciplined.

“As long as you have the time-management piece, I’d recommend online learning. There’s a level of discipline that’s needed,” she offers. “The accelerated timeline stood out for me. I was really motivated, and I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable. It really forced me to buckle up and complete my degree in a 12-month window.”

5. Flexibility

Felix Virto

Felix Virto, who graduated in 2018, chose online learning for its flexibility. At the time, he says, he had a family emergency, and the only way to keep his studies going in the engineering management master’s degree program was through online learning.

“I was trying to help my mother mend her medical situation and was able to balance my life on my schedule. Online learning gave me immense flexibility,” he recalls. “Choosing the online program afforded me the ability to meet my responsibilities with respect to my career and my personal life, as well.”

With more than 100-plus degree programs offered 100 percent online, FIU has invested heavily to expand its academic offerings to meet student and industry needs. Whether the reason is for flexibility or to continue working without career interruption or because of brand recognition, FIU’s online degree programs offer access to education for students anywhere, at any time.

1. Use online classes to graduate on time.

Hassan Hussein

2. Manage your time to be successful.

Eloy Perez

Vedner Guerrier

3. Take advantage of all resources offered online.

Jason Lafferty

4. Force yourself to be engaged.

John Mulrey

5. Maximum effort means maximum learning.

Theodore Moore

6. Accelerated online degree programs are available.

Karina Constantine

“People also think it’s harder online, but that’s because it does require a measure of discipline and commitment. If you stay disciplined and you follow instruction, you can do it,” said

7. Reach out when you have questions.

Delaney Verger

FIU has been working hard to prepare for COVID-19. In an abundance of caution, and with the health and safety of its students and faculty in mind, the university has transitioned face-to-face classes online, effective Thursday, March 12, through at least April 4, said President Mark B. Rosenberg in a university-wide update.

For those who have never enrolled in an online course with FIU, there are a few tips to keep in mind. The most common things online learners encounter include how to manage time and technology questions. Beyond these areas, the following list compiles eight things you need to know to make your performance online as successful as it can be.

1. Calendar

It doesn’t matter if you’re old-school and prefer a paper agenda or an online native and like to set digital reminders. The idea is simply to ensure you know what’s coming and how long you have to prepare for it. Canvas, the platform used to access courses, offers a user-friendly calendar and many online learners find it convenient.

2. Canvas app

Canvas can also be set up to send push notifications and can be accessed with an easy-to-use mobile app, which makes all classes truly portable. Send emails, check assignments and, if needed, draft a discussion post from your phone.

3. Microsoft tools

One of the perks of being an FIU student is free access to the technology you need to stay on track. Students can install Microsoft Office on a total of up to five personal computers and 10 mobile devices. To download your free copy, visit http://freeoffice.fiu.edu and log in with your FIU username and password.

4. Zoom

FIU encourages the use of Zoom, the university’s official web conferencing application for real-time course lectures, meetings and tutoring. With Zoom, students can meet with group members for projects and assignments, work on homework with classmates, record a presentation, schedule online tutoring, or host a meeting for a club or organization. All currently enrolled FIU students are eligible to access Zoom. To create a Zoom account, visit https://fiu.zoom.us and log in with your FIU username and password.

5. Online grammar software

Avoid losing points for misspellings and grammar! Many free grammar apps exist to help make sure your text is error-free. Consider adding one to your device to help you with your postings and to review your papers.

6. Time issues

While online programs give you the flexibility to study on your own time, it is important to dedicate time each week to focus and work on required readings, assignments and discussions. Create a routine and stick to it.

Another thing to consider with online courses is that they are portable, but the FIU time zone is not. While university community travel restrictions are in place because of COVID-19, if you must travel, keep in mind that your coursework deadlines are based on Miami, FL, time (EST), so you do not miss assignment deadlines.

Also, when you first enroll, scan your syllabus and make note of major assignments. Think about obligations coming up and if there might be a conflict. For example, many working business students, such as those who work in accounting, may be busier during tax season. Be sure to plan accordingly.

Finally, if you have time concerns, contact your instructor. They understand that life may get in the way and may be able to align deadlines or provide you with options based on your personal situation.

7. Netiquette

Netiquette includes the unspoken rules and norms practiced when interacting with others through the internet so that communication is considerate and respectful. Be mindful of what you post and who will see your postings.

8. LMS or internet down

Students can receive technical support 24/7 if they have trouble with Canvas. In preparation for transitioning face-to-face courses online, FIU Online has added support staff to assist students and faculty. Visit https://canvas.fiu.edu/support/ if you need assistance. FIU Online representatives will help navigate specific concerns and document issues in case special arrangements are needed. Also, if your area has Wi-Fi connectivity issues, consider back-up plans.

There are many ways to prepare for your online experience with FIU. While no two online experiences are alike, with a little preparation, your experience can be seamless.

President Rosenberg condemns FIU student's video

Contributing Writer — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 08:45:00 -0400

President Mark B. Rosenberg issued a video statement last night.

Prominent Black leaders from policy, business sectors meet with students in D.C.

Contributing Writer — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400

By Eric Feldman

The Talent Lab at FIU in Washington, D.C. and the Black Student Union (BSU) recently collaborated on their third annual Fly-In seminar.

While prior iterations have honed in on specific policy themes, including mental health and criminal justice, BSU President Artrice Shepherd approached FIU in DC with a different vision for this virtual edition: meeting the nation’s prominent Black leaders from across policy and business sectors, and examining what generational barriers exist to Black leadership in both policy and business.

"In May of 2020 the racial unrest in our country had reached a boiling point. However, from that we saw a resurgence of Black leaders speaking up and speaking out about injustices. We saw Black entrepreneurship in a way that we have never seen before,” said Shepherd. “We're shaping Black leaders by exposing them to the ones that are leading us now because eventually our Black students will become those leaders shaping the next generation.”

The seminar kicked off with an open-to-the public executive leadership session, featuring C-suite leaders of some of the most influential organizations in town: Tonya Veasey, president & CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Gloria Blackwell, senior vice president of AAUW; and Angela Sailor, vice president of the Heritage Foundation.

Fly-In participant Amber Robinson, an English and economics major, appreciated the candid and inspiring nature of the conversation.

“This session fostered a sense of genuine optimism and discipline. I feel beyond grateful to have so much unfiltered knowledge bestowed upon me. Ultimately, the panelists reminded me that there is much more growth to be had in pursuit of my purpose,” said Robinson.

This session highlighted the reach of the university’s alumni network in D.C. During the event, Andrea Martinez and Helena Ramirez Richardson, alumni at AAUW and Heritage respectively, were recognized; the event was moderated by Charlyn Stanberry, chief of staff for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

The seminar was the perfect opportunity to incorporate FIU’s current Equity Action Initiative (EAI) into the larger context of higher education policy’s role in fostering Black leaders. El pagnier “EK” Hudson—FIU’s senior vice president for Human Resources and vice provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—led a discussion with policy experts from the Association of Public and Land-grant universities, the Education Trust and the Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights.

Every FIU in DC Fly-In Seminar covers how to engage in policy advocacy and prepares students for D.C.-based careers and internships. Thursday morning’s “Hill visits” with the offices of Representative Frederica Wilson and Senator Elizabeth Warren were the first time that many of the group had engaged with congressional staffers. The interactions covered substantial policy topics, including the role of the Federal Reserve in promoting racial economic equity and the newly-formed U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, championed by Representative Wilson and Senator Marco Rubio. Each visit closed with information about congressional internships, which is now a goal for several participants.

“The Hill visits were the most intimidating sessions initially. Now, the insightful exchange with the congressional staffers is my most cherished memory from the program,” said Chloe Little, majoring international relations. “Devin Wilcox from Representative Wilson's office was very open to listening to our concerns. I was motivated to apply for a congressional internship before, but now I am morally compelled to become as immersed as I can in congressional affairs.”

The eight students who participated in the three-day seminar were selected by the Black Student Union, and now have the opportunity to earn FIU’s DC Advocacy, Communications, and Careers Digital Badge. The members of the cohort had intersecting interests, including starting businesses, launching artistic pursuits and attending law school to help advance civil rights causes.

The session on business and entrepreneurship provided guidance to participants with business ideas, including Dujuan Jenkins, a sustainability major planning to launch a cartoon series to teach children about the importance of sustainability and the environment, and Danaika Jean Baptiste, international relations major, who is exploring how to develop an app to assist drivers in finding safe and affordable roadside assistance, especially women and out-of-town travelers who may be taken advantage of by traditional services.

“This seminar has helped me know the difference between choices [and] aspirations. I can’t have choices if I don’t complete the work. There is a major difference between the two,” said Jean Baptiste.

My virtual internship at the Florida Student Public Interest Research Groups

Chrystian Tejedor — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 11:01:00 -0400

Name: Melissa Padron

Hometown: Havana, Cuba

What is your major: Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Where did you intern? What did you do there?

I interned with the FL Student Public Interest Research Groups (FL Student PIRGs) as a faculty liaison. A characteristic of PIRG is the student-led outreach, which directly enhances the work students and faculty collaborate on to advance a reciprocal delivery of information and civic action. This was exactly the task my role was built upon: building the bridges between deans, professors, students, and media sources to use our voices in favor of a fair democracy. The internship took place virtually. Through Google Hangout, the FL PIRG team conducted our weekly meetings, volunteer activities, phone banking plans, and activist classes. Although noticeably the transition to online communication has left a mark in the strong “human quality” involved in direct outreach, it has also allowed for a broader outreach since everything is handled from home and people now have the commodity to go to a link an get all information they need.

How did you get your internship?

A PIRG organizer spoke at one of my classes during a class announcement about the importance of voting. I immediately knew I wanted to participate because I had been searching for opportunities to get involved in this election. I am not a U.S. citizen currently. Coming from a country where there is hunger for democracy, it was important for me to find a way to contribute to the solution to the problem of young people not showing up to the polls. I was thinking about this, and my experiences in my home-country, and decided to apply through a link the PIRG organizer gave the class. Promptly, I received a call for an interview and got to work!

What advice do you have for those beginning the internship process?

There will always be a place in an internship where your skills will shine. And in the process, once you decide to be engaged you will have also decided to learn. In the end, you will be great at doing the things you were good at, and good at things you might not have realized you were capable of achieving.

What projects did you work on?

With the New Voters Project, I worked on the Get Out The Vote campaign, which is the largest student vote effort in the country. Additionally, I collaborated with the South Florida Media Network propelling a call to action for all young voters to be informed and active this election year. But to maximize the knowledge and professional experience, all of the interns and volunteers collaborated to some extent in all the activities and projects. With our phone banking events, for example, we helped register over 2,000 new Florida voters, 1,000 of those in the last 72 hours.

How did your internship connect back to your coursework?

The course itself had an activist course required for all interns as one of its components. But the material taught was not only pertinent to running campaigns or engaging in civic action; it emphasized effective communication skills, which are useful at all times.

What was the coolest thing about your internship or that happened during your internship?

The best thing about my internship with PIRG was the transparency of the work we did. Beginning at the interview before I was offered the internship, there was always clarity in the work we would be doing and a strong guide through all the new experiences and tasks we took on. One of my favorite experiences was participating in FIU’s Honors College podcast, More Than a Major. It was the perfect vehicle to speak casually about topics of such importance, like the election and the aspirations our generation has for the country.

What did you like most about your experience?

I think the specificity of our message when speaking to students and faculty. Part of creating action is delivering a good story people will care about, and part of creating empathy is doing so with clarity without losing substance. That is exactly what we were trained to do. I approached the topic with comprehension of the magnitude of the problem but with a concise solution to create momentum in our generation.

What did you learn about yourself?

I learned that if what we decide to work on is something we truly care about, there will always be a way to make it work successfully. I joined during the home stretch of the election year, so there was pressure to reach everyone we could in a short window of time. Consequently, I had to balance academics, the internship, and the overall unusual time we are living in and other extracurriculars. That made the growth all the more significant to me.

How did the position increase your professional confidence?

I think sometimes we fear asking for something in anticipation we might be told “no.” But I learned quickly there was no room for that sort of hesitation while reaching out to faculty and students. If we hesitate, we transmit a message that often diminishes the importance with which an issue should be treated. I now have that skill to make a strong ask, which is certainly difficult to attain, but imperative in the professional field.

How did you expand your professional network?

The connections I made with my colleagues and professional organizers at PIRG opened doors to other internship possibilities dealing with other pressing issues, like climate change awareness campaigns. Through this internship, I got to meet with heads of departments, communicate with deans, and work directly with college administration. This exposure to people who know how to push students to their best selves forms part of that expansion of network beyond the usual interactions with those within my own college or immediate group. I also had the chance to participate in the Leader Lecture Series with FIU’s Department of Public Policy and Administration.

How did it help you prove yourself in the “real-world?”

I learned communication and organizational skills above all else. These were critical in actually accomplishing the outreach we planned, but also incredibly valuable in the professional and even personal aspects of life. I also learned to always ask; the only outcomes are that you end in the same position you started, in which case you can learn and continue to move forwards, or you create something new.

Score a $2,000 scholarship by writing 500 words

Cristina Jaramillo — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0400

The MLK Breakfast Endowment, Barnes & Noble at FIU, and the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services invites undergraduate FIU students of all majors to apply for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Scholarship by submitting an original 500-word essay.

The essay must demonstrate students’ knowledge of the life, work and ideals of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and incorporate this year’s theme—“Unite for Equity: The Power of Collective Action.”

To be eligible, students must be Florida residents and have 75 credits or less.

The first-place recipient will be awarded $2,000, second place $1,500 and third place will be awarded $1,000 toward tuition, respectively. All essay contest winners will also receive a $500 book advance.

Essays must be submitted via Academicworks and will be reviewed by a subcommittee of individuals from the MLK Commemorative Celebration committee.

The committee is looking for creativity, structure and organization—in addition to how well students can incorporate personal experiences to the theme and reflect the ideals of MLK.

The winners are also invited to the Annual MLK Commemorative Celebration in January featuring prominent keynote speakers.

To apply for the MLK Essay Scholarship Contest, visit fiu.academicworks.com/opportunities/10401.

Applications are due Nov. 6.

Winners will be notified by Nov. 25.

Public health alumna studied below deck and derived inspiration from travels

Monica Smith — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

The day Michelle Finn had to take a final exam in one of her public health courses, the yacht she was working on would be sailing. WiFi would be non-existent and she had to convince the captain to keep the vessel close to the shoreline so she could use her hot spot. Luckily for Finn, who was lead stewardess and the medical crew member, the captain agreed.

For the next couple of hours, Finn worked through each exam question while the rocking motion of being in shallower water encouraged seasickness. Just as the captain came to tell her they had to move into deeper water, Finn hit the submit button—she passed with flying colors!

Panther returns to FIU

In 2017, Finn received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from FIU in traditional, face-to-face classes, but after she graduated, she decided she wanted to do more—especially after experiencing an unprofessional and demeaning work environment in a job where she was responsible for creating community engagement campaigns.

She made the decision to find another job and pursue her public health master’s degree at about the same time. When she obtained her yachting position, she knew that while it may be challenging to study for her public health degree with all of the travel, she could take her FIU classes with her, so she switched to the fully online MPH program.

Adventure

Finn describes herself as someone who thrives on high intensity and is inclined to more challenging roles than the routine. The yachting position would be an adventure for her soul while her pursuit of a master’s degree in public health would offer her the adventure of a lifetime of service.

“With a degree in public health, I could help more people at a time, with more frequency,” she says. “I am really keen on health promotion and understanding people’s behavior in order to change global health and how people live in underdeveloped communities.”

Finn has traveled to South Africa, Spain, Palma de Mallorca, London, the Bahamas and St. Lucia. Her travels have only compounded her interest in public health as her yachting excursions have taken her to places that are off the beaten tourist path.

“These areas are what ignited my interest in public health. I really became interested in underdeveloped communities and how to treat health in these communities,” she adds.

Study habits

Some days were longer than others, but Finn always found time to study when yachting. Most days she woke up at 6 a.m. while the other crew members started their days at 7:30 a.m. This extra time each morning gave her the quiet time needed to focus. Some nights she pulled all-nighters and studied between 2 and 3 a.m.

“But that’s the beauty of online learning, you can pick and choose your study schedule to make your deadlines,” she offers.

It was stressful at times, she admits, because there was always a possibility of missing deadlines because of connectivity issues while sailing or docked at foreign ports. But the professors were all very understanding and committed to helping her succeed, she says.

“Education is one of the best ways to help solve public health crises. Because of this, I want to be a public health educator,” Finn says. “I feel very lucky I’ve had this opportunity.”

Finn graduated August 2020 and looks forward to finding a public health position with a nonprofit group.

PublicHealth.org, an online resource that gives users “the tools to research careers and degree programs…in this growing sector of the healthcare industry,” ranked the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work’s online Master of Public Health No.10 in the country amongst the Best Online Programs for 2020.

PublicHealth.org's ranking process considers program appeal, student success and affordability.

“This ranking again highlights the overall quality, value and worth of our online Master of Public Health program, which strives to ensure that each graduate is prepared to be a leader in the charge toward prevention and community health,” said Tomás R. Guilarte, dean of Stempel College. “The generalist degree format of our online Master of Public Health ensures that students receive a well-rounded education, with the opportunity to graduate with certificates in key areas of public health.”

This is especially important under the current COVID-19 pandemic, noted Guilarte.

According to PublicHealth.org: “This ranking of the best online MPH programs provides useful information for students who want to improve the well-being of local, national and international populations. Graduates of MPH programs acquire the training to make a difference in the world, developing public healthcare policy, managing healthcare programs, conducting research, and educating the public about disease prevention and healthy lifestyles.”

The ranking noted that the program offers success coaches to help distance learners with navigating graduate school, as well as online tutoring services to guide students who need an extra hand with coursework.

A delegation of Stempel College representatives, led by Dean Tomás R. Guilarte and Carlos Espinal, director of the Global Health Consortium, recently visited Colombia as part of the college’s efforts to strengthen ties and improve public health in the country. The Global Health Consortium is focusing much of its efforts in Colombia, while the college looks to strengthen ties with deeper and broader collaborations in the region.

The four-day, multi-city tour was a chance for researchers and leadership to engage with local stakeholders and organizations that can boost the college’s collaborative opportunities in research areas that include neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

“This trip highlights the vast opportunities that we have to help improve public health through partnerships in countries like Colombia and throughout Latin America,” said Guilarte. “We are grateful to all the opportunities that have arisen and we have already built strong partnership that will improve health outcomes for generations to come.”

One of the highlights of the trip was the Global Health Leadership dinner, which was attended by more than 50 guests including Diego Hernandez, director of COLCIENCIAS; Carolina Weisner, director of the National Cancer Institute; as well as many of our collaborators and partners from universities, research institutions and the pharmaceutical sector.

“It was a resounding success! This dinner was an opportunity to have all of our collaborators in a room to meet and discuss prospective research partnerships as well as give health leaders more information about the innovative work being done at Stempel College,” Guilarte added.

While in Bogota, the group also met with Carlos Alberto Cano Gutiérrez of the Aging Institute at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana to discuss Alzheimer’s disease and aging. Building upon a collaboration that was discussed last year, the team sat down with renowned neuroscientist Francisco Lopera to talk neurodegenerative diseases and Alzheimer’s disease, specifically.

The delegation also met with COLCIENCIAS, Colombia’s administrative department of science, technology and innovation, and La Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia (ANDI), a non-profit association that aims to disseminate and promote the political, economic and social principles of health in Colombia.

“COLCIENCIAS and ANDI are two of the leading organizations in the country that are working to better the health in Colombia, and we are honored to be working with both organizations,” Espinal said. “With their insights and our expertise, we hope to be able to explore various facets of the health landscape and improve lives for current and future generations in Colombia.”

Other highlights of the trip included a visit to the Hospital Infantil Los Angeles in the town of Pasto, where there is an unusually high incidence of leukemia in children under four years old. A major region for cocaine production, the area’s leukemia rate in children is at 60 percent compared to 30 percent globally.

“Major environmental risk factors may be associated with the high incidence of childhood cancers in Pasto which suggests that parents and/or children could be exposed to environmental toxins. We visited the hospital and met with researchers and oncologists who are keen to collaborate with Stempel College to identify the direct environmental causes of the increased risk of leukemia,” said Diana Azzam, assistant professor. “In addition, there is an opportunity to provide novel treatment options for these children through genomic profiling and individualized drug testing.”

During a day trip to Cartagena, the Stempel delegation met with representatives from the University of Cartagena to discuss mutual research and educational interests as well as the possibility of the Global Health Consortium from Stempel College having a physical presence at the university.

“Understanding the need to study health disparities, neurodegenerative diseases, mental health, drug use and their impact on overall health were topics that we discussed throughout the trip,” Guilarte said. “Partnering with Colombian agencies and universities will give us new opportunities for our research, student and faculty exchange, and the work we are doing to improve global health.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the role of public health practitioners to the forefront – and the way communities and businesses operate will never be the same.

“Public health professions often go unseen. These are the people who are keeping us safe and preventing illness before it happens,” said Deidre A. Okeke '17, public health admissions coordinator at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work. “The pandemic has highlighted these professions and the need for public health careers. I would not be surprised to see public health positions in companies where we never expected them to be, with those jobs taking center stage soon.”

The pandemic has made it clear that businesses need to better understand health and protection guidelines to ensure the safety of employees, customers and society. This change in the way businesses are run will need trained professionals who understand the ins-and-outs of public health.

Students have been preparing for these future careers at Stempel College through the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, which offers concentrations that give students the tools they need to succeed in a post-COVID-19 work and lead public health efforts – both nationally and globally.

Ranked as the 49^th top public health program in the country among public universities by U.S. News & World Report, the highly regarded program ensures students graduate prepared for a successful career. The college also offers a fully online MPH that ranked 10^th in the country in 2020, by PublicHealth.org.

“We are creating a healthier world now and for future generations,” said Florence Greer ’95, public health practicum coordinator and instructor. “I was fortunate to receive an outstanding education in our MPH program, where I was prepared to serve in various roles to help underrepresented communities. And I take pride in assisting students with opportunities to experience public health in action, especially during these important times.”

Five concentrations, one MPH

Public health is divided into five main concentration areas at Stempel College: epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy and management, health promotion and disease prevention, and environmental health sciences.

“There are a lot of agencies looking for the skills that our program teaches. While students choose the concentration that best fits their goals, the overall program includes an essential framework of courses that really prepares students to take on almost any role within the field of public health, in both the private and public sectors,” Okeke said.

In the times of COVID-19, epidemiologists are leading the way in tracking the spread of the disease through their contact-tracing efforts. As the “detectives” of the public health world, these professionals are helping gather the incidence and prevalence rates of the virus to flatten the curve effectively.

Biostatisticians, in turn, work to translate epidemiological and experimental data into communicable findings. They are incredibly valuable public health professionals who not only provide fellow scientists with an interpretation of findings but help with all aspects of the scientific method – from the design of a study to the statistical analysis of study results. Without biostatisticians, it would be difficult to make sense of data or even know how to design a research study appropriately.

Once data is compiled and findings are reported, it’s the responsibility of public health professionals to translate this and communicate them to the public at large. This particular task is where those in the field of health promotion and disease prevention come in. Individuals in this field take what’s been discovered and apply behavioral theories to help promote change in or the adoption of new health behaviors. Messages about handwashing hygiene, modes of COVID-19 transmission and who are the high-risk populations can be attributed to their efforts.

To have large, positive impacts on health, the implementation of policies is necessary – which is an area of specialization within the public health sector. Those within health policy and management take scientific data and translate them into policies to help protect the health and well-being of the public. Social distancing regulations and mandated use of face masks in public areas reflect just a few current efforts of public health professionals within health policy and management roles.

Lastly, public health professionals within environmental health sciences are the ones protecting populations within industries and workplaces. Although public health professionals in this area tend to be scientists in laboratories that research biological and environmental pathways that contribute to various diseases, their efforts transcend into the evaluation of workplaces and their impact on human health. Their work leads to the development and implementation of prevention and intervention strategies such as safety trainings and protection procedure manuals.

“Our students are uniquely prepared to be the next generation of public health leaders with a commitment of service and dedication towards establishing new levels of educating the public on healthier lifestyles, evidence-based research, improving our public health infrastructure, protecting our environment, and developing policies on health and safety on local, state, national, and international levels,” Greer said.

Time to act is ‘now’ on Earth’s climate crisis

Chrystian Tejedor — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 11:19:00 -0400

Earth is facing an unprecedented climate crisis.

At FIU’s 7^th Geopolitical Summit, hosted by the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, keynote speaker David Wallace-Wells noted how conversations about climate change shifted significantly in just 30 years.

No longer is climate change talked about as a problem facing future generations. It is with us. Here and now. And it is getting worse, according to the New York Times bestselling author.

In 2020, record-breaking wildfires have ravaged the West, the hurricane season has led to the use of the Greek alphabet with 27 named storms so far, and Houston has seen its fifth 500-year storm in the past five years.

Still, the deputy editor and climate columnist at New York magazine and author of “The Uninhabitable Earth,” thinks there is reason for hope. Governments are taking action. People are much more aware of the problem. And they’re demanding change.

“At what speed we will make those choices is very much an open question even though public opinion is incredibly on the side of climate action, our politics and more particularly, our policy, doesn’t yet reflect it,” Wallace-Wells said. “We need to move even faster, even more urgently and the time to do that is now.”

A panel of FIU experts featuring environmental anthropologist Simone Athayde, Institute of Environment Director Todd Crowl, public administration expert Emel Ganapati, geographer Kevin Grove, political scientist Sara Moats, environmental economist Pallab Mozumder and Biological Sciences Chairman Steve Oberbauer joined Wallace-Wells for a discussion on the global and local impacts of climate change. FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg, Green School Dean John Stack and Arts, Sciences & Education Dean Mike Heithaus provided welcome remarks. Mireya Mayor, director of the Science Communication Initiative in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, moderated the panel discussion.

FIU continues to repopulate campuses

Contributing Writer — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 13:15:00 -0400

Dear FIU faculty and staff,

There can be no doubt that our campuses are at their best when fully repopulated with the people they were built for - you! We are excited that life and humanity are slowly and carefully returning to our learning sanctuaries!

Together, we are building on our sense of community and demonstrating prudence in navigating our new normal, as we continue to practice safety protocols and look out for each other. I thank every member of our Panther family for your cooperation and patience during this time.

By now, 100 percent of university departments, units and centers should be participating in on-campus repopulation rotations. We should aim for at least 50 percent occupancy in each of the divisions and units, where possible, while observing all mitigation measures in place through our Panthers Protecting Panthers COVID-19 protocols. These measures include, but are not limited to: daily completion of the P3 app safety screening questionnaire before the beginning of each day on campus; wearing facial coverings at all times while on campus; handwashing with frequency, and maintaining physical distance. We recognize that maintaining physical distancing in our workplaces may result in less than full capacity on any given day. The health and wellbeing of our university community continues to be a top priority.

Repopulate smartly

Please use all resources available to you as you make decisions regarding the repopulation of departments, units, and centers. These include the Panthers Protecting Panthers Safety Course, recorded Town Halls on Repopulation and FIU’s Guidelines for Repopulation.

Flexibility has been a guiding value for us since the inception of this pandemic. We have asked supervisors to be flexible to help accommodate faculty and staff members who have children still learning remotely or are caregivers for relatives, as well as those who self-identify as having a health vulnerability. The university’s COVID-19 Emergency Policy offers several options to address unique circumstances including the listing of qualifying Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) addressing childcare provisions associated with COVID-19.

What’s open on campus

To facilitate your return, retail locations and campus partners will continue to serve our FIU community. This includes dining locations, Barnes and Noble at FIU and service partners such as Wayki’s Salon (formerly Santi’s), Golden Touch, Ricoh and College Optical. For a complete list of what’s open, hours of operation and information on appointments and reservations, visit shopFIU.

As we increase our physical presence on our campuses, we will do so in the same manner we have done things since the beginning of the pandemic: carefully and informed by data. We will continue to monitor the case numbers in our university community as well as in South Florida and will adjust our plans as necessary.

Flu shot recommended

The FIU Health Faculty Practice is open and performs COVID-19 tests. We encourage all members of the university to get the flu shot as soon as possible. Please call 305-348-3627 for an appointment. COVID-19 testing is also available throughout the community, including a free Miami-Dade County testing site located on the fairgrounds next door to MMC.

Upcoming holiday season

We can look forward to the forthcoming holiday season. However, we cannot let our guards down - to ensure the health and well-being of our FIU family, we deeply regret that holiday gatherings are not permitted on our campuses this year. Anyone wishing to celebrate with colleagues or business units could do so virtually. Hopefully next year we can make up lost personal greetings and the joy of traditional holiday celebrations.

Nonetheless, as each of you finds an opportunity to share joy and thanksgiving with your family and friends, we urge you to adhere to all measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. This pandemic knows no limits or boundaries. Stopping the spread is task number one for sure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued some recommendations for holiday celebrations to help you and your loved ones stay healthy.

Thank you for your cooperation. You are valued, appreciated and needed to make our community prosper. Please stay safe and healthy!

Sincerely,

Mark B. Rosenberg

President

Got my first job! Working as a field biologist at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Contributing Writer — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 13:02:00 -0400

Name: Lydia Cuni

Hometown: Hialeah, FL

Degree/major: B.S. Biology & M.S Environmental Science

Graduation date: Spring 2014 & Fall 2019

Where are you working? Title? Field Biologist at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

How did you get your job?

Close to my undergraduate graduation I began an internship at Zoo Miami where I mostly conducted butterfly surveys in the pine rocklands. This endangered ecosystem has a diversity of 300-600 plant species, which I had also become skilled at identifying. Through this internship at Zoo Miami, I met Jennifer Possley, who was the Field Biologist at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. She’d been impressed with my knowledge of the local botany and two years ago she hired me to work with her.

What previous experience was required for you to be hired to that position?

To be hired as a Field Biologist at Fairchild I needed experience in field research. My position involves a lot of hiking in the hot and humid subtropical Florida climate, where it is important to be cautious and prepared for anything.

I learned how to plan my days in the field, so they can be as productive as possible. This includes knowing about where you are going and creating a checklist to ensure you have all the supplies you need, and extra, to get the job done. I also needed strong background knowledge on South Florida ecosystems, such as the pine rockland, which I developed through my internships and coursework.

How did you gain that experience? What internship(s) did you participate in?

Eight months after graduating with my Bachelor’s I started my first paid experience in the field, as a Resource Monitoring Intern with the National Park Service (NPS) South Florida & Caribbean Monitoring Network (SFCN) wherein I helped monitor the vital signs of the local national parks. These vital signs are biological indicators that are monitored to indicate the health or condition of a national park’s resources. For nearly two years I worked with NPS biologists counting hundreds of colonial bird nests, measuring mangrove soil surface elevation tables, and transplanting and GPS mapping endangered Schaus swallowtail butterfly host plant Torchwood, Amyris elemifera, all in Biscayne National Park. In Big Cypress National Preserve I helped documented exotic plants and then spatially analyzed their coverage.

Working with the SFCN was the experience that instilled the confidence in me to conduct my own field study for my graduate research. With Dr. Cara Rockwell, I began to study the pine rockland habitat of Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park. With the goal to further our understanding and to inform future land management activities such as restoration and conservation, I researched how the plant community changed as one went from hardwood hammock through the ecotone, (the transition zone between two ecosystems), and out into the pineland. I was able to identify certain features of the ecotone that makes it important (like high species richness and diversity) and discuss some methods for the restoration and conservation of other pine rockland-hardwood hammock ecotone sites.

What was your greatest fear going into your first job and how did you face it or overcome it?

Since I was still completing my Master’s degree when Fairchild hired me in July 2018, I felt pressure to finish writing my thesis while I was getting started at my new job. I wanted to get my Master’s research out to the public. I had a lot of data that was very tedious to analyze, so I did feel overwhelmed at times. I really had to buckle down and focus. I’m proud to say I got it done!

What do you do at your job?

Being a field biologist gives me the opportunity to be involved in ecosystem restoration and conservation. I was first hired to manage a big conservation project with five recently endangered pine rockland plant species: 1. Florida Brickell-bush, Brickellia mosieri; 2. Keys partridge pea, Chamaecrista lineata var. keyensis; 3. Keys wedge spurge, Chamaesyce deltoidea ssp. serpyllum; 4. Carter’s flax, Linum carteri var. carteri; and 5. sand flax, Linum arenicola. My job was to collect and preserve seeds from all sites the five species are found, and also to augment the most imperiled populations for each of the five species.

What surprised you the most about your first job?

Even though I’m a field biologist, I still do a lot of work in the office, on the computer. It is so important to be organized and to communicate your science.

After working in the field, we usually have a method for inputting the data into worksheets and databases, making it easier to analyze later. At Fairchild we use a data management system that helps us organize data by site, date, species, etc. In addition to inputting and analyzing the data, every few months we also need to write reports about our work. We also use our data to help plan future work.

What advice do you have for those beginning the job search process?

It’s important to know what you can offer a potential employer. Know your strengths and be confident in your value to a team. Everyone has different skills.

People communicate and learn in different ways. For example, some people are great at expressing themselves visually, others are great at speaking. Being a part of a team involves different types of people coming together for one goal. Everyone has something unique to contribute. Know what sets you apart from others.

What does a day on the job look like?

Every day is different. I rely on planning using the calendar and according to the seasons. Field work can depend on when certain species are flowering because that may be when it’s easiest to identify them and record their abundance. Since I work on lands that are considered Miami-Dade County preserves, I also spend time coordinating with the land managers to schedule my field work in advance.

How does your job connect back to your coursework?

Now I am indebted to Dr. Hong Liu’s Restoration Ecology course. The material I was introduced to during the course has been very helpful in my work because I now actually use one of the class’ textbooks as a go-to source for rare plant conservation methods. Knowing the proper scientific and ethical ways to work with these rare plants has been crucial in my job. It was also fun to work alongside her when the Fairchild Conservation Team installed a plant translocation experiment for the Keys partridge pea, one of my project’s species and Hong’s PhD dissertation study species.

I also learned many different plant species, their classification, and their uses in courses taught by Dr. Bradley Bennett such as Local Flora, Economic Botany, and Taxonomy of Tropical Plants.

How has your transition from school to work been? How do you balance your time?

I started my position at Fairchild while I was still finishing graduate school, so balancing school and work was a challenge. I found comfort in the fact that most graduate students also work full time. It takes some juggling, but we get through it!

One thing that really helped me balance my time was finding a comfortable place where I could focus on my schoolwork. For me that place was my desk at the Fairchild Science Village. While I was nearing the end of my degree, I spent a lot of extra time at my desk computer analyzing data for my research. I’m grateful to have had that space where I could eliminate distractions and get things done.

What’s been the coolest thing about your job so far?

After humans changed the landscape in Miami, many plants became endangered. It is an incredible privilege to participate in the effort to save these endangered plant species, along with remembering those who came before me, and the records they’ve left behind for us all.

Alumnae survived breast cancer and now spread awareness

Monica Smith — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 10:45:00 -0400

Being a student in itself can present challenges but imagine what it may be like if you’re also told you have a disease that could take your life. This was a reality for both Priscilla Ferreyra ’18 and Janinha Piazzetta ’05 whose lives were devastated with the simple utterance of two words: breast cancer.

Too young

“It was January, and you have goals, and you’re planning on graduating that year—everything was aligned,” recalled Ferreyra whose diagnosis came in 2017. She was 25. “I was getting dressed for work and I felt a little lump—being so young, I thought it would go away.”

Priscilla Ferreyra lost her hair during cancer treatment. Here, she poses with her boyfriend who urged her to go to the doctor when she felt a lump in her breast.

Ferreyra hadn’t been worried at all because of her age. She didn’t even feel like going to the doctor to get checked, but at the urging of family and friends, she decided to make the appointment. She was devastated with her diagnosis. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, Ferreyra looked forward to finishing strong at FIU and didn’t realize that one appointment would lead to a diverted path in her education.

Not me

Like Ferreyra, Piazzetta was in disbelief with her diagnosis. She had spent years caring for multiple family members who lost their battles with cancer. Somehow, she hoped that the disease would skip her—that the universe would be kind—because of her compassionate efforts with family.

“I thought it would never happen to me and I felt the earth kind of swallowing me,” recounted Piazzetta. “At first you cry a lot.”

At the time of her diagnosis in 2004, Piazzetta was uninsured as she pursued her master’s degree in mass communication. With no family in Miami to offer support, she had to rethink her living strategies.

Janinha Piazzetta's H3 organization offers support to those affected by cancer.

Piazzetta started reaching out and making phone calls to orchestrate a treatment process to save her life. It was this experience with the many roadblocks and a lack of answers and help that spurred her to create a breast cancer support group at a local library—a group that would grow to become her non-profit organization called H3: Health. Hope. Healing.

H3 originally began in July 2007 as a support group to provide women a forum to discuss diagnoses and treatments, as well as offer them education and information on cancer related health issues, described Piazzetta. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, she’s been busy all month organizing a special Zoom open panel discussion that will be held 5:30-6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28. The panel will offer an in-depth discussion with doctors and patients on what can be done to reduce the high rates of cancer diagnosis and will provide an analysis on the implications of a cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIU support

In terms of support, Piazzetta underscored how pivotal her connections at FIU were in her healing process. She described the many friends she made at the university from classmates to professors, as well as staff members. The yoga team at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus holds a special place in her heart. All of her FIU connections cheered her on and gave her hope. On the day she crossed the convocation stage, her heart was full of gratitude as she looked across the vast room to see the faces of those who had been there for her.

Janinha Piazzetta '05

“FIU became my family,” declared Piazzetta who noted her baldness from chemotherapy in her cap and gown photo. Her graduation picture is a badge of pride for surviving and FIU Panther pride for completing her degree.

Ferreyra also sought support from FIU. She too had no family in Miami but remained in the city for her treatment. One of the first things she did after her diagnosis was go to the FIU Disability Resource Center. She knew the center would provide good guidance on next steps for accommodations or pausing her education. There, she spoke with a staff member who was also a cancer survivor.

“Hearing from him was eye opening. It was nice to see him overcome the disease—you see so much negativity online,” she noted and detailed how she also reached out to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Her interest in learning how to help both herself and others, coupled with her bilingualism, helped foster Ferreyra’s relationship with the ACS—a relationship that developed into speaking engagements, a breast cancer awareness campaign in Latin American that aired on the Lifetime Channel, and even a video stateside to promote the organization’s support for research.

Priscilla Ferreyra received daily treatments.

When Ferreyra decided to return to school, she chose to enroll in some online courses to allow for the flexibility she needed to receive her daily radiation therapy. This too, she highlighted, afforded her the support she required to get healthy and stay on track. She took her laptop with her and worked on coursework in between appointments—a welcome distraction during a difficult time.

Work to be done

Both women beat cancer. Ferreyra’s biggest dream is to become a journalist to tell people’s stories and to be the voice for those who may not have one. In the meantime, she hopes that through sharing her own story and voice, she can influence the fight against cancer with funding, research and awareness. She wants everyone to know that breast cancer isn’t tied to age—it doesn’t discriminate, she said.

Piazzetta said her degree has helped her in many ways, like creating a vision for her organization, which she wants to expand to make an even greater positive impact in more people’s lives.

“My experience shaped my goals. I really wanted to make a difference,” offered Piazzetta who shared her wisdom for those recently diagnosed: “Remain calm and have hope. Everything is possible in life.”

What would a COVID-19 vaccine mean?

Gisela Maria Valencia — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

As the world continues to wrestle with the pandemic, many are wondering if the development of a COVID-19 vaccine would be the decisive stroke in attacking the coronavirus and reducing the pandemic.

This topic was one of many that a group of international experts discussed as part of this year’s Global Health Consortium’s conference, hosted virtually Oct. 6-9 by FIU’s Robert Stempel School of Social Work & Public Health.

“The Global Health Conference of the Americas is a pivotal event that brings together heads of state, political leaders, international organizations, top scientists, policymakers and experts in the field on the most important global health issues of the day,” says Dr. Carlos Espinal, director of the Global Health Consortium. “This year’s conference also brought the leaders at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic together to share the latest research, findings, discoveries and lessons learned.”

The Global Health Conference of the Americas featured 64 global experts, including a keynote by the president of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez. More than 2,700 attendees—representing 64 different countries from India and Indonesia to Finland, France, Colombia and Cambodia—registered for the event. Online viewership smashed expectations: There were more than 17,000 views of the conference content, either from live streaming or accessing recorded sessions.

Various FIU experts—representing colleges and units, including the Stempel School of Social Work & Public Health; The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine; the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts and the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs—were also featured during the conference.

COVID-19 vaccines

The conference dedicated an entire day to explore issues related to immunizations. A group of experts dove in-depth into COVID-19 vaccines during a virtual panel discussion.

Speakers discussed a wide range of topics, including the role of immunizations; the lack of trust in possible COVID-19 vaccines; anti-science and anti-vaccine movements; the need for resources and vaccines for poverty-stricken regions.

Panelists agreed that an effective vaccine will go a long way in protecting us from contracting COVID-19. However, the experts cautioned against viewing a COVID-19 vaccine – and especially the first wave of vaccines produced – as the end-all solution to the pandemic.

In fact, Dr. Peter Hotez, physician-scientist and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, explained that for the foreseeable future, a COVID-19 vaccine may need to be combined with wearing a mask, social distancing and other public health measures. The reason behind this?

“We really don’t know the performance of these vaccines and won’t fully know for a year or two,” he said.

With the world in need of COVID-19 vaccines, the experts discussed, vaccines may be released to the public even if they do not reach the ideal 70 percent efficacy the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended. The efficacy of a vaccine is the estimated percentage (based on clinical trials) of people who take the vaccine that will effectively be protected from infection because of that vaccine.

FIU's Dr. Aileen Marty explained that if a COVID-19 vaccine has a 50 percent efficacy threshold (the minimum percentage the Food and Drug Administration and WHO issued in their recommendations), people would need to continue wearing masks and social distancing because 50 percent of the people who take the vaccine would still be likely to get infected (and possibly transmit the virus).

“Many of these vaccines [early vaccines] may need boosters,” Hotez added. “New vaccines will be coming down the pike continuously. It’s going to be a slowly evolving process. The good news is that I think a year from now the world will look much better from now. And two years from now it’ll look better than one year from now. That’s the timeline we’re talking about.”

Communication

So, what do we do in the meantime?

Communication is key. The panel discussed the need to build trust in COVID-19 vaccines among the general public; the moral responsibility to communicate information about vaccines and their development; and the importance of dispelling myths and misunderstandings of anti-science and anti-vaccine movements.

“It’s not just pharmaceutical or public health leaders [who need to address the public],” said Peter Figueroa, who is the chair of a technical advisory group at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and a professor at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. “We need a variety of persons who are trusted and leaders in society to talk about the importance of vaccines.”

Dr. Cuauhtémoc Ruiz-Matus, a unit chief in the Department of Family, Health Promotion and Life Course at PAHO added: “We need to have all the data about the efficacy…to show that vaccines, in the process and production, are safe.”

View the panel discussion and access recordings of the entire conference.

Global Health Conference Playlist (English)

Global Health Conference Playlist (En Español)

FIU Business ranked No. 1 in the world for real estate research

Cynthia Corzo — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 11:55:00 -0400

FIU Business has been ranked No. 1 globally for real estate research productivity by the Journal of Real Estate Literature. It is the first time that FIU Business has been ranked first in the world, tying with the well-known National University of Singapore, and the fifth consecutive year it has occupied one of the top two spots in the United States.

“This puts FIU Business on center stage with National University of Singapore, which is consistently ranked in the Top 20 and is the best in Asia-Pacific region,” said FIU Business Dean Joanne Li. “We are honored and humbled to be recognized with NUS.”

The 2020 Real Estate Academic Leadership (REAL) rankings highlight faculty and institutions demonstrating achievement in intellectual contributions to the field of real estate research from 2016 to 2020.

“These No.1 rankings demonstrate the significance of the cutting-edge research — relevant to academics as well as real estate practitioners — conducted by our Hollo School of Real Estate faculty,” said FIU President Mark Rosenberg.

Institutions and professors are ranked based on the number of publications in the top three peer-reviewed real estate journals – the Journal of Real Estate Economics, the Journal of Real Estate Research and the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. During that period, FIU’s real estate faculty had 41 contributions.

“There is no doubt that top research schools from all over the world now view FIU Business very differently from the way they viewed us just a decade ago,” said Eli Beracha, director of the Hollo School of Real Estate. “We are playing in the major leagues and we are winning.”

Three Hollo School professors were ranked in the Top 5 globally of the REAL Author Rankings.

William Hardin III, associate dean of FIU’s Chapman Graduate School and former director of the Hollo School, who published 12 articles in the academic journals, was ranked No. 2. Professors Zhenguo Lin and Beracha, with 10 articles each, were tied at No. 3.

In addition to the Master of Science in International Real Estate, offered in both traditional and online forums, the Hollo School at FIU Business offers an undergraduate degree program in real estate and houses the Jerome Bain Real Estate Institute, created in 1998 in partnership with the Miami Association of Realtors.

“Over the last few years, the graduate real estate program increasingly received more applications from top-notch, quality individuals,” said Beracha. “Students realize that at the Hollo School of Real Estate, they can learn from and interact with globally-recognized faculty, and they increasingly choose FIU over the competition.”

Alumna shares data perspective on the future of the hospitality industry

Jordan Cross-Ogiste — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 10:45:00 -0400

One alumna leading a communications agency is using data to best advise her clients in the hospitality industry.

Holly Zawyer '03 is managing director of Zapwater Communications in Miami, an award-winning integrated communications agency with offices in Chicago and Los Angeles, in addition to the South Florida location. In her role in the organization’s senior leadership, Zawyer is often faced with making big decisions that impact clients and their brands.

Though backed by more than 15 years of experience, Zawyer says preparing for something unforeseen is always tough, but is just a part of working in the hospitality industry.

“What’s interesting about being in travel and hospitality is that there’s such a range of crisis situations that come your way,” Zawyer says. “From crime to natural disasters, you really have to be well equipped to handle anything in this industry, but no disaster plan or safety net was adequate to prepare 99 percent of businesses for navigating this pandemic.”

As it pertains to the future of travel, Zawyer says that her organization surveyed more than 1,200 U.S.-based frequent travelers about post-pandemic trips.

Of the respondents, 45 percent are between the ages of 24-35 and 43 percent take more than five domestic trips annually. Of those surveyed, 65 percent are looking forward to traveling again, both domestically and internationally; 39 percent are hoping to travel within the first six months after travel restrictions are lifted; 76 percent said resort and hotel safety protocols ranked highest priority over influencing immediate travel plans.

Consumer disclosures, such as self-reported surveys, share useful insight with corporate entities on the trends they can expect to see from their clientele post-pandemic.

“Although some clients have paused their campaigns due to interntional travel restrictions, we are optimistic that all of our hotel and resort clients will resume their marketing efforts,” Zawyer says. “From clients who have been able to reopen, we have been seeing great demand for travel, but it will take time to get back to where we once were.”

In the initial stages of the pandemic, Zawyer says that her team was working individually with clients to manage then-occuring border and hotel closures but has since transitioned to guiding her clients through uncharted terrain to make the right communications decisions. Concurrently, Zawyer was tasked with helping the team adjust to working remotely – a first for many.

Zawyer aims to keep the team motivated and taken care of. She adds that the organization understands this is a taxing period and wants to ensure that team members don’t burn out.

“Though remote, it’s easy to transition to living at work rather than working from home,” says the alumna. “We want to be there for each other [not just] work-wise but emotionally, as well.”

FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is ranked as one of the top 50 hospitality management schools in the world by the 2019 QS World University Rankings; the school anticipates graduating a cohort this year of more than 300 students prepared for the world of work.

With the hospitality industry taking a devastating hit at the hands of coronavirus, thousands of hotels and restaurants have been closed and even more staff have lost their jobs in a field that was already competitive.

Considering graduates facing a much smaller window of opportunities while contending against a severely magnified pool of applicants, Zawyer says that her advice to students is the same as what she advises her staff:

“Being flexible is key to being marketable.

In this industry you have to wear many hats. It’s important to take on responsibilities that might be out of your immediate scope because it’s always all hands on deck [in this industry]. You have to be resourceful and show your worth.”

Miami-Dade County's hospitality industry recovering but facing more than $3 billion in losses this year

Ivonne Yee-Amor — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Miami-Dade County hotel and restaurants – the two largest hospitality industries in South Florida – have taken a $3.36 billion dollar hit from COVID-19, according to a new study.

The study released today by Florida International University's FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, in collaboration with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor's Bureau (GMCVB), shows that from the time mandatory COVID-19-related business closures took effect in March until the end of August, the direct and indirect effects of the pandemic – including revenue loss, supply chain and business expenditures, operating expenses and the ripple effect of furloughed workers not spending on the local economy — resulted in the multi-billion-dollar loss.

According to the study, the pandemic is responsible for $1.3 billion in direct revenue loss to hotels and $742 million in direct revenue loss to restaurants, when comparing March through August 2019 with the same time period in 2020. Hotels and restaurants lost another $664.7 million in indirect spending from a reduction in expenditures such as raw materials, supplies and other operating expenses, plus another $651.8 million in induced losses as a result of the ripple effect of furloughed workers not spending on the local economy.

“As hospitality educators, we needed to find out exactly how the pandemic affected our community and who has been the hardest hit,” said Eric Beckman, revenue management professor at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and lead author of the study. “South Florida's economy has a high reliance on the hospitality and travel-related business and our study shows if those sectors are down, it results in huge financial losses and an economic decline for the entire community.”

Beckman and his colleagues made their findings by looking at tax revenue data from the county, as well as hotel room revenue data from companies such as STR, CBRE, Lee Pillsbury of Thayer Ventures, Adara and Kalibri Labs.

In January, hospitality employment was up 2.4 percent compared to January 2019. That positive trend continued into February before plummeting in April to a 45.4 percent decline. The latest data for August 2020 shows a decrease of 23.7 percent in hospitality jobs compared to August 2019. The study also found that COVID-19 can be blamed for $1.2 billion dollars in loss of employee income to Miami-Dade County hotel and restaurant workers from March through August.

“As the entire country faced mandatory closures, there was a drastic reduction in hospitality jobs in the county,” said Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School and one of the study's co-authors. “As we move towards operating without restrictions. the hospitality industry will begin to move towards prior levels of employment and growth.”

Although focused on hotels and restaurants, the study also looked at the state and federal tax impact and the decline in travel via Miami International Airport. The reduction in hotel and restaurant sector revenue in the county resulted in more than $260 million dollars in federal tax losses. From March through August of 2020 compared to 2019, there was an 87.2% decrease in international arrivals and 71.8 % decrease in domestic arrivals.

The study goes on to list future challenges to the industry, such as future COVID-19 outbreaks, effectiveness of a vaccine, consumer ability to travel, consumer confidence and the importance of government policy and support. The authors say government policy and support, such as this summer’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP), will be crucial to the existence of many businesses that have managed to re-open their doors and survive until now.

“The hospitality industry is a resilient industry filled with ambitious entrepreneurs and people who know how to transfer their skills,” Beckman said. “That, combined with the fact that we know people love to travel and eat out, will result in the resurgence of travel and tourism in Miami-Dade County.”

To view the study's PowerPoint presentation, click here.

Accounting firm's bottom line is blue and gold: 7 principals and dozens of staff are FIU Business grads

Ellen Forman — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Members of the leadership team of Coral Gables accounting firm GEMRT share a unique connection: all seven are graduates of FIU Business, some holding multiple degrees from the college.

Today, they share a pride in what their FIU experience instilled in them, as well as a passion for client service, and a belief in the power of building community and ongoing education.

GEMRT, now 60 team members strong, is named for the initials of Roy A. Garcia '89, MBA ’95; Rafael A. (Ralph) Espinosa '89, MBA ’94; Leonardo Miyares ’89; Mariano Rodriguez ’79; and Carlos M. Trueba '77, as well as Juan Carlos Gonzalez '85, MA ’88; and Jarnette G. Rodriguez ’93. And while officially, the firm is only a few years old, members of the leadership team have known each other, personally and professionally, for decades.

Previously, GEMRT’s leaders were members of two small firms that started to think about the best way to move forward. Each firm recognized that as accounting firms evolve into multidisciplinary consulting practices with strong technology components, the need to scale the practice became a stronger pull. Yet in contemplating a merger, they saw that finding the right match, in terms of culture, philosophy and goals, would be paramount to their success.

And so, members began to think: who would be a good fit? They remembered chance meetings at restaurants and short conversations in Miami office building lobbies. At one point, Rodriguez ran into Garcia at the Mexico pavilion during the Disney Food & Wine festival, and the two men raised the possibility of working together sometime in the future.

A December 2016 lunch at Graziano’s restaurant in Coral Gables sealed the deal. Partners of both firms saw a common culture and firms that seemed to mirror each other.

The camaraderie among the partners is clear when they reminisce about their times at FIU Business.

When Trueba was at the university in 1975, there were two buildings and a third on the way. The goal was to get in and out of campus quickly, with an occasional beer at the Rathskeller. Back then, competition in the accounting program was fierce, classes were tough and professors could often be merciless.

“For those of us who stuck it out,” Trueba said, “that was what made us strong.”

As FIU students in a later era, Garcia, Espinosa and Miyares lived a more classic college life, joining a fraternity and taking an active interest in athletics. They built relationships with fellow FIU alumni that have endured through the years, with South Florida business leaders and clients. His affinity for the school led Espinosa to serve as president of the FIU Alumni Association. GEMRT’s clients, many of them fellow FIU alumni, are recognized names in South Florida, as well as small businesses that form the heart of their community.

Today, GEMRT emphasizes strengthening its client service focus through education, technology and hiring practices. The firm has made a major push for artificial intelligence capabilities and automation tools. An investment in education, branded as GEMRT University, serves to bring new accountants up to date on topics that aren’t necessarily taught at the university. The firm also proactively recruits and advances women, winning accolades from Accounting Today magazine as No. 4 in the nation for women in 2019 as well as the No. 11 midsize firm overall, with similar rankings in 2020.

With strong roots in the community, GEMRT also focuses on treating its hard-working employees as family, supporting them through difficult times. The firm has been proactive in client service during the pandemic, partnering with their clients with advice on available programs and customized business consulting, and a strong focus on doing business internationally, a natural fit for a firm with its roots in Miami.

GEMRT’s FIU roots continue in both its physical office space and its professional practice. Setting a scene that would make any Panther feel at home, GEMRT’s logo displays FIU’s blue and gold, and FIU memorabilia is on display throughout its offices. Yet the ongoing connection to the school goes beyond décor. The firm hires a good percentage of FIU graduates into its ranks. GEMRT team members mentor FIU accounting students, advising them to get involved in student organizations and extend their involvement into the community after graduation.

“We were blessed,” said Garcia of his FIU education. “We were in the right place in the right time. We want to make sure it continues, that we leave a legacy for generations to come.”

Researchers to study public support for reducing disaster risk in Latin America and the Caribbean

Morgan Hughes — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:45:00 -0400

A team of researchers from FIU’s Extreme Events Institute is studying Latin American and Caribbean public support for policies that reduce deaths, injuries, and property losses from disasters – and how experiencing a major hurricane, earthquake, or other “extreme event” changes those support levels.

The goal of the research, funded by a three-year, two-phase grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), is to help reduce the loss of life and property from extreme events such as hurricanes and earthquakes in one of the most hazard-prone regions of the world. The Extreme Events Institute research team, alongside FIU’s Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, will work collaboratively with Vanderbilt University’s Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP).

“This research is crucial because risk reduction policies get ahead of disasters to save lives and reduce harm and destruction,” said Barry Levitt, the principal investigator on the study, chair of the FIU department of politics and international relations, and a fellow at FIU’s Extreme Events Institute. “But these policies work best when supported by the public, so we need to better understand how and when that support emerges.”

The research will be conducted in two phases. First, the team will design and deploy public opinion surveys in 16 Latin American countries as well as the U.S. The surveys will assess people’s perceptions of disaster risk – how likely they think they are to be harmed by an extreme event – and their attitudes towards key disaster risk reduction measures, such as stronger land use and building codes.

Then, when an earthquake or hurricane strikes somewhere in Latin America or the Caribbean, the team will deploy a special post-disaster survey in the affected country, asking similar questions, and compare it to the baseline survey data collected in advance. The project will be the first-ever to systematically study public support for disaster risk reduction policies before and after a disaster.

A lack of public support often means that disaster risk reduction policies, even when they reflect best practices, aren’t followed or enforced, Levitt explained.

“When these policies have low levels of public support, sometimes they don’t work the way they are supposed to – builders may not comply fully, and authorities are less willing or less able to enforce them,” Levitt said. “Public opinion and the politics of disaster risk reduction are as important as the technical details of the policies.”

Land use and building code failures – where policies meant to protect people and structures are weak or not implemented – account for most deaths, injuries, and property losses in disasters according to Richard Olson, director of FIU’s Extreme Events Institute.

“But when there’s public support, especially after a disaster, a window of opportunity opens for political leaders to do the right thing – to improve the rigor and enforcement of building and land use codes – and save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives in the future,” Olson said.

Despite many disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean, prior research has typically focused on single countries or communities, Levitt explained, but this new project is intentionally regional.

“We chose to focus on Latin America and the Caribbean for two reasons. First, the region experiences a wide range of different extreme events, including earthquakes and hurricanes. Second, we have particular expertise here at FIU in this part of the world,” Levitt said. “It’s a perfect synergy of skills, experience, and resources.”

The multi-disciplinary research team draws on faculty expertise from political science, public administration, Latin American studies and civil and environmental engineering, among other fields. It’s important to study extreme events from a multifaceted approach, Levitt said, because no single discipline can “see” all of the different dimensions of disasters.

The NSF grant will help this diverse team to share their findings with the international research community, as well as with the public, governments, and non-profit stakeholders.

NICE Conference Series begins Oct. 27, will address the evolving cybersecurity workforce

Katherine Dagand — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Conference Series & Expo, themed “New Decade, New Solutions: Meaningful Actions for an Evolving Cybersecurity Workforce," will begin Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The NICE Conference is hosted by FIU’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy (Gordon Institute) and the Division of Information Technology, along with think tank New America. The conference is part of Cybersecurity@FIU, an FIU emerging preeminent program. It will take place virtually, extended over four weeks, from Oct. 27 to Nov. 16.

The conference will bring together thought leaders from industry, government, academia and nonprofit organizations. Speakers will explore issues in cybersecurity education and workforce development, such as women and minorities in cybersecurity; the effects of the pandemic on the workforce; and the next generation of cyber professionals.

Registration for the conference is free of charge for students, and $50 for industry, academic and government professionals.

It is supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) NICE Program, a partnership between government, academia and the private sector focused on cybersecurity education, training and workforce development.

“Overnight, our nation was forced further into cyberspace, increasing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in a serious way, but crisis often brings opportunity,” said Brian Fonseca, director of the Gordon Institute. “This virtual setting allows us to be more inclusive and reach a larger and more diverse audience in our quest to build meaningful actions that advance the rapidly evolving cybersecurity workforce.”

Conference keynote speakers include Chauncy Lennon of Lumina Foundation; Peter Cappelli of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; and Kara Four Bear and Donna Woods, 2020 Presidential Cybersecurity Education Awardees. There will also be breakout sessions, networking lounges and an exhibitor hall featuring sponsors Cybint Solutions, Security Innovations, IBM and Trend Micro.

The conference will also officially present the updated NIST Special Publication 800-181, the NICE Framework. It is a blueprint to categorize, organize and describe cybersecurity work, and provides a common language to speak about cyber roles and jobs. It can be referenced by those who wish to define professional requirements in cybersecurity in an ever-evolving industry.

“We will unveil a new NICE Strategic Plan to emphasize our priorities for the next several years on topics such as Expanding Use of the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework), Discovering Cybersecurity Careers, Transforming Learning, and Modernizing Talent Management. The NICE Framework will also be the focus of plenary and breakout sessions featured throughout the conference,” said Rodney Petersen, Director of NICE at NIST.

Conference workshops are also available at an additional cost. The workshops will take place on Thursday, Oct. 29; Friday, Nov. 6; Thursday, Nov. 12; and Tuesday, Nov. 17. Workshop topics include adoption strategies of the NICE Framework in the private sector, curriculum development in the online learning environment and more.

“The four-week virtual conference will allow us to expand participation and engagement this year, including the participation of students who are critical to the future of managing cybersecurity risks,” Petersen said.

For more information and to register, please visit niceconference.org.

The current pandemic has put the power and utility of technology on center stage. From homebound CEOs to kindergarteners kept away from school, nearly everyone lives increasingly in the virtual world.

Working to make that space safer is Brian Fonseca, director of Cybersecurity@FIU and a cybersecurity policy fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based think tank New America. He also directs the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy within FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. His career in national security began in 1997 when he served in the United States Marine Corps and facilitated the training of foreign military forces both in conflict zones and during peacetime operations.

Even with his experience at the highest levels, Fonseca cautions against thinking of security concerns only on a grand scale. Threats are as close as one’s pocket, backpack or nightstand.

1. What major security threats are we facing?
While there are several serious national security threats, both domestic and foreign, the most critical involve the technological shifts happening in cyberspace. The rapidly growing number of users and devices connecting to the internet is increasing cybersecurity risks to people, organizations and nations. Cybercriminals are using phishing and web-based attacks to steal money and information and disrupt networks and computer systems. These attacks can affect a major company, like in 2018 when Marriott had a data breach that compromised nearly 339 million guests.

And attacks on the U.S. government can be gravely dangerous. Most recently, at least six federal agencies, including Energy, Commerce, Treasury and State, were reported to have been breached as well as the National Nuclear Security Administration’s networks. This is being called the worst cyberattack ever perpetrated on the U.S. government, and it is believed to have come from Russia, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has publicly stated.

Technology is rapidly changing the nature of conflict, too. Data and networks are vital to militaries engaged in conflict, and the rise of autonomous weapon systems such as drones, fighter planes, tanks and even robot soldiers is changing the face of war.

2. Robot soldiers – yikes. But let’s backtrack. How can we protect ourselves against cyberthreats?
I think education and awareness are vital. Poor cyber hygiene and a lack of understanding contribute to most successful cyber attacks. People are familiar with two-factor authentication or CAPTCHA and find them bothersome, but these tools are incredibly useful against cyber attacks that could take personal information in a matter of seconds. And being aware, reading an email or a text fully before replying or clicking is important, too. Remember how Russian hackers got into John Podesta’s emails? It was through an email he thought was from Gmail. Professional hackers are smart – we must always be alert.

3. How has COVID-19 impacted cybersecurity and the overall global security landscape?
The global pandemic is exacerbating pre-existing socioeconomic and political fissures that could easily turn into widespread instability around the world. Also, the surge in internet connectivity due to social distancing is creating greater opportunities for criminals to exploit vulnerable communities around the world. We are already seeing an increase in cybercrime likely brought about by the pandemic disrupting traditional trafficking routes, pushing criminal organizations into cyberspace or taking up more violent crimes such as extortion and kidnapping for ransom. All this comes back to the need for education and awareness, and the need for a stronger national security workforce.

4. What should the future national security workforce look like?
It should look more like the composition of America. It is diverse and inclusive—in terms of both demographics and thought—and highly interdisciplinary. To get there, we need to engage younger generations and expose them to national security and cybersecurity education. The national security and cybersecurity workforces have high demand, and our students are well positioned to be competitive in pursuing those careers. Something I am proud of my team for executing was the IBM Cyber Day for Girls. More than 200 girls from seven different schools across Miami-Dade gathered on campus at the Frost Art Museum for “IBMCyberDay4Girls,” a one-day conference that educated young women about cybersecurity. It is up to us to facilitate these projects to bridge the cyber gap. Our team also hosts national security workshops every semester for high school students across South Florida.

5. What roles do institutions like FIU and the Gordon Institute play in the national security space?
I find that we are responsible for preparing workforces with the skills needed to combat existing and emerging national security threats. We do this by aligning skills development with prevailing issues and providing important context about the national security landscape. The Gordon Institute is doing this through the IC-CAE Intelligence Fellowship workforce development program that teaches fundamentals of national security, analytic writing and structured analytic methods or our cyber hygiene, cyber operations, and cyber policy courses. We also co-host the NICE Conference which brings together leaders from industry, government and academia to address the community's cybersecurity education, training and workforce needs.

And generally speaking, FIU is emphasizing security and cybereducation in the different colleges. The College of Engineering & Computing recently announced its bachelor’s in cybersecurity and the College of Law next year is launching a technology and law master’s. I would also be remiss if I did not give a shoutout to FIU’s Division of Information Technology team that keeps our systems protected internally. Some may find completing the various login steps that IT has put in place tedious, but trust me, it’s worth it.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the suspected Russian hacking of U.S. agencies and companies that was first reported in December of 2020.

DIY contact tracing interview tool could disrupt spread of COVID-19

Angela Nicoletti — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 11:48:00 -0400

Psychologists have developed a do-it-yourself tool that uses “the science of memory” to improve the ability to remember more contacts during the contact tracing process.

“We hope this tool empowers individuals to recall their own contacts and also reach out to those contacts and play an important role in helping stop the spread of the pandemic,” Goldfarb said.

FIU researchers are studying how to improve contact tracing by tapping into people’s memory.

Psychologists Deborah Goldfarb, Jacqueline Evans and Ronald Fisher are leading a new study funded by an NSF Rapid Response grant to identify a more effective way to conduct contact tracing.

The FIU team will test whether memory for contacts can be improved across different age ranges. Specifically, this study will test whether people between the ages of 9 and 90 recall more contacts when questioned using the cognitive interview compared to a standard contact tracing interview.

“We would like to see if we can improve the completeness of reports provided in contact tracing interviews, particularly for individuals within critical life phases including children and the elderly,” said Goldfarb, the study’s principal investigator. “Findings from our study can help frontline workers conduct safe, efficient and effective interviews with people of all ages.”

The cognitive interview was originally developed by Fisher to gather information from witnesses to crimes. It applies theories of social and cognitive psychology to increase the amount of information a person remembers during an interview.

This technique is considered by many to be the gold standard in investigative interviewing. Now, it is being used to improve contact tracing and help flatten the curve of COVID-19.

Effective contact tracing relies on an accurate, complete list of names. Getting that complete list relies on the asking the right questions, the right way.

Deborah Goldfarb and Jacqueline R. Evans

“If someone asks you to list all your contacts, there is a good chance you will forget some. But the fact that you didn’t remember them doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t remember them,” said Evans co-principal investigator in the study. “My prior research points to the cognitive interview as an effective way to increase the number of contacts remembered during contact tracing.”

The FIU team will also examine the effectiveness of two types of administration: a live interview via video-conferencing and a self-administered online survey format.

Evans points out the self-administered format is less expensive and less resource-intensive. It doesn’t require recruiting or training thousands more contact tracers. Their self-administered test is going to incorporate the cognitive interview approach.

“Applying the science of memory to the process of contact tracing could greatly reduce infection rates and accelerate economic recovery,” Evans said. “Effective contact tracing is going to be important going forward. Not just for the next six months. It's going to be important for the long haul.”

This grant is being funded through FIU's Global Forensic and Justice Center.

Angela Nicoletti contibuted to this story.

An interviewing technique created by an FIU professor may help world health officials identify more people exposed to an infectious disease including coronavirus.

In response to an outbreak, contact tracing interviews are conducted to find out where an infected person has been and with whom they came in contact. Contact tracing is designed to prevent the spread of disease by identifying those who may be infected and in turn requiring treatment or isolation.

The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control have guidelines regarding what information to gather during contact tracing interviews. However, no specific guidelines exist on how to ask questions to maximize the number of contacts an individual remembers.

Results from a recent study by FIU researchers point to the cognitive interview as an effective way to increase the number of contacts reported during contact tracing.

Originally developed by FIU psychologist Ronald Fisher to gather information from witnesses to crimes, the cognitive interview applies theories of social and cognitive psychology to increase the amount of information recalled during an interview.

For the study, which was part of FIU graduate Ali Mosser’s dissertation, 128 participants were asked to imagine they were infected with meningococcal meningitis. Using either a control interview or the cognitive interview, participants were asked to report their contacts over the previous three days. The cognitive interview generated more contacts than the control interview.

“Simply asking an infected individual to generate a list of their contacts without additional mnemonics and/or multiple recall attempts is likely to yield an incomplete list. For example, imagine you are asked to list all 50 states – knowing all 50 states does not mean you can successfully report all of them in one attempt,” said FIU psychologist Jacqueline R. Evans who is a co-author in the study.

Jacqueline R. Evans and Ronald Fisher

Evans conducts research related to witness memory, investigative interviewing and best practices for questioning witnesses, including the cognitive interview.

Contact tracing interviews can be used to identify exposure to a variety of infectious diseases including Ebola, Zika and sexually transmitted infections.

However, the authors point out the techniques most effective when interviewing someone about the flu may not be the most effective when interviewing someone with a sexually transmitted infection about their sexual and/or injection partners over the course of a year.

Evans recommends further research to determine the most effective techniques for enhancing recall in the various contact tracing contexts.

Elementary education program goes back to basics

Chrystian Tejedor — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 10:56:00 -0400

Anemone.

Think about how you just read that word. Did you sound it out?

uh-NEH-muh-nee.

It’s both a flower and in the sea, a simple invertebrate that stings. It is also one of the most mispronounced words in the English language. When reading it, most people will try to sound it out, battling the letter/sound relationships to find a combination that sounds right. Botanists, marine scientists and Finding Nemo screenwriters are usually confident in their pronunciations. The rest of us are reminded of what it was like to first learn to read as a child.

fo-un-day-ti-on. foun-day-ti-on. Foundation !

Learning to read is a major milestone for children. As an adult, learning to read like a child can be challenging. Counterintuitive. Feel almost unnatural even though we still practice the fundamentals from time-to-time. uh-NEH-muh-nee.

Most people think learning to read is easy, because they can already read. Learning to read like a child requires the mental challenge of actually remembering what it was like to be a child in the moments of learning. But when a teacher can learn like a child, they are much more effective at teaching. This idea is a core principle of how FIU is preparing teachers for the modern elementary school classrooms. They don’t start with edgy trends or complex algorithms. They start with the basics, the proven methods of giving children the foundation they need to become lifelong learners.

cuh-uh-at. When a child is learning to read, they struggle at first with reading words they already know how to say. They can say cat. They most likely know what a cat is. But now they’re seeing the word ‘cat’ for the first time. The reward is in the discovery. CAT!

When Helen Robbins teaches her college students how to teach reading in FIU’s School of Education and Human Development, she makes them learn the process of learning to read all over again. The senior instructor begins the course by sounding out simple words, just like a kindergartener.

buh. buh-ih. buh-ih-ig. BIG!

“This is what a child has to learn,” Robbins said. “You have to have a deep understanding of what it means and how it works.”

They move on to rhyming words. Cat. Bat. Hat. Big. Fig. Jig. Then comes phonics, connecting words to the sounds they make. There is lots of practice and repetition. As the lessons sink in, the college students start reading books. Think The Cat in the Hat and How to Be a Big Kid. They progress to more difficult books. And then more difficult ones still.

Eventually, they visit elementary school classrooms in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. They assess reading abilities of students in the classroom. They develop individualized plans to help those struggling more than others. They tutor for up to two semesters.

“The children learn to read and my students learn how to teach reading,” Robbins said.

Reading is a key predictor of future educational gains and life success. Each year, more than 1 million public school students arriving in fourth grade are added to the nation’s ranks of nonreaders. Two-thirds of those are black and Hispanic struggling in the face of an inequitable education system. Yet, children in Miami-Dade County Public Schools have scored first in the nation compared to their counterparts. With many of FIU’s elementary education graduates staying and working locally, FIU education faculty believe their unique degree program is helping Miami-Dade County children buck the national trend.

“We all ask tough questions of ourselves, of our programs,” said Maria Tsalikis, a senior instructor who leads the elementary education program. “What will make these college students be the best teachers out there, not just with our district but in our nation?”

The efforts are working, and others are taking notice. Earlier this year, FIU’s undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program was named one of the top in the United States by the National Council on Teacher Quality. The program was recognized for its strong commitment to evidence-based reading instruction and is one of only 15 undergraduate elementary programs in the country to earn an A+ for exemplary coursework. U.S. News & World Report also ranks FIU’s online education graduate program among the Top 50 best online master’s degrees in education. The program climbed 21 spots in just one year.

ex-peer-ee-en-sss. Experience!

Science lessons are a whole other challenge. Building a foundation with the basics of biology, physics, earth science and chemistry requires tapping into a child’s curiosity. To do that, science class can’t be tedious and it definitely can’t be boring. The same is true for science classes in the elementary education program at FIU.

Assistant professors Emily Dare and Joshua Ellis keep lectures brief to allow more time for active learning. They teach science by doing science, preparing their students to do the same in their own elementary classrooms someday.

Dare gives students a light bulb, a piece of foil and a battery. She asks them to find a way to power the light. No clues given. She tells them to figure it out. They usually do. And they have fun doing it.

When Ellis teaches conduction — the transfer of heat from one object to another — he relies on spoons and ice. He gives one student a plastic spoon and places an ice cube in it. Drip. He hands another student a metal spoon, also cradling an ice cube. Drip. Drip. Which will melt first? As little puddles form at their feet, the ice shrinks along with the students’ apprehensions about teaching science. The metal spoon-holder notices their hand is getting cold, while their plastic counterpart seems totally comfortable. That’s because — spoiler alert! — the metal spoon is better at transferring the holder’s body heat. Drip. Drip. Drip.

“I think one of the biggest challenges is to have these teacher candidates understand what it’s really like to be a teacher,” Ellis said. “Our program stresses a lot of field experiences so they are actually in the classroom of a veteran teacher. And they come back to class at FIU so we can reflect on what that means. It all comes back to making the experience relevant.”

Rel-eh-va-ent. Relevant!

Children live in the same world we live in and they are very curious about it, points out Assistant Professor Rebecca Christ.

Social studies builds a foundation for later lessons in history, civics, political science and geography. It’s about the past and current events. It helps children learn about the world they live in and how to process experiences such as a hurricane or global health pandemic. Simply put, social studies teachers teach relevancy.

Christ teaches her college students about the media, how information is vetted and how news outlets cover different types of events. She wants her future teachers to anticipate underlying narratives that could pop up even though they aren’t part of the curriculum because, after all, they are current events.

For historical events, students do more than read. Take a recent lesson on civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. The college students explored her life through journey boxes — a treasure trove of literature, photographs, news articles and other items about her, the movement and the court cases she ignited. Students can explore these items on their own and as part of a group, discussing and debating the life of times of historical figures. When the content can be a bit heavy, Christ assigns the students to express how they feel through art projects. It’s a great tool for her students, but more importantly, a great tool for children in their future classrooms.

It’s all about tapping into a child’s natural curiosity and readiness to learn, said Laura Dinehart, senior associate dean in FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education and executive director of the School of Education and Human Development.

“Watching a child have those aha! moments, whether it’s putting the sounds together to read, or recognizing how numbers come together to add, is what teaching is all about," Dinehart said. "For children, learning is like uncovering a mystery. Once they solve that mystery and recognize that these are keys to a whole world of mysteries, learning becomes exciting and it only makes them want to learn more.”

At FIU, lessons come alive. Future teachers are taught to experiment, develop basic skills and be fun. The School of Education and Human Development's program is a scalable model for teaching that can work anywhere – one that not only helps children to learn, but cultivates a life-long love of learning.

Rafael Villalobos was determined to make a difference.

He thought he could do that by pursuing a career in law enforcement, so he earned a degree in criminal justice.

Then Villalobos noticed how warm and kind teachers and staff were to his younger brother, who was blind and on the autism spectrum.

“It touched me,” Villalobos said. “Somewhere along the line, I realized I didn’t want to put people in jail.”

Instead, Villalobos focused on building people up. First as a special education teacher in Miami-Dade County, then as a assistant principal and, since 2005, as a school principal.

Earlier this week, schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced Villalobos as the school district’s Principal of the Year.

Watching the award announcement live over the internet was unusual, Villalobos said. Being surrounded by family and school district colleagues in his back yard, however, made the moment that much more special.

Still, winning the award was not something the FIU Educational Leadership doctoral student thought would ever happen – especially not during such a challenging school year.

The COVID-19 pandemic caught everyone by storm. Educators had to scramble to prepare materials and lessons for the digital space. It was a tall order that was manageable for Villalobos because most of his teachers at John A. Ferguson Senior High already were familiar with the school district’s online applications. But the challenges didn’t end with education. Since state and local leaders ordered people to stay at home, Villalobos and his team of administrators, custodians and cafeteria employees continued being caretakers of the community, serving more than 20,000 meals to students and their families twice a week.

Soon, Villalobos and his team at Ferguson Senior High will be cheering on the class of 2020 as they graduate. The celebrations this year will surely be different, but Villalobos feels confident Ferguson has done everything possible to help every single graduate succeed. Today, graduation rates at the west Miami-Dade school hover at about 98.5 percent. And for two consecutive years, the school has earned an A rating from the state.

It’s not something that one person can do on his own, Villalobos said, giving his staff the credit for providing a clean and fun learning environment for their students. But he also realizes how much influence school principals have over their own schools. It’s why he’s focusing his doctoral research on how principals can create environments that inspire teachers to stick with a demanding career and energize individual students to succeed.

“My inspiration is to lay my head on my pillow every night and know that I have touched lives of children no matter how difficult it is, no matter how challenging,” Villalobos said. “We are reshaping the future of our country and if I can shape the future of our country one student at time and create better citizens with what I’m doing, I can’t be more ecstatic about that.”

FIU’s undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program has been named one of the top in the country by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ).

The program in the School of Education and Human Development was recognized for its strong commitment to evidence-based reading instruction. It is one of only 15 undergraduate elementary programs to earn an A+ for exemplary coursework and only one of two in the state of Florida.

“Our elementary education program gives future teachers the foundation to share their passions and their own love of learning,” said Mike Heithaus, dean of FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education. “Our faculty are preparing 21st century educators who are adaptive, collaborative and innovative. They are the teachers that kids truly need today.”

“We are incredibly proud of the work we do at FIU’s Elementary Education program and we are grateful to be recognized for that work through the National Center on Teacher Quality,” said Laura Dinehart, senior associate dean of the School of Education and Human Development in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. “We know that we are preparing teachers who are knowledgeable in the five elements of effective reading instruction — phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension.”

The FIU bachelor’s degree program prepares students to become teachers for kindergarten through 6^th grade while earning endorsements in reading and TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages).

Programs that earn an A+ from NCTQ provide the following for each of the five essential components of reading:

Explicit and repeated instruction;
Support for instruction with high-quality textbooks that accurately detail established principles of scientifically based reading practices;
Opportunities for teacher candidates to demonstrate mastery through in-class assignments, tests and instructional practice.

The latest findings are a positive sign for newly energized movement across the nation to bring down notoriously high rates of illiteracy in the United States. Each year, more than a million public school students arriving in the fourth grade are added to the nation’s ranks of nonreaders. Two-thirds are black and Hispanic children struggling in the face of an inequitable education system. Reading ability is a key predictor of future educational gains and life success, making successful reading instruction essential to achieving educational equity.

“We were excited to see that Miami-Dade’s fourth graders scored first in the nation compared to their counterparts, and we hope that by preparing some of the nation’s best teachers, FIU is helping to contribute to the success of the students in our community,” Dinehart said.

Now in its fourth edition, the Teacher Prep Review assigns a team of literacy experts to examine every course a program requires in early reading, looking at the planned topics to be covered in each class, readings, assignments, practice opportunities, and tests, as well as rating the quality of the textbooks used in each course.

“The progress being made by programs comes as a real shot in the arm,” said Kate Walsh, president of NCTQ, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit research and policy organization. “The resistance to teaching what is scientifically-based has been so formidable. The scale is now tipping in favor of science, and the real winners here are the students who will learn to read.”

As a high school student, Vanessa Valle struggled with reading comprehension until a teacher’s act of empathy showed her how to make sense of it all.

It was that simple act – asking her to visualize the actions on the page like a movie – that inspired Valle to pursue four degrees at FIU. It also informed her teaching style.

“That’s where my heart was,” Valle said. “I wanted to transform how others saw reading and how struggling readers could get it because someone helped me when I learned to get it through someone. I wanted to be that person for them.”

The FIU College of Arts, Sciences & Education alumna was recently named the Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2021 Francisco R. Walker Teacher of the Year. She is the 20^th FIU alumnus to receive the award since 1973. Stephen M. Pereira, an alumnus of the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs was the runner-up. He teaches Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics and Macroeconomics at the School for Advanced Studies.

Valle has taught at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School for most of her 15-year career. While she started as an English and Intensive Reading teacher, the school’s principal asked her to take on the role of literacy coach, working with other teachers through coaching cycles to help them improve their craft.

Six years later, she returned to the classroom while still serving as a literacy coach. That was when Valle noticed one student who was struggling in one of her classes. The student, who had legal issues and a mental health diagnosis, had all but given up. Valle saw something in him. Intent on making his talents show, she watched as he unfolded a little more each day. The student would tell Valle to stop caring. She didn’t. Seeing him improve let Valle know she was on the right path.

“Often times as teachers, we become so closed minded and so focused on getting the content across that we lose the sense of that empathy component,” Valle said.

During her own academic journey, Valle was inspired by FIU professors like Melanie Morales who taught her to empathize with the students with exceptionalities. Erskine Dottin inspired Valle to consider students of various cultures and their differences. And Joyce Fine helped develop Valle’s love for reading.

Vanessa Valle (left) celebrates her 2021 Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year win with FIU instructor Melanie Morales.

Their collective influence informs how Valle works as literary coach, teacher, reading chairperson, lead teacher of the high school’s Academy of Law Studies, dual enrollment instructor, FIU adjunct professor, mother of three and doctoral student – Valle certainly has her hands full.

“My end dream is to work with FIU and to keep molding teachers to love the classroom, go in with an open heart and transform students into developing the love of learning,” Valle said.

My internship at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Emily Rivero — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Name: Sasha Omadally

Hometown: San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

What is your major? Mechanical Engineering

Where did you intern? What was your role there?
I was a product development engineering intern at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) this past summer.

How did you get your internship?
I attended the FIU Career Fair in 2019 where I met with a representative from FCA. He was friendly and asked me questions about my resume. At this point, I did not have much to talk about with respect to previous jobs and research. So instead, I spoke in detail about being a member of Engineers without Borders and my research on electric vehicles that I did for my Honors Innovation Project as a freshman. Later that day, I got a call from FCA for an interview the next morning. The interview consisted of about five questions in the situation, task, action, result (STAR) interview format. About two weeks later, I got an email for a job offer at FCA.

What advice do you have for those beginning the internship process?
My advice is to be open-minded when you are looking for internships or jobs. I got my internship knowing barely anything about the automotive industry and cars, and it was not a field that I ever thought I'd consider, but it was one of the best experiences I've had.

What projects did you work on?
I was part of a project that FCA had specifically designed to be done virtually. It was called the Design Thinking Challenge where we had to apply the design thinking methodology to find a solution for a problem. The problem that my team and I had to solve was reimagining alternative propulsion [i.e. batteries and fuel cells for electric]. At the end of the internship, we presented to a committee that consisted of senior leadership within the company such as the chief information officer, the head of U.S. sales and the head of the powertrain engine division. We proposed a high-performance electric vehicle and had to create an exciting marketing video and a business plan for the idea.

How does your internship connect back to your coursework?
During my internship I had used knowledge gained in my engineering dynamics course to do calculations for the horsepower and torque of the vehicle. When coming up with the business plan for the proposal, there were a concepts that were important that I learned about in my engineering economy course. I also utilized my Honors College digital marketing course, which helped when creating a persona to whom we would target the product and when understanding what is needed to attract customers to a new concept.

What was the coolest thing about your internship or that has happened during your internship?
I think the coolest thing about the internship was the presentation at the end of the program because when my team and I pitched our idea to the committee members, they were all very proud and excited. Someone asked, “Can this be done?” and the head of the powertrain engine division said it was possible. I think that the committee was as excited about the idea as I was.

What are you learning about yourself or how is the position increasing your professional confidence?
This internship helped me feel more comfortable with being a female engineer. I met with some amazing female engineers at the company who mentored and supported me throughout the summer. They spoke about their experience in the automotive industry and gave me advice. A couple of things that I have been trying to practice are being more assertive and not being afraid to ask questions.

What is it like to have a “virtual” internship during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Initially, I was a bit hesitant about having a virtual internship, mainly because I have a really loud family and a dog, but after a little while I adjusted, and I became a lot more comfortable with the situation. Everyday, I would have a virtual meeting with my team using Google Meet. We would use this time to talk about the project and get the majority of the work done. I would also use this platform if I had any other meetings or training. Sometimes, I would get tired of sitting or being behind a computer all day so I would have to walk around or play with my dog. There were both pros and cons for a virtual internship, but I think that FCA was successful in making it a great learning experience.

What tools were you provided with to succeed in a virtual internship?
I was given a laptop which had the ability to access FCA software, as well as training on how to access and use the various websites and software that were needed for the internship. I also had a peer mentor who supported me, guided me and connected me to various people at the company. I was also given various training such as design thinking, manufacturing, and safety.

How did you connect with colleagues and build connections through a remote work environment?
It was a bit more difficult to meet people when working virtually because if you don’t know someone’s name or job, you’re probably never going to meet that person. Most of my networking happened because I was talking to someone and they would say, “I know someone who can help you. His/Her name is…” and I would find the person in the employee directory and send them an email. Sometimes they would respond, other times they wouldn’t. It was also a bit more difficult to connect with my team because we were only meeting during office hours, whereas if it was in person, we would be going out for lunch or coffee. But I think that I made the most of the situation.

Career Engage prepares online learners with professional-readiness skills

Monica Smith — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

While no career is exactly like another, there are a few core competencies that make graduates stand out. These well-rounded, professional-readiness skills have become more important than ever in the remote learn and work environment, and go beyond basic tips on how to interview well.

Understanding this, FIU Online created the Career Engage program in 2019 to help the university’s fully online engineering management students close the skills gap, hone communication abilities and harness the hard and soft skills they need for their respective industries.

An edge for students

Since 2019, the program has expanded to include fully online students in hospitality and tourism management degree programs as well as those earning degrees in public health. Currently, Career Engage has more than 2,100 students enrolled, many of whom are navigating the changing job landscape in the wake of COVID-19.

“The job search has become more challenging and competitive," says Nico Rose, associate director for academic program management at FIU Online. “Career Engage was created to give our students an edge."

“I completed the program because I wanted to gain extra skills that would make me more marketable,” says graduate student Dominique Colas, who received certification in wedding planning to complement her degree in hospitality management.

Colas explains that the certification course has diversified her knowledge and will allow her to create an additional stream of income with wedding planning if she needs to.

Like Colas, Corey Damon, also a fully online master’s student in hospitality management, enrolled in Career Engage to help make his resume stand out. Damon is full-time active duty, stationed in San Diego, serving in the Navy, but wants to enter the hospitality industry when he returns to civilian life. Because of his years of service, he doesn’t have as much hospitality experience as he would like.

“I’m going to have to find ways to set myself apart. These certifications will make me stand out and allow me to compete better with those who have more experience,” he acknowledges.

However, it isn’t just certification those enrolled gain. The program also provides practice with communication and personal branding, which public health graduate student Alshima Shuiab found useful.

Both Shuiab and Damon agree that personal branding may not come naturally to some. They both also say they learned how to maximize their use of LinkedIn through the Career Engage activities.

“The thing I liked most about the program, in addition to the hard skills, were the soft skills I learned. Communication is more important now than ever,” Shuiab says. “The program prepared and allowed me to apply what I’ve learned and integrate that with my on-the-job training.”

Tied to industry needs

“At FIU we are constantly searching for ways to enhance our student experience, which in turn, will translate into student success,” says Cynara Suarez, associate director of online student services at FIU Online.

Rose adds that Career Engage was designed to help augment traditional academic models. Graduating students who want to stay relevant will need to consider ongoing learning through micro-credentials, and this trend has fueled the rise of certifications and badges for a range of industries like engineering management, hospitality and tourism management and public health.

“We connected with our unit liaisons in the college and their industry partners, which identified critical workforce competencies as well as skill gaps that helped us focus on what experience to create within Career Engage,” he says.

Three-step badging pathway

Available to both undergraduate and graduate students, completion of the three-step Career Engage pathway is self-determined and completely online. It is also built in the Canvas learning management system; so online learners can work at their own pace. Students are encouraged to complete their certifications and badges by the time they graduate.

When students start Career Engage, they begin a three-step badging pathway. The first step is to earn professional certifications; the second step encompasses soft skills that are in-demand and in need; and the third step guides students to build their personal brand with a capstone project to create a career action plan.

“It didn’t take me long to complete the entire course. I really enjoyed the lessons, and I learned some valuable new skills,” Colas says.

Valuable tools

Within Career Engage, students practice their skills with a mock interview that features role-play scenarios. When a student completes the entire badging pathway, they receive a Career Engage university badge they can use for their personal branding, such as on social media, email signatures or resume.

Additional Career Engage experiences will be added to pair with more fully online degrees in the future.

“Our hope is to foster a culture of lifelong learning. We want to be a university that goes beyond graduation,” Suarez adds.

Cancer does not take a break

Contributing Writer — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 11:30:00 -0400

By Julia Bisschops

The number of newly reported cancer cases is down. That sounds like good news, but it’s not. Fewer cancers are being diagnosed because fewer people are getting screened for cancer. They are postponing routine screening tests like mammograms, pap smears, and colonoscopies because of COVID-19. A recent survey by the Prevent Cancer Foundation found that 43% of Americans missed preventive medical appointments because of COVID-19. The key to saving lives in cancer screenings is early detection, and we are losing this opportunity during this pandemic.

I understand the apprehension. As the physician lead of the Linda Fenner 3D Mobile Mammography Center, I know that screening tests, including mammograms, are inherently nerve-wracking. Our patients don’t rest easy until they hear their mammogram results are normal. Now, they have the added worry of being exposed to the new coronavirus. Understandably, some women don’t want to take the risk. By postponing a mammogram, they are also taking a risk.

Mammography saves lives. It allows us to detect breast cancer early. And the earlier we catch it, the greater a woman’s chance of survival.

The Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine launched the mobile mammography center in 2014 in response to alarming rates of late-stage breast cancer in South Florida communities where many uninsured women lack access to health care. We provide free screening mammograms to uninsured women in Miami Dade County and have a patient navigator to help guide women who require follow up imaging studies and specialized care.

Like many other health facilities, our mobile mammography center temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But we are back. And so are other imaging centers. I urge women to get preventive care, including mammograms, and get them done safely.

Our new normal includes a limit of only one patient in the mobile center at a time to allow for social distancing. We do pre-screening phone calls to minimize the risk of someone bringing the virus on board, and we do a deep cleaning after each patient. We also provide patients with a mask to wear before coming on board, and our entire staff wears personal protective equipment—mask, face shield, gloves, gown. I recommend that you inquire and make sure that your doctor or health care facility is also following all necessary safety precautions.

We can no longer afford to put these important health screenings on hold. Dr. Norman Sharpless, director of the National Cancer Institute, warns that COVID-19 could impact cancer mortality. He predicts that a decline in breast and colorectal cancer screening alone may lead to 10,000 additional deaths in the next decade due to the lost opportunity for early detection before cancer can spread.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but for us, every month is October. We must remind women year-round about the importance of breast cancer screening.

**Uninsured women interested in a free screening mammogram can call 305-FIU-PINK (305-348-7465).

'Me, a certified PA! Unbelievable!'

Ileana Varela — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Call it serendipity.

Andre Kerr was vacationing with his wife. It was an idyllic spot next to a river in their native Jamaica. Suddenly, a teenage boy started to drown. Kerr and others jumped in and pulled him out.

Fortunately for the boy, Kerr and an American tourist performed CPR and revived him. At breakneck speed, they drove the 13 year old to the hospital. They saved his life. The incident would also change Kerr's life. He just didn't know it yet.

Since childhood, Kerr had wanted to be a medical practitioner. He loved science and medicine. His mom and friends called him Dr. Dre. But "honestly, my family was large, and medical school was expensive," he says. "In Jamaica, I thought we couldn't afford medical school."

Fast forward to the present. Kerr is a physician assistant at the Miami VA Healthcare System in Miami and Broward County, practicing internal and preventive medicine. He is a graduate of the inaugural 2015 class of the Master's in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He is the first in his family to attend college and study medicine.

Kerr was so grateful to FIU that after graduating in 2017 and passing his licensing exam in early 2018, he wrote a thank you note to then HWCOM dean, Dr. John Rock. The subject line read: "Me, A Certified PA! Unbelievable!"

"For me, a 42-year-old, Jamaican born, black male, with a wife and two girls to take care of and provide for, and be given this opportunity, is more than a dream come true. Words cannot express adequately what this program has given me and has done for me and my family."

Back to that day many years ago—after rushing the boy to the hospital, Kerr discovered that the American who helped revive the teen was a PA. "I said, what's that? In Jamaica, we don't have physician assistants." The man explained that PAs work under the supervision of a physician. But they can examine and diagnose patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x-rays, make diagnoses, prescribe medication and practice in all medical specialties. Kerr thought it was a perfect fit for his personality.

"As a PA, you're at the center of the patient's health care team. You speak to the patient, the nurse, the dietician, the surgeon, the social worker. The doctor may not have time to do all of that. PAs play a critical and vital role in the health care team," he says.

In 2005, Kerr and his wife—then a registered nurse, now a neonatal nurse practitioner—moved to the United States. In 2015, he was working as a field service biomedical engineer when HWCOM announced its new PA program. Opportunity knocked.

"During my PA school interview, they asked me why FIU? I said because the "I" is for international, and you can't get more international than me, so I'm supposed to be here!"

Kerr describes working during the COVID-19 pandemic as exciting, but heartbreaking. "Especially being black and seeing the comorbidities in the underserved communities. Sometimes it's overwhelming but mostly humbling."

He is too modest to see himself as a role model. However, Kerr hopes to encourage young blacks to pursue careers in health care. "It's a daunting reality. Patients have a more natural trust with someone who looks like and speaks like them," he says.

Kerr feels it helps get minority patients to open up about their health issues and better comply with prescribed medications and treatments.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physician assistants are among the fastest-growing and best-paid occupations. The 2019 median salary for PAs was $112,260.

In case you're interested, Kerr will tell you that life as a PA will be "challenging, rewarding, sometimes frustrating, but never boring."

The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU presents new virtual events series: “Black Lives in a Jewish Context”

Erica Corsano — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU will present “Black Lives in a Jewish Context,” a virtual series of illustrated lectures, films, and interviews with scholars, historians, and clergy members around diversity and intersectionality within Judaism.

The series will include key players, from Chief Rabbi Capers Funnye of Beth Shalom Bnai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago (and Michelle Obama’s cousin), to scholars and activists in the U.S. including Nathan Devir, associate professor at the World Languages and Cultures department at the University of Utah and Shalva Weil, senior researcher at the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The series also will feature a virtual launch of Hybrid Hate: Conflations of Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Semitism from the Renaissance to the Third Reich, written by Tudor Parfitt - professor with the Department of Religious Studies at FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, and emeritus professor at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies.

Fall programming dates:

Monday, Oct. 26 at 12 p.m.
From Red to Black: The Changing Colour of Ethiopian Jews in Israel
Shalva Weil, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
This lecture traces the perceived changing color of Ethiopian Jews in Israeli society with a dual –etic (outsider) and –emic (subjective) perspective over a period of 50 years, from the time they first migrated to Israel, until today. Inevitably, the lecture surveys the different waves of Aliya (immigration) of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. It will be argued that over this period of time, Ethiopian Jews became “blacks” in the eyes of the Israeli public and, from the point of view of Ethiopian Jews themselves, they turned into ‘black’ from what they perceived as ‘red’ (the colour they thought they were before they came to Israel). The lecture recalls recent racial attacks in Israel, and particularly the case of Solomon Teka, shot dead by police in a northern town in Israel. The current situation in Israel undoubtedly resonates with increasing racialization in the United States.

Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
Hybrid Hate: Conflations of Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Semitism from the Renaissance to the Third Reich
Tudor Parfitt, Florida International University
Join Tudor Parfitt for the virtual launch of his book, Hybrid Hate: Conflations of Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Semitism from the Renaissance to the Third Reich. Hybrid Hate is the first book to study the conflation of antisemitism and anti-Black racism. As objects of racism, Jews and Blacks have been linked together for centuries as peoples apart from the general run of humanity. In this book, Parfitt investigates the development of anti-Semitism, anti-Black racism, and race theory in the West from the Renaissance to the Second World War. This program is co-sponsored by Books & Books and the Global Jewish Studies Program at the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs.

Please note that the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU remains closed but offers an array of virtual programs and exhibitions at jmof.fiu.edu**

Food for thought: Students share love of Hispanic culture through food

Ivonne Yee-Amor — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0400

Spicy mango pepper pork tacos heating up in a slow cooker.

The smell of garlic, onion and pepper sofrito on the stove.

Taking a bite out of a hearty, Cuban sandwich...

These are the sights and smells found in the homes of so many FIU students who celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, not just in September and October, but every day through their love of food.

"You can really learn a lot about culture through food and that's why I love food so much, it connects people and you can learn a lot about each other," said Eliana de Las Casas, who is half Cuban and half Honduran and a junior at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. She also happens to have won the "2016 Chopped Teen Tournament" on the Food Network when she was just 16 years old.

The 2016 Teen Grand Champion, who is scheduled to graduate in December 2021, says her favorite food is tacos in every flavor and form. She even makes her own tortillas using masa (aka flour), water and salt and hand presses and fries them herself. Her favorite filling is a mango and pepper pork.

"I love the connection that food brings. I love that Hispanics love food and it's perfect," she adds.

At a time when social distancing and mask-wearing are the norms in everyday life, the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the cultures and the contributions of the Hispanic community, have taken on a different look this year.

On Oct. 13, which was officially Spain Day, students joined a Zoom webinar for a tasting of foods from Spain and followed along as chef Mat Shuster of Canela Bistro & Wine Bar in San Francisco gave background information on the ingredients, while participants made their own traditional, Spanish pinchos and tapas.

Students at the Chaplin School are also sharing their own recipes and spicing them up, thanks to one of the school's biggest partners, Badia Spices. The family-owned company was started by Jose Badia in 1967 and is now a leading purveyor of spices, seasoning blends and marinades. Students, staff and faculty can walk up to the front desk in the dean's office and ask for Badia Spice packets anytime.

Chaplin School senior JC Baltodano uses the spices to cook up his delicious, al pastor burrito. He marinades the meat in dried chiles and in Badia spices.

"As a young man from Honduras, I loved Badia Spices because I grew up using their seasoning to flavor my food," said Baltodano. "I enjoy cooking with Hispanic spices such as Sazón Completo or Culantro y Achiote. I am grateful for their partnership with the Chaplin School and for always being the inspiration behind my next great dish."

As for Chef Eliana, she can't get enough of spices and even makes her own blends. "I grew up around food and I've always just loved spices."

Students who share their favorite spices or recipes this month from any of the school's partners, like Badia Spices, Bacardi USA or Quirch Foods, will be featured on the @fiuhospitality Instagram page—that includes Chef Eliana's Slow Cooker Mango Pepper Pork recipe or Chef JC's Al Pastor Burrito.

FIU to serve as an early voting site

Contributing Writer — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 11:56:00 -0400

Once again, FIU is open for service as an early voting site. The polling site is at the Student Academic Success Center (SASC) Multipurpose Room at MMC.

Anyone registered to vote in Miami-Dade County – including FIU students, faculty and staff – can vote at this location. Vote-by-mail ballots will also be accepted at this site and may be dropped off in a secure Ballot Drop Box.

The Miami-Dade County Elections Department created a Health & Safety Fact Sheet outlining what poll workers are doing to ensure everyone’s good health – as well as what’s required of in-person voters – during this election season.

We asked Dr. Mary Jo Trepka, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology in the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, if she had anything to add to the Elections Department’s requirements, which include wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing and using hand sanitizer. She offered the following suggestions:

Go at times when you think fewer people will be there such as during the work day if you are able. (FIU poll workers said they’ve been experiencing an uptick in voters at the site between the hours of 8 to 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 4 to 7 p.m.)

Vote prior to Nov. 3 if you are healthy. This avoids the risk of your being sick on election day and not being able to vote.

The polling site at FIU will be open daily through Sunday, Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Spaces will be reserved in Lot 3, east of the SASC Building, for voter parking. We recommend accessing the lot using the Southwest 107 Avenue and 16 Street campus entrance (please see map below.)

Anyone coming to campus, including voters, must wear a face covering and adhere to physical distancing guidelines.

For more information, please visit the Miami-Dade County Elections early voting page.

How does a dynamic young university talk about itself? It gets ‘Real’

Alexandra Pecharich — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 10:15:00 -0400

On the heels of an incredible 10 years that saw the university reach once-unimaginable heights, FIU is embracing new language to tell its story.

Recently named one of the Top 100 public universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report, FIU continues a steady ascent on the national stage even as it fills a critical role within South Florida.

FIU has been widely recognized in recent years as its graduates make names for themselves in a variety of fields and the university earns distinctions often reserved for much older institutions. The latter include classification as a top-tier research university and designation as a top innovation university (15^th in the nation) for its high patent production.

Recognizing its position as a rising institution that has already achieved many measures of greatness, FIU has taken stock of how best to communicate its accomplishments and values.

“Our unstoppable drive speaks volumes about who we are,” says Sandra Gonzalez-Levy, senior vice president for the Division of External Relations, Strategic Communications and Marketing. “As Miami’s public research university and one with a decidedly upward trajectory, we have a lot to share with the world.”

‘Real’ recognizes our unrelenting progress. It captures the energy and momentum that together uplift a community, improve lives and prepare tomorrow’s leaders.

At the behest of President Mark B. Rosenberg and the Board of Trustees, Gonzalez-Levy invited evaluation of the university’s reputation by a leading marketing firm that surveyed both insiders and outsiders. The picture that came into focus: dynamic, enterprising, driven, proud and welcoming.

“All of these words together point to an institution grounded in reality even as it soars,” Gonzalez-Levy says. “They describe a university where young people thrive under the encouragement of mentors, where professors meet challenges in the classroom and in the laboratory, where addressing community needs goes without saying, and where life-long learners come to retool.

“So this is where we landed: FIU is ‘real.’”

The “Real” campaign showcases students who work and go to school while dreaming up new businesses and finding ways to help others through tough times. It highlights researchers working to solve the world’s most-pressing problems. It emphasizes a commitment to championing the most important social causes of our time. And it celebrates those who make a difference every day.

“In short,” Gonzalez-Levy says, “‘Real’ recognizes our unrelenting progress. It captures the energy and momentum that together uplift a community, improve lives and prepare tomorrow’s leaders. Our 330,000-plus alumni are living proof.”

Building on success

Two years shy of the 50^th anniversary of opening its doors, the young university has much to shout about. In September, it rose on the U.S. News & World Report college rankings to No. 95 among all public universities and registered as No. 13 and No. 32, respectively, for improving the social mobility of its graduates and providing value to it students. And its international business program has for the second consecutive year ranked No. 2 in the nation.

‘Real’ accentuates our inherent strengths and authenticity.

The U.S. News placements followed closely on FIU’s ranking as the No. 18 national public university and No. 3 “Bang for the Buck” public university in the Southeast by Washington Monthly Magazine. FIU also ranks No. 58 among U.S. public universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

FIU defined itself for 10 years through the successful, even beloved, “World’s Ahead” campaign. The phrase continues to resonate with an extended university community that identifies as both homegrown and international, locally raised and globally connected. As a Carnegie Research I university (which designates highest research activity) and a majority-minority institution that celebrates its multiculturalism, FIU is now ready to establish itself as a university for the here and now.

“‘Real’ accentuates our inherent strengths,” Gonzalez-Levy says. “Our authenticity has propelled us this far, and we have every intention of reaching the very top.”

Alumna rises from the ashes

Christine Calvo — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 09:03:00 -0400

Tammy Gammon’s house caught fire, destroying both her burgeoning fashion business and the Atlanta home she shared with three sons — an 11-year-old and 16-year-old twins. For two months, the family of four lived in a hotel. Then, COVID-19 struck. It wasn’t enough to stop the artist and entrepreneur.

Gammon grew up in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to Miami when she was 17. After graduating from FIU in 2000 with a degree in English, she taught English to 6-8^th graders whose first language was not English. The only way she was able to initially communicate with her students was through her first love — art. She then switched to higher education, eventually becoming director of admissions for an online university.

Five years ago, the working mom tried her hand at painting a pair of earrings. And just like that, Three Dream Designs was born — a collection of art, life and memories. The colorful pieces were a definite statement piece. Gammon became an entrepreneur, transforming a room in her house into a studio and creating handmade earrings, accessories, paintings and wearable art.

Working from home in Atlanta gave Gammon more time to focus on her sons, one of which has special needs.

Her work is inspired by her Caribbean roots and time spent drinking café con leches in Miami’s Little Havana, she says. The jewelry and clothing designs celebrate women of color, abstract expressionism, stylized mandalas and bright colors.

The January fire that tore through her home destroyed all of her artistic creations, wiping out her business’ inventory. While living in a one-bedroom hotel room, she sketched and painted earrings to keep the business going. Hotel staff noticed. The housekeeper attending to her room saw it all and word spread. Gammon sold the pieces and began saving up money.

“I remember saying, ‘I have to come back from this. I have to come back stronger. I don’t know how, but I will.’”

Gammon and her sons returned to their repaired home at the end of March, just as COVID-19 was gripping much of the country. Worried how the pandemic was affecting the economy, she kept working. Her heart was set on launching a new line. She bought all the materials she needed, leaving only $2.30 in her bank account.

Two days later, she launched. It sold out.

Gammon decided to gamble a second time. She sent $300 worth of her merchandise to Tabitha Brown – an American social media influencer and actress.

Once again, the gamble paid off. Brown wore a swimsuit Gammon sent her the day after she received the package and posted a photo to her Instagram account, which has more than 3 million followers. It went viral. Then Brown wore a dress Gammon sent, and that went viral too.

Gammon’s dresses and swimsuits started selling out fast. She had to stop, replenish and hold the pieces for a virtual international women’s conference with the Jamaican Chamber of Commerce for Women in Atlanta where she was scheduled to present.

Currently, Gammon has 56 different products that she hopes will give people life, love and hope.

“When I’m painting, I have music playing,” Gammon said. “Bachata, everything else. It’s just being able to light up.” I want somebody to look at my pieces and just say, “You know what, I feel it.’”

Gammon has a long-term goal of creating a nonprofit – Tam Gam Foundation – which she hopes is up and running within the next 10 years to help medically fragile children and people who suffer from depression. For now, the artist, designer and business owner sketches drawings and sends them to children and elderly people in nursing homes to paint.

“The paintings won’t look like Picassos but who cares,” she said. “It’s just that they are actually doing something and not thinking about that pain or anything else right now.”

Until then, she will continue to share her art with the world through her wearable designs, pop-up galleries and exhibits. Her work is also found in a wide ethnic variety of homes in the United States, Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, as well as the Blu Rose Art Gallery in Georgia. Her products are available for purchase online and can also be seen on Instagram and Facebook.

When asked to describe her life in one word, the answer was simple. Phoenix.

Tammy Gammon was recently featured in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education series Humans of CASE.

Zen Fest helps students get their zen on

Contributing Writer — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

By Karina Taylee

Healthy Living Program (HLP), offers students free massages, acupuncture, and aromatherapy blends throughout the year but the department’s main annual event, Zen Fest, is a vibrant student gathering that takes place in the fall.

Students look forward to a daylong event filled with holistic wellness sessions ranging from education on crystals to hypnotherapy accompanied by a Zen Market of local vendors selling everything from houseplants to organic candles. With the current pandemic in full swing, organizers wondered: How can Zen Fest go virtual?

Like everything else in 2020, the festival’s lineup went through a series of changes to adapt into a new virtual form. It was easy to imagine wellness consultations happening through Zoom, but Zen Fest posed a unique set of challenges: how to provide a fun and interactive shopping experience and handout giveaways.

Omitting the market was not an option. Fortunately, the department found a way to bring people together via Zoom with videos shot by the entrepreneurs featuring their goods in a segment called “Spotlight” and even provided exclusive discounts from vendors and giveaways from HLP to attendants.

As soon as the event started, it was clear that something special was happening. What was once a bustling room full of life and energy, was now a digital promenade of similar proportions. Students participated in sessions ranging from sound therapy, meditation, hypnosis, crystals, yoga and tarot card reading. Students weren’t just listening to lectures though, they were able to do a deep breathing practice, a 30-minute yoga flow, get a group tarot card reading, and mindfully eat a snack of their choice with a Registered Dietitian.

“What I enjoyed about the Zen Fest the most was the energy that the presenters provided to us,” said Silvina DiPietro, a student attendant. “[It was] a great opportunity to feel relaxed and learn new things that’s usually not spoken or mentioned in everyday life or even in school.”

Thanks to the department’s dedication, students were introduced to vendors providing crystals, nutrition supplements, organic skincare, hypnotherapy, their tarot cards read, and even the campus chiropractor.

“It was nice being able to still go through the sessions,” said Madison Blumengarten, an FIU student who regularly attends HLP’s events, “I enjoyed learning more about services I didn’t know about [and discovering] places off campus that offer holistic services too.”

This year’s Zen Fest was a place where students and Miami residents from all over could come together to learn what it means to be a community. They didn’t just watch, but they participated, they laughed, they explored, they connected. While on the surface it looked like just an event about self-care, from the inside it was a celebration of the magic that happens when people come together and delight in each other.

Revisions to Spring 2021 academic calendar

Contributing Writer — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

The following message from Provost and Executive Vice President Kenneth G. Furton was shared with the university community on October 14, 2020.

At FIU, our top priority continues to be the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff.

In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses, FIU has removed Spring Break 2021 from the academic calendar.

The Spring semester will still begin as scheduled on January 11, 2021 and will end on April 24, a week earlier than originally planned. Please see the updated FIU Academic Calendar for more information.

Spring Break is a time when students have traditionally traveled and gathered in large numbers. Given that COVID-19 continues to pose significant health risks, the university has decided to cancel Spring Break in an abundance of caution.

As part of our COVID-19 mitigation efforts, it is very important that all students, faculty and staff complete the Panthers Protecting Panthers (P3) Online Safety Screening Questionnaire before the start of each day on campus. This questionnaire can be filled out using the P3 app. If you haven’t already done so, please download the app from the Google Play or Apple store.

For additional information, please visit our Panthers Protecting Panthers website.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work together to keep our FIU healthy.

The Wolfsonian–FIU project would increase access to the collection, boost impact on South Florida community

Contributing Writer — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 17:10:00 -0400

A project that would create a new entrance and gathering and exhibition spaces just north of The Wolfsonian–FIU is under consideration in Miami Beach.

The proposed project will be jointly shaped by an architect, city governance, preservation groups and Miami Beach residents. Plans call for more and larger gallery space to showcase pieces in the museum’s collection that have never been exhibited because they are too big for the existing space.

The venture would also create an inviting new museum entrance with greenery and retail storefronts. Architecturally significant Deco facades on Washington Avenue would be preserved and existing businesses in the area will have the option of growing into the new space.

“This project will mark the beginning of a new phase for The Wolfsonian–FIU,” said Acting Director Casey Steadman. “The project will use architecture to create a sense of inclusion and access that will bring residents and visitors into The Wolfsonian–FIU and serve as an anchor for the revitalization of Washington Avenue.”

The Wolfsonian–FIU has been a cultural anchor in Miami Beach since it opened in 1995. The building itself – a former warehouse for Washington Storage Company – was acquired by art collector and philanthropist Mitchell “Micky” Wolfson Jr. to house his vast collection of 200,000 mostly American and European objects dating from 1850 to 1950 that range from household appliances to wartime propaganda.

Micky Wolfson stands in "A Universe of Things," an installation that examines his life of collecting by exploring how objects form networks that connect across time and cultures. Photo by Lynton Gardiner

In 1997, Wolfson gave the museum and its collection to FIU.

“I entrusted my Wolfsonian not just to FIU, but also to the South Florida communities and to our visitors from all over the world,” said Founder Micky Wolfson. “It gives me enormous satisfaction to see that this audacious expansion will present the collection as even a greater catalyst for discussion, education and thoughtfulness that is so important to giving our new present what was valid and invalid in our past.”

The project will be funded by $10 million awarded to The Wolfsonian by voters in 2004 through Miami-Dade County's Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond, which will be supplemented by private donations. A full design process, required approvals and review, and opportunities for community participation are still ahead.

A space that intrigues and inspires

Intrigued by The Wolfsonian–FIU’s unique exhibits and curios, Miami Beach resident Suzi Rudd Cohen found herself coming back to the museum again and again – so often, in fact, that she was inspired to join The Wolfsonian–FIU’s advisory board.

“When we moved to Miami Beach 15 years ago, I was starving for intellectual engagement,” she said, adding she was surprised to find The Wolfsonian–FIU just a few blocks from her apartment. “The museum is brimming with intellectual stimulation and treasures.”

There are many thought-provoking pieces in the collection, Rudd Cohen attests, none more compelling than the last: “The aluminum Wrestler who greets you at the door, an edition of Mein Kampf in Braille, and the breathtaking stained-glass windows by Henry Clarke – I could go on and on.”

In the fiscal year 2019-2020, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum welcomed more than 26,000 visitors on site, including nearly 1,700 visitors to the weekly “Free Fridays at the Wolf.” It also hosted 436 group tours and 43 public programs; and when the museum was forced to temporarily close to the public as a result of the pandemic, it offered a series of virtual tours, digital exhibits and programming online. In its endeavor to preserve history and culture, The Wolfsonian–FIU also acquired 590 works last year.

Visitors explore the museum's vast collection. Photo by World Red Eye

Equally important to the museum’s mission are research and community outreach. Young people, for example, are finding their voices on social issues and expressing their creativity through The Wolfsonian–FIU’s popular classroom programs: STEAM x Design, STEAM Zine, and Zines for Progress, three keystone educational initiatives that familiarize Miami-Dade County Public Schools students with the world-class collection in their backyard.

Nautilus Middle School Teacher Lisette Burns feels the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) outreach activities she and her students participate in at the museum are “invaluable, memorable and unique,” and she looks forward to bringing future classes, too.

Zines for Progress brings local high school students to the museum to research social issues and learn from an artist. Using this work, they create self-published “zines” that challenge them to express their opinions and inspire positive changes in their communities. The zines are included in the museum’s digital collection and can be viewed at zines.wolfsonian.org.

“The creative process is a much more organic way to learn. In class, we talk about congruency between the idea, the image and the message. It really helps promote critical thinking,” said Caridad McCormick, whose twelfth grade creative writing class from G. Holmes Braddock High School participated in Zines for Progress program in 2017.

Teen-created zines by participants of the Zines for Progress program, available to view at zines.wolfsonian.org

A new division of FIU, The Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab (WPHL), will take all of this community interaction to the next level. Connecting the often-siloed worlds of academic, public, and civic life, WPHL will help champion the collections of all three of FIU’s art museums.

The Wolfsonian–FIU also provides fellowships to promote scholarly research on its collection in a wide range of fields and hosts short-term visits from scholars from around the world. In addition, researchers have access to an ever-growing catalog of digitized objects in the museum’s online collection.

With the realization of this project, The Wolfsonian–FIU can flourish as a cultural and educational hub in Miami Beach that both inspires visitors and sparks ingenuity in scholars and creators for generations to come.

Physical trainer shares the inside scoop on virtual personal training sessions

Contributing Writer — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

By Maya Harris Ph.D. '20

“Change is inevitable. It’s the only constant thing in life so get used to it.” Someone told me this as a child and though it confused me then, I definitely understand it now.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about much change for many, if not all of us, in one way or another. Schools and work were moved online, or canceled, gyms, parks and bars were closed, and life as we knew it changed at a moment’s notice.

From a fitness perspective, gyms closing seemed to have posed a drastic issue. While there are truly some things about the gym that can’t be replicated at home for the average person, a good workout can occur almost anywhere as many people soon discovered.

Some discovered home workouts for the first time, while others couldn’t care less about gyms being closed. Some were downright outraged and took to the hot and humid Florida streets to protest by doing push-ups and yelling—which clearly wasn’t a workout outside if you let them tell it.

As a personal trainer at the FIU Wellness and Recreation Center and Doctor of Physical Therapy Student at FIU, the WRC closure forced me to become more creative in my fitness exploits as well.

I began conducting personal training online, which I never thought I’d do and never really had the desire to do. To be quite honest, initially, I wasn’t sure how things would go.

Prior to beginning online personal training, I strongly believed that some things about in-person personal training, such as tactile cueing, having a 3D visual of a client, or manually stretching someone, just couldn’t be replicated. But I soon came to find, just like most things in life, where there’s a will there’s a way.

With a few adjustments, some patience, and critical thinking, my clients and I have figured out how to make our online personal training sessions both enjoyable and effective with and without equipment, while still maintaining a safe environment for each of us.

As the world begins to open back up, but Covid lingers with a vengeance, I’d like to encourage people to be safe, take extra precautions and take this virus seriously. However, don’t let your caution translate into fear. Do not be paralyzed by the virus.

I encourage you to be creative and find new, and maybe even unconventional ways, to accomplish your goals, fitness and otherwise.

If you’re looking for that next step in your fitness journey, and were just about to start personal training or have been thinking about it but haven’t been sure, or haven’t wanted to go to the gyms yet, (as with most other things these days) consider doing so online.

Be safe, be flexible and stay strong!

Students take top placement at nuclear remediation competition

David Drucker — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 10:44:00 -0400

It’s a dirty job, but someone needs to do it.

The United States has millions of gallons of hazardous radioactive waste buried beneath the surface at Department of Energy facilities around the country. The byproducts of World War II and a Cold War nuclear weapons race are laying there, contained in metal or concrete tanks the size of swimming pools, awaiting treatment and disposal.

It’s a discarding process that began in the 1940s and lasted throughout the Cold War. U.S. decision makers pumped radioactive waste into tanks stored underground. These containers, it turns out, corrode over time, posing an existential threat to the surrounding soil, groundwater and environment at large.

So how do you monitor radioactive tanks deep underground for cracks, breaks and other damage?

You send a robot to do it for you. A group of FIU students is working on how to do that right now.

“There may be areas in a nuclear facility where gauges are hard to reach or are in a dangerous area. With the use of robotics and AI, we can get to those areas. It can make the whole process safer for the operators,” says Roger Boza ’18, a Ph.D. student studying artificial intelligence.

For this work, Boza and two other FIU Panthers recently won a top three finish at a virtual International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) competition as part of a global team.

The challenge was to come up with something that would make decommissioning nuclear facilities safer and reduce risk to workers and the environment. The FIU team partnered with two students from Norway and one student from the United Kingdom to form a multidisciplinary international team.

The FIU team’s approach: Combine robotic platforms with artificial intelligence in order to make robots that can detect defects before they become problems. It’s a strategy that the university has been researching for years as part of a cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DoE), which was renewed last month for $22 million over five years.

“Picture a nuclear facility undergoing decommissioning. Picture workers having to enter areas with high levels of radiation. In order for a human to go in there, they have to put on layers of personal protective equipment. It’s a whole process. But with our robotic platforms, it's easier and safer. You can send a drone in there to relay information back to a human in a safe location," says Daniel Martin, an electrical engineering major and the team leader for the IAEA challenge.

The FIU researchers have multiple robots in their arsenal. One is designed to crawl down pipes. Another looks like a rover and uses magnets to climb up and down walls.

The "pipe crawler" robotic system.

Normally, the team would be invited to display these artificially intelligent machines in-person, where they and the other top-three teams would be judged by the IAEA to determine first place. This year’s meeting was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Samanta Rodriguez ’20, a recent engineering grad, says that collaborating with international students on the project was a good way to learn about the greater nuclear remediation industry.

“It was really nice. We saw different perspectives on how they manage their interactions, and we got to see different topics of research related to what we are working on,” Rodriguez says.

Overseeing the project on FIU’s side was Professor Leonel Lagos MS '96, Ph.D. '07, who has been studying nuclear waste management and environmental remediation for nearly 20 years at FIU.

Lagos was hired full time by the university after earning his master’s in mechanical engineering. Now a director of research, he is helping to train the next generation of experts in this niche field.

“The work is interesting for me. You’re doing something that is good for the environment and good for the world. It’s a national security issue. We have to get rid of this nuclear waste, even if it takes several decades and billions of dollars,” Lagos says.

“At the end of the day, we need to clean the environment due to decisions made not by us, but during World War II. Now, it’s for the next generation to clean that up, literally, and make it a better environment for everybody.”

FIU selects René González Architects to design CasaCuba

Contributing Writer — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0400

FIU has selected René González Architects as the architectural firm to design CasaCuba’s facility on the university’s main campus. CasaCuba is FIU´s emerging cultural center and think tank focused on Cuban and Cuban-American history and culture.

“We are excited to begin the design phase of CasaCuba. René González Architects will be instrumental in turning our vision into reality,” said Agustín Arellano, Sr., Chair of the Board of Advisors of CasaCuba at FIU.

CasaCuba will feature galleries for a wide range of exhibits, as well as a state-of-the-art venue for events, performances, and dynamic programming. The iconic center will integrate the latest technologies to enable interactive and digital experiences across the space. CasaCuba will also house the Cuban Research Institute (CRI) and promote engaging discussions that will bring together top scholars, policymakers and business leaders from around the globe.

CasaCuba received major grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities to finance the design of the facility.

René González Architects was selected based on the firm’s qualifications and experience, its understanding of the mission and requirements of the project, its approach and methods for design, and its ability to provide the design services to meet project scope, budget and schedule. The firm has worked on numerous projects that address cultural and environmental conditions including the North Beach Oceanfront Center, the Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation and a Masterplan for the Wolfsonian-FIU.

"This is a threshold moment for CasaCuba, and I couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to contribute to it,” said González. “The opportunity to be the Architect for CasaCuba represents the culmination of a goal begun nearly 30 years ago at FIU, when I researched, taught, and wrote on Cuban Architecture. I am humbled to be able to work closely with President Rosenberg, CasaCuba Board Chair Agustín Arellano, Executive Director María Carla Chicuén, and the entire advisory board to design what will likely be the most meaningful commission of my architectural career."

Eastern Pacific is a major supply chain for illegal fin trade, researchers find

Angela Nicoletti — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 09:49:00 -0400

FIU scientists Demian Chapman and Diego Cardeñosa use DNA to track and monitor the shark fin trade.
Almost 85 percent of pelagic thresher shark fins sampled from retail markets in Hong Kong and China were traced back to the Eastern Pacific.
Pelagic thresher sharks are endangered and protected under CITES.
The team's findings are critical to pinpointing “high-risk” supply chains for illegal trade and guiding better international trade regulations.

New research reveals the Eastern Pacific is a particular hotspot for the shark fin trade — and a danger zone for an endangered species fighting for survival.

The researchers traced the fins back to the Eastern Pacific by comparing DNA from the fin trimmings in Hong Kong’s markets to genetic samples that were previous collected from the region.

Diego Cardeñosa was recently named a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow in FIU's College of Arts, Sciences & Education.

Restoring the ocean’s biodiversity relies on tracking live animals — and, yes, also dead ones.

Demian Chapman, an FIU marine scientist in the Institute of Environment, knows this may seem like the “dark side.” But, it’s a very important, often overlooked part of conservation. To protect and preserve living shark populations across the globe, Chapman relies on a wide array of technology to track and monitor the shark fin trade.

Chapman joined Capitol Hill Oceans Week to share his research on the secretive fin trade. He participated in the panel Innovative Approaches for Restoration and Monitoring, which focused on how modern tools and technologies are impacting how researchers conduct their work to advance biodiversity.

He was joined by Frank Muller-Karger from the University of South Florida, Jennifer Caselle from the University of California Santa Barbara, James Barry from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Julie Cattiau from Google AI. Reps. Jimmy Panetta of California and Brian Mast of Florida opened the discussion, which was moderated by Josie Quintrell, executive director of the Integrated Ocean Observing System Association.

Since 2014, Chapman has led a collaborative team based in the United States and Hong Kong to monitor the fin trade and determine whether international regulations and laws are working to reduce biodiversity loss. To date, they have sampled 15,000 shark fins from markets in Hong Kong and China. Using DNA analysis, the team has been able to determine which species are most common in the trade. Most recently, the team conducted the first study tracing the origins of shark fins back to the location where the sharks were first caught.

“This has particular relevance for the U.S., because a lot of fins come through U.S. ports on their way to Hong Kong,” Chapman said. “We play a role in trade, even though we aren’t eating shark fin soup, and our border control personnel are in need of tools to help them detect possible illegal trade.”

Chapman’s actually helping develop these tools.

With funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Chapman helped develop a mobile DNA testing lab to be used in airports and shipping ports to help customs officials identify protected shark species.

Chapman points out that this technology can be widely used to protect other marine wildlife also threatened by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. In fact, the mobile DNA tests were also used by Hong Kong authorities to stop the illegal shipment of European eels. Chapman is also the lead researcher for Global FinPrint, an international effort also supported by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to survey the world’s reef shark and ray populations.

Capitol Hill Oceans Week is an annual event hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. It brings together marine scientists, conservationists, wildlife experts, climate scientists, fishing industry leaders and others to advocate for improved conservation and management. Due to the pandemic, this year’s event was not held in Washington, D.C., but virtually — allowing more people from across the U.S. and around the globe to attend.

FIU has been ranked No. 9 in the world for positive impact on life below water by The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The university ranked third in the United States and is the only institution in Florida to make the list.

The research is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts, The Pew Fellowship Program and the Roe Foundation. The findings were published this week in Animal Conservation.

Shark fins recently sampled from markets in China and Hong Kong contained dangerously high levels of mercury.

The research was supported by Betsy & Peter Snow and the FIU Institute of Environment. The findings were published in Marine Pollution Bulletin.

FIU offers interactive, digital financial literacy platform and financial wellness coaches to university community

Morgan Hughes — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 11:45:00 -0400

FIU is helping its students bank smart, manage debt and build financial confidence through a new initiative that includes an interactive digital tool and financial wellness coaches.

The university has partnered with financial wellness company iGrad to offer its artificial intelligence-powered financial literacy platform to FIU’s 58,000 students, as well as alumni, faculty, and staff.

Currently used by more than 600 colleges and universities, iGrad is already available to the FIU community. Using artificial intelligence, the platform personalizes financial literacy education.

New users take a financial wellness quiz, which helps the platform customize their dashboard to their personal financial situation and needs. It recommends courses on topics such as budgeting, buying or leasing a car, using a Health Savings Account, “borrowing smart,” assessing insurance needs, finding a dream career, avoiding or paying off debt and even retirement planning.

Arijana Zagic, 19, a senior criminal justice major in the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, started using iGrad as part of a digital badge.

“I feel more confident and in control of my financial situation,” Zagic said after completing several iGrad modules on financial aid, student loans, and emergency funds. “It gave me a lot of actionable tips that I can use every day.”

The FIU Financial Wellness program also includes financial wellness coaching, focused on providing one-on-one guidance to help students access financial and educational resources and set and achieve goals.

“Our financial wellness program is in direct response to students’ need for solution-based programming in this area. We’re giving them the confidence, but also the tools. It is really key to student success,” said Kimberly Noy, program manager for academic and student affairs working with the FIU Financial Wellness Program.

Thirty-nine percent of students surveyed by MagnifyMoney in 2018 said they have considered stopping college before graduating so that their financial situation wouldn’t get worse.

“The university is emphasizing student financial wellness education to support our students holistically, recognizing that finances are an important contributing factor to the overall wellness of our students, both now and after graduation,” said Bridgette Cram, FIU assistant vice president for academic and student affairs.

Students and alumni can access iGrad, by visiting fiu.igrad.com and signing in using their FIU credentials.

A wetter Everglades on the path to restoration

Chrystian Tejedor — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 11:13:00 -0400

Looking south from bridges carrying Tamiami Trail over the Florida Everglades in Miami-Dade County, you could have seen something that had not happened in 100 years.

On a summer day, water again flowed into the southern Everglades from the Tamiami Canal. Not as a trickle. Not as a stream.

Here, water again flowed from north to south as a sheet – a wide, steady flow that’s almost imperceptible, but so crucial to inching what remains of the Everglades ever closer to what it looked like before people dug canals to drain the famed River of Grass for agriculture and development.

The flows under the Tamiami Trail bridges are the result of series of tests to see where the water goes and how the southern Everglades is handling more water after a century of deprivation.

Researchers from FIU’s Institute of Environment and the South Florida Natural Resources Center of Everglades National Park have been tracking the flow of water here as part of the federally and state funded Everglades restoration efforts. In a new study on the impacts of the water releases, scientists have found water covering more areas of the Everglades for longer stretches of the year.

South of Tamiami Trail’s 1-mile bridge, a recent photograph from Institute of Environment researcher John Kominoski shows the transformation that’s been underway since water started flowing in 2016.

In the foreground, a wide expanse of water dominates the photo. Tips of vegetation barely manage to peek out. Farther back, areas of higher elevation – ridges – appear healthy and green.

“It’s amazing that you can transform a lot of the area,” Kominoski said. “We’re starting to see vegetation change and declines in phosphorus in some wetlands as a result of the water being there longer. That’s good. That’s what restoration is trying to do.”

Before the restoration efforts began, the area would have looked much different, much drier. It was also much more vulnerable to drought and fire until more water was routed under the portions of Tamiami Trail that are elevated or a hurricane provided rainfall.

“The study of changing flow and downstream ecological changes in Everglades National Park shows the promise of Everglades restoration can be realized,” said David Rudnick, an Everglades National Park ecologist who help design, manage and co-author the study. “With completion of Tamiami Trail flow tests in August, we built a foundation for the next generation of Everglades restoration projects which are starting to be built to more fully and naturally bring water back to the Park and revive the River of Grass.”

Dry and wet pulses are good for the Everglades but extended periods of either are troublesome, causing plants to die and phosphorus to flood the system. That leads to a raft of problems including peat collapse in in marshes near the Gulf of Mexico, likely caused by soil drying and saltwater intrusion.

Researchers will continue to study how much these continued releases of water change the Everglades for the better.

“We still have so much more to learn about where restoration will take us,” Kominoski said.

The study was published recently in the journal Restoration Ecology.

The chemical signature left behind by hurricanes, fires, cold snaps and droughts can linger in the slow-moving water of the Florida Everglades for up to a decade.

No one expected evidence of these disturbances to be detectable in the water for so long and spread across different areas of the Everglades. Increased levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, bacterial production and dissolved carbon were found in long-term water data collected from 2000 to 2017 through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program supported by the National Science Foundation. The discovery could influence water management of the Everglades.

“That we can use long-term data to sense that a disturbance happened means it must be having a functionally important role in the system,” said FIU Institute of Environment ecologist John Kominoski, the study’s lead author. “Otherwise, it would be overwhelmed by noise instead of these clear signals.”

Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Fire in 2008. A Cold snap and a drought in 2010. Another cold snap in 2011. Both a drought and excessive flooding in 2015. Hurricane Irma in 2017. Each one of these disturbances left unmistakable, traceable signals in the chemistry of the water winding through the Everglades.

Researchers were equally surprised to see these chemical signatures in different parts of the Everglades – from freshwater marshes to coastal mangroves – because they expected that local environmental conditions would predominate, Kominoski explains. Sea-level rise and the introduction of more freshwater from restoration means more water is moving and interconnected through the Everglades system, spreading these chemical markers farther away from the points of origin.

“It tells us the Everglades is a highly sensitive and connected ecosystem,” Kominoski said. “It has memory of disturbance events that we can still detect years later in the chemistry of the water. Because the Everglades has such a large volume of water, it is remarkable that chemical signals in the water from past disturbances are not diluted. This means we must protect this sensitive and vital resource – upon which one out of every three Floridians rely for their water supply – from overexploitation and pollution.”

The study was published in the journal Ecology.

The destructive power of a hurricane appears to do plenty of good for mangroves in the Florida Everglades.

When Category 3 Hurricanes Wilma (2005) and Irma (2017) struck Florida, mangroves took a beating, particularly in the west coast. Trees lost their canopies. Taller ones snapped and several were uprooted. Seedlings were scattered to the winds. Storm surge partially submerged trees on the front line.

Then the storm surges deposited gray, phosphorus-rich mineral sediment from the ocean floor on top of mangrove soils. That sediment increased phosphorus concentrations in the soil, fueling mangrove regeneration and recovery, according to a new study conducted by researchers at FIU, Louisiana State University, and William & Mary.

“When you hear about hurricanes, they create negative impacts to the coastal landscape because of infrastructure damage and ecosystem damage for mangrove forests,” said Edward Castañeda, an FIU research assistant professor in the Institute of Environment and the study’s lead author. “When you do these studies and you dig into information for 20 years, you realize there’s a positive side to these storms.”

Using data from the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program funded by the National Science Foundation, Castañeda and fellow researchers realized these storms have a positive effect and were able to help mangroves increase their soil elevation, facilitate their rapid recovery and help their young branch out and find new homes.

It’s a welcome impact from an otherwise destructive force of nature as mangrove forests do plenty of good for people. They blunt the impact of hurricanes. They absorb damaging winds and prevent floodwaters from moving farther inland. They bear the brunt of the wind and storm surge, so people living in developed areas don’t have to.

They store carbon that otherwise would be released into the atmosphere and provide nursery for fish, crab, shrimp and mollusk species that are a critical component of Florida’s commercial and recreational fishing industries.

How much hurricanes impact mangrove forests depends on how close mangroves were to where the hurricanes made landfall. Mangrove forests closer to the coast were more likely to suffer wind damage, but they were also on the receiving end of most of the nutrients deposited by storm surge.

Data showed phosphorus-rich sediment was pushed up to 6 miles away from the coast, benefitting even trees that weren’t as badly damaged. Wilma deposited twice the average amount of phosphorus found naturally in mangrove soils. That nutrient became the fertilizer that fueled the mangrove forest to recover in less than five years.

Irma had a similar impact on the mangroves. Researchers estimate the storm added up to 14.4 times the regular amount of soil elevation mangroves generate in one year. That’s good news for mangroves who are waging a battle against soil collapse and sea level rise. Higher elevation might give them a fighting chance.

“This natural phosphorus fertilization mechanism from hurricanes may be an adaptation of mangroves to withstand the impacts of both phosphorus limitation and rising sea levels in south Florida,” Castañeda said.

The collaboration among 10 interdisciplinary researchers from three institutions made the study possible.

“Studying the problem from so many perspectives made this long-term project unique to the understanding of natural processes that occur over large spatial and temporal scales,” said Victor Rivera-Monroy, co-author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences at LSU.

Whether mangroves recover from Irma at the same speed as they did with Wilma is too soon to tell. The researchers are relying on data from the long-term ecological research program to hopefully answer that question in a few years.

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Panthers come together for Homecoming game vs. MTSU

David Drucker — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 22:00:00 -0400

Homecoming meant something a little different this year.

Panther fans gathered under the lights at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Saturday for the first time since November 2019. Although the Panthers lost a close game to Middle Tennessee State, 31-28, it was still an opportunity for people to feel a part of their FIU community. In-person gatherings, of course, have been few and far between since the coronavirus pandemic started.

“It’s been pretty awesome," said sophomore Alexander Menendez. "I’ve been with a fraternity that I am joining, so that is pretty cool. Honestly, the kind of vibe here is awesome. I kind of wish there was more people here, but we get what we get."

Students were given first priority for tickets. The game was the final installment in a week that included a big-screen viewing party, a car caravan and other socially distanced Homecoming celebrations.

“The homecoming committee and athletics did this well. I’m still sitting close enough to my friends to where I can have a conversation with them without screaming. For my first football game, it’s a different experience. I like it,” said Katelyn Roccanti, a sophomore studying digital communications.

Fans at "The Cage" wore masks and were asked to socially distance. Capacity of the stadium was lowered to less than 25 percent.

“When I was asked to come to the game, my first question was, ‘Are they going to be wearing masks? Are they going to be social distancing?’ said Brenda Jennings, who is the aunt of a player on the team. “I wonder if the stands are cleaned and sanitized. Overall though, I feel safe.”

The Panthers will try again for their first win of the season when they take on Charlotte on Oct. 17.

UP Labs: Connecting the community with careers

Gisela Maria Valencia — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 16:31:00 -0400

Yessica Orellana was searching for a second chance at a fulfilling career.

She’d left college in 2013 without earning an associate's degree and was starting to worry she might not get another chance to unlock her potential as a professional – until she heard about FIU’s Urban Potential (UP) Labs.

The unique, 14-week professional development program is designed to give those who are underemployed or unemployed access to the education, training and career skills necessary to land high-demand jobs in the health care industry in South Florida. Such jobs include nursing assistants, medical technology specialists, patient associates, supply chain managers and administrative assistants.

“UP Labs has brightened up my path, my journey to know exactly what I want to do,” says Orellana, who completed the program this summer. “With UP Labs, I’ve been able to do something I didn’t think was possible for me: going back to school.”

This is exactly why UP Labs was created.

The program was launched in 2019 in partnership with JPMorgan Chase, which donated a $500,000 grant to get the program running. JPMorgan Chase recently awarded the UP Labs an additional $200,000 grant to engage more than 50 new learners, provide scholarships to learners for additional certifications, and ensure there is talent to meet the ever-changing needs of health care during COVID-19.

“JPMorgan Chase is always seeking ways to connect and make a positive impact in the communities in which we do business,” says Maria Escorcia, vice president of Philanthropy and Program Officer for Florida for the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. “One of the best and primary ways to do that is through job skills development – helping people develop new, in-demand job skills in the short term that will help them build a lifetime career. Working with FIU and UP Labs is helping us deliver on that commitment to the people of South Florida.”

Karla V. Hernandez, executive director of Corporate Relations at FIU Foundation, adds: “As an anchor institution, FIU partners with organizations like the JPMorgan Chase Foundation to make an impact in our community,” she says. “It is through JPMorgan Chase Foundation’s ongoing support of FIU and our community at large that we are able to make a difference in the lives of so many. We are grateful for this transformational partnership.”

Uplifting the community

At its core, UP Labs is about serving the South Florida community. The program is founded on FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg’s commitment to making the university a haven for lifelong learning, and was inspired by his call for the Panther community to equip learners to thrive in the future workforce.

The team at the Office of Engagement decided to focus initially on one set of interrelated needs in the community: People need good jobs that pay a living wage and the health care industry needs skilled workers that will excel at middle-skill jobs.

Middle-skill jobs are those that require more education and training than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree. They are in high-demand across the country and in the community, making up 54 percent of jobs in Florida, according to the National Skills Coalition. Additionally, health care occupations are expected to grow 14 percent by 2028, creating an expected 1.9 million new jobs.

Caryn Lavernia, assistant vice president of the Office of Engagement, says, “We are an office of community engagement and consistently hear from stakeholders – residents seeking financial stability and affordable training; employers seeking talent. This program bridges the two needs and creates a career pathway for learners.

“It may not always be the right time for a person to enter a four-year degree program, but, a short-term training program that can lead to a career and financial stability may make it possible for the learner to return to school and pursue a degree in the future.”

Creating a cutting-edge curriculum

To develop a strong, experience-based curriculum for the program, the Office of Engagement worked closely with units across FIU including the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences and Academic Planning and Accountability - Continuing Education, as well as with industry professionals from organizations including Baptist Health South Florida, Memorial Healthcare System and Jackson Health System.

The team asked folks in health care a simple question: What skills do you need workers to have under their belts? They took those answers back to the academic side of the house to create the program.

UP Labs recruited an impressive line-up of educators, including professors from the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, and practitioners from Baptist Health and other local health care providers.

The team continues to collaborate with local health care providers to place program graduates in available jobs or internships.

UP Labs Director Umer Rahman says the program's innovative collaboration among higher education and industry has the potential to become a nation-wide model for training learners. UP Labs has already garnered recognition for this model, winning the Outstanding Program for Special Populations award from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association.

UP Labs Cohort II and the team celebrated the cohort's graduation in November of 2019.

Making an impact

So far, UP Labs has successfully graduated three cohorts of students. One hundred percent of the people that have begun the program have completed it successfully.

More than 50 percent of the learners in the first two cohorts landed internships or experiential learning opportunities and 45 percent have either landed full-time jobs in health care or returned to school. The third cohort, which graduated recently, collectively scored the highest GPA in the program’s history to date – a whopping 94 percent.

All this is part of the program’s mission.

“We are looking at getting you into a career path,” Rahman says. “What are you going to be doing in the next five years? Those are the kinds of questions we want you to think about.”

For many participants, the support system they find through the team is the best part. “I really appreciate what UP Labs offered us,” says Orellana, one of the learners who graduated recently. “That connection, that community. You see so many leadership programs but rarely do you see someone give their all to make sure you succeed.”

Orellana plans to return to Miami Dade College to finish her associate's degree and possibly keep studying afterwards at FIU.

“People just need an opportunity,” explains the program’s coordinator Vanessa Valdes. “This program gives people the springboard to do more, to go back to school or start a certificate program. Part of what UP Labs does is, it gives them the confidence to do it, to go for it.”

Got my first job! Working as a software engineer at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Elizabeth Calzadilla — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Name: Cesar Villa Garcia

Hometown: Lima, Peru

Degree/major: Bachelor of science in computer science

Where are you working? Title? JPMorgan Chase & Co., software engineer

How did you get your job? I learned about opportunities at JPMorgan Chase & Co. at an informational session hosted on-campus by Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), FIU’s largest technology organization. I interviewed and received an offer to participate in an internship program as a software engineering at their Chicago office. After completing the internship in summer of 2018, I received an offer to return to the company as a full-time software engineer. I now work out of JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s headquarters in New York City.

What was your greatest fear going into your first job and how did you face it or overcome it? Not having in-depth knowledge of the financial industry and how the company’s products and services operate in this space. Thankfully, the firm did an amazing job onboarding me and providing the necessary training. It gave me the confidence to take on new challenges and work with different stakeholders.

What surprised you the most about your first job? How technology-driven JPMorgan Chase & Co. is, and how much the company invests in building and supporting its technologies. This has provided me with many opportunities to leverage my skills and make a significant impact as a software engineer. I was also impressed by how international our teams are. For example, my current team is made up of software engineers working from all over the globe - the United States, United Kingdom, India and Hong Kong. We communicate every day and work together to develop applications used by clients worldwide.

What advice do you have for those beginning the job search process? Get involved in related activities and organizations at FIU. There is no better place than UPE to learn about job opportunities in the field of software engineering, product management, data science and other related roles. UPE and its programs empower students to succeed by helping them build their resume, gain new skills, build projects, network with top industry recruiters, practice for technical interviews, find a mentor and more.

What does a day on the job look like? As a software engineer, over the past year, I have worked on every stage involved in the development of an application. This involves tasks such as gathering requirements, coding solutions, testing implementations, deploying services and support. Most of my time, however, is spent coding using technologies such as Java, JavaScript, React and Python. I also work in an agile environment, meeting with stakeholders on a regular basis to ensure our applications meet their needs.

How does your job connect back to your coursework? My coursework was very important in setting the foundation for the coding and problem-solving skills I presently employ on the job. Courses like Programming and Data Structures equipped me with the ability to evaluate challenging technical problems and implement efficient solutions. Other courses like Software Engineering and Senior Project exposed me to the application lifecycle, and my experience as president of UPE helped me gain the leadership and communication skills needed to work with a variety of stakeholders in the business world.

How has your transition from school to work? How do you balance your time? It was smooth. I took some time after graduation to prepare for my move to NYC. Before starting the position, I took a week to explore the city and find the ideal apartment. Since joining the company, I have been able to keep a great work schedule that promotes life balance and allows me plenty of time to enjoy the city. This was before we went into quarantine due to COVID-19.

What’s been the coolest thing about your job so far? Working on applications that make a big impact. Asset management is a very valuable yet volatile business, with traders and portfolio managers requiring applications that provide the most accurate and up-to-date information daily. While this high-stakes environment adds more pressure, it’s also extremely rewarding to know that my work is helping them make smart investments and preserve JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s place as a leader in the financial world. I feel very lucky to be part of this team and look forward to learning and innovating more in this space.

Got my first job! Working as an architecture design coordinator

Andrea Perez — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 12:01:00 -0400

Name: Faten Almosawi

Hometown: Saar, Bahrain

Degree/Major: Architecture

What year did you graduate? 2020

Where are you working? Job Title?

Design coordinator at Contin Architecture and Design

How did you get your job?

The firm principal, Juan Contin, is also a professor here at FIU. I had taken his Design 6 course during my first year at FIU. He called me a few months after I graduated and told me he had a job opening in his firm. He explained that he had asked another professor [Jason Chandler, chair of the architecture department] if he had anyone in mind that would be interested and my other professor referred me to him, which I was so grateful for.

What was your greatest fear going into your first job and how did you face it or overcome it?

My greatest fear was not knowing information about building codes or construction drawings, therefore forcing me to ask those above me for help. I overcame this by realizing it is perfectly normal to ask for help in the training phase of any job. It is better to ask than to assume wrong.

What surprised you the most about your first job?

The responsibilities that an architect has in a project were more than I thought they would be. We make many decisions both technical and design-related that I didn't think would be our decisions.

What advice do you have for those beginning the job search process?

Try to use the connections you have around you in the architecture community, many jobs people land are through referrals, whether through professors or even other classmates.

What does a day on the job look like?

Since it is a small local firm, I have a range of responsibilities, which makes every day different. Most days, I will usually be at work by 9 a.m. and go to my desk and work on a project I have been assigned or the one that is most urgent. On other days, I could be preparing for a meeting with a client or going on a site visit. It really depends.

How does your job connect back to your coursework?

Depending on the phase of the project, I would be relating to different aspects of my coursework. When in the design phase, I use the knowledge I have from design classes, but when in the construction phase, I use the knowledge I gained from classes like Integrated Building Systems and Comprehensive Design.

How has the pandemic affected your job?

We actually have had more clients during this time surprisingly, which we are very grateful for! We've been lucky with developers who are trying to make use of the time where everything is slower on certain projects or clients that want house renovations.

How has your day-to-day work life changed due to the pandemic?

Since it is a local firm with few employees, we stayed working in person. However, communicating with others like the city building department, which have closed their offices since the pandemic started, has made processes way slower.

How has your transition from school to work? How do you balance your time?

It took some time getting used to working a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job rather than choosing my own time when I would prefer to work on design or homework the way I could while in school.

What’s been the coolest thing about your job so far?

The coolest thing about my job is working on interesting real projects that I will witness come to fruition in the near future!

Miami's "King of Hospitality" reassures students about the future

Contributing Writer — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

By Olivia Catasus

What better way for students to learn than from a self-taught entrepreneur, frequently referred to as the “King of Hospitality”?

This week, the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management invited guest lecturer David Grutman, founder of Groot Hospitality and owner of famed nightclubs LIV at the iconic Fontainebleau Hotel and Story in Miami Beach, to speak on a Zoom webinar as part of The Professor Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Lecture Series. The hospitality-focused series provides FIU students, alumni and guests with the opportunity to meet and learn from hospitality leaders in an effort to strengthen the bridge between the Chaplin School and hospitality professionals.

Hospitality & Tourism Management student Grace Garay ’21 said this webinar was exactly what she needed, “Grutman reinforced my decision to go into hospitality by giving us hope despite the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. He showed us that he has been able to reopen his businesses with a new strategy in place and keep his brand alive – something I hope to one day accomplish.”

Grutman openly discussed how he got his start and shared advice on how to make the most of any career, “To be successful in life, guys, pick something that makes you excited to get up in the morning and that you think about when you’re about to go to sleep.”

It surprised some of those who tuned in to learn that Grutman started out as a bartender at a restaurant called Biz Bistro inside the Aventura Mall and that after working his way up to a six-figure salary, he chose to take a huge pay cut to become the restaurant's manager so he could learn the business.

“Don’t worry about the money,” he said. “Worry about investing in yourself.” It was a strategic decision that paid off. His hospitality portfolio now includes five successful South Florida restaurants, including Komodo, OTL, Planta South Beach, Swan and Bar Bevy and most recently Papi Steak in Miami Beach.

Grutman's restaurants and nightclubs are places to see and be seen and a hangout pre-COVID for celebrities like Kim Kardashian West, Justin Bieber and Pharrell, who happens to be one of Grutman's business partners at Swan and Bar Bevy in Miami's Design District.

Speaking of, 10 lucky Chaplin School students were invited to a lunch-and-learn with Grutman in Swan's dining room as an extension of the Hurst Lecture Series. It was one of the university’s first live events. Following university and CDC guidelines, students’ temperatures were checked upon entry, they wore masks, used hand sanitizer and sat six feet apart as they fired questions away at Grutman.

“It was inspiring to hear him talk about his ongoing projects during the pandemic because I am personally working on my own brand and business,” said Ariane Uy ’21, one of the students invited to the exclusive experience. “The one-on-one pushed me to not give up so easily.”

All FIU students are invited to The Professor Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Lecture Series. Over the course of the next three months, the Chaplin school will host hospitality heavyweights such as Eddie Sardina, former President & CEO of Bacardi U.S.A., Valerie Ferguson, director of lodging at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, and Regynald G. Washington’74, president, Paradies Lagardère Dining Division.

A recording of the exclusive webinar with Grutman can be found on the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management’s Facebook page. The King of Hospitality reminds us all that “Hospitality is always going to be here… ever since the caveman days, people lit fires in the cave and people gathered. People are always going to gather.”

Homecoming 2020: How to watch the game and join the fun

David Drucker — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 16:20:00 -0400

A caravan of cars decked in Panther Pride moving to the sounds of honking as they make a loop around campus. A drive-in talent show in a campus parking lot complete with a large screen featuring prerecorded performances by FIU students, faculty and staff. This year's Homecoming week looks a lot different than ever before. But it ends with a familiar sight: a big football game for the Panthers.

FIU (0-1) is set to take on the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (0-4) at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Oct. 10. The Panthers will be playing their first game on campus since Nov. 2, 2019.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. The game will be carried on TV by ESPNU. It is FIU's first Conference USA matchup of the year.

"I'm excited, man. The fact that FIU is able to get on national television is great," says Jacob Covas, a senior studying history. "It makes it more accessible not just to your average Panther fan, but anyone watching television. And honestly, I'm pumped for this year. We have a young team coming in with a lot of talent and potential."

The Panthers are coming off of an electric game at Liberty University that resulted in a narrow loss. Sophomore running back Lexington Joseph returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, earning him a designation as Conference USA's Special Teams Player of the Week. Senior running back D'Vonte Price rushed for 148 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Well that's one way to start off a season!@FIUFootball takes their first touch of the season ALL THE WAY to the 🏠

WATCH > https://t.co/uuGblAH6sk pic.twitter.com/re8l1L2YmZ
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) September 26, 2020

Attendence at this Saturday's game will be limited to ensure social distancing. Students and family members of players were given the first priority to claim tickets, followed by last year's season ticket holders.

Even if you can't get into "The Cage" on game day, Panthers can still party with one another beginning at 11:30 a.m. on campus the day of the game.

FIU will be hosting its first-ever Homecoming caravan on Saturday in lieu of the traditional tailgate and parade. Members of the university community are invited to decorate their vehicles and join their FIU family for a spirited drive through campus.

President Rosenberg will personally be judging vehicles to see who has the most Panther Pride. Those who reflect the most blue and gold spirit will be entered into a social media competition and have a chance to win a RepFIU box with assorted gear.

Here is the link to register for the caravan.

FIU is hosting other in-person and virtual events as well to celebrate Homecoming week. For the full slate of festivities through Saturday's game, check out the official Homecoming website.

My virtual internship at Facebook

Emily Rivero — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 15:00:00 -0400

Name: Azhar Ali

Hometown: Marabella, Trinidad and Tobago

What is your major? Computer Science and Mathematics

Where did you intern? What was your role there? I interned at Facebook as a Facebook University (FBU) Engineering intern. FBU is a freshman/sophomore program that allows students to get a better understanding of the field and to get more comfortable with the tech industry.

How did you get your internship? I got the internship by finding it on the website when I was looking at the different opportunities they offered. I also heard about the internship when talking to some members of FIU's chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon(UPE), an international honors society for computing and tech students.

What advice do you have for those beginning the internship process? Apply to as many places as you can, even if you think you have a chance or not. You never know what the outcome could be until you try.

What projects did you work on? I went through a three-week bootcamp on learning Android development by working on a series of projects, and then I created my own app from scratch called Mentorply, a mentorship program management application. The reason I created this application is that I'm the director of a program called UPE Mentor, and I felt that this app could possibly help streamline the mentorship process and make it easier for mentors and mentees to get in contact with one another.

How does your internship connect back to your coursework? My coursework in Java heavily prepared me for this internship as I coded in Java to create the Android apps. I was able to understand what I was working on on a deeper level.

What was the coolest thing about your internship or that has happened during your internship?
I was able to meet so many cool people working at Facebook, doing all sorts of jobs, from program managers, senior software engineers, designers and so many more. The internship opened up my eyes to how the internship would work.

What are you learning about yourself or how is the position increasing your professional confidence?

After this internship, I feel much more confident in my skills as a software engineer. I feel like I am able to contribute to projects and I am more able to make an impact in my community through technology. I feel like I have more marketable skills now and I have the confidence to excel in the tech industry.

What is it like to have a “virtual” internship during the COVID-19 pandemic? I very much wished that the internship was in-person, but it was great having my family around while I completed the internship. The work hours extended a bit more as we were online and there was no commuting time that would normally happen during an in-person internship.

What tools were you provided with to succeed in a virtual internship? Facebook sent me an Apple Macbook Pro and an Android phone so that I could test my applications using the actual phone instead of having to only rely on an emulator (virtual phone) to test my application. Their internal tools also proved helpful to help us succeed in the internship.

How did you connect with colleagues and build connections through a remote work environment? We would do standups every day where we would update each other on our progress during the day and we would try to help each other as much as possible. We would also play games occasionally and there were different activities that Facebook hosted.

A reluctant muralist and two-time alumnus rises on the art scene

Zion Sealy — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 15:45:00 -0400

Alumnus Nathan “Nate Dee” Delinois ’03, MFA ’08 has taken his artwork to new heights since he began painting murals throughout the Miami area. Once far more comfortable with completing his masterpieces in a studio setting, he made the switch several years ago, almost against his will.

“During an exhibition, the curator asked if I would like to do a mural outside of the building,” Delinois recalls. “I initially resisted, but after some pressure, I agreed to do it.” The request would prove pivotal.

“What I found in painting the mural was that I fell in love with interacting with the community as I painted the artwork,” he says. “People would stop and talk to me, ask about the work and even give feedback as well. This is a total 180 degrees from the isolation of the studio.”

Delinois has since fielded other offers to create public art and accepted commissions from organizations such as the Miami Heat, the Miami Dolphins and Adidas. He even earned an invitation to travel in 2017 to Seoul, South Korea, to participate in the Street Arts Awards Festival. He was the only American artist asked to join in the event. The experience opened his eyes to where his talent might take him.

“I could never have imagined that art would one day bring me to the other side of the globe,” he says.

Closer to home, Delinois got a chance earlier this year to exhibit at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential House, the residence of FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg.

“I was completely honored,” Delinois says of being asked to show Creativity Nurtured. The painting depicts a young woman crading three foxes that together represent creativity. It caught the attention of Delinois’ former professor and current chair of the Department of Art + Art History David Chang, who helped organize the exhibition.

“I selected this piece because of the rich application of color and the dynamic composition successfully incorporating both the representational and abstract elements,” Chang says. “Creativity Nurtured presents the viewers with a compelling sense of visual, cultural, and intellectual discourse.”

Delinois credits his Caribbean upbringing as highly influential in his work. Most of his art makes use of the bright colors typically found in Haitian art. And he calls out FIU professors Pip Brant, who instilled in him a love of painting, and Chang, who taught him the technical aspects of painting.

With the rise of public demonstrations across the country in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Delinois collaborated with another local artist to create a mural that presents a unique perspective on the struggle of black Americans. A documentary explores the process of creating the mural and the message behind.

For students looking to pursue a career in the arts, the rising artist had this advice: “Always be obsessed with improving within your craft and approach it with the highest standard of professionalism,” he suggests. “Spend time fostering relationships with people within the industry as well as peripheral industries, because that is how you will find opportunities to grow your career.”

And never say no to a mural!

Students awarded selective Millennium Fellowships by United Nations initiative

Gisela Maria Valencia — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 15:24:00 -0400

Making an impact at a global level is a lofty goal. But for one group of students, this isn’t just a dream. It’s their homework – and their activity of choice.

Twenty-four FIU students – many of which are enrolled in the Global Learning Medallion program – were selected to receive Millennium Fellowships as they work to develop and implement projects to make a positive impact on their communities.

Run by the Millennium Campus Network and the United Nations Academic Impact, the fellowships allow undergraduate leaders around the world to receive training, gain connections and earn credentials as they work to advance the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The students were selected from more than 15,000 applicants on more than 1,000 campuses across the globe. FIU is one of only 80 campuses around the world hosting Millennium Fellows this year, and this is the second year that FIU receives the distinction.

“As an institution committed to global citizenship, having our students receive the fellowships two years in a row is incredibly rewarding,” says Yenisleidy Simon Mengana, FIU’s Global Learning program manager, who recruits and works with the university’s fellows. “Honestly, it is a testament to our students’ ability to enact positive change in their communities and beyond.”

Making an impact

FIU’s fellows are currently organizing projects that address a wide range of topics including global health; sex and gender violence; race issues; food insecurity; migrant workers' rights amidst the pandemic; and environmental sustainability. The projects take different shapes, from virtual events and fundraisers to websites that empower, inform and connect communities. Projects are both local and global in scale.

For example, Estela Rodriguez, a political science and international relations major, is working hard to help rural communities in her native Honduras. After the pandemic hit, Rodriguez returned to her home country and, along with a group of friends, launched a fundraising initiative to provide food for the rural communities most impacted by the pandemic. The team is currently delivering food baskets in the areas. Rodriguez continues to work on this project during her fellowship.

"I am excited to be part of the Millennium Fellowship because this is a great opportunity to improve and make my project reach more families in Honduras," she says. "Covid-19 has had a massive impact in the economy of families who live in rural areas of the country, my goal is to help them by providing them with food and daily necessities."

Another student is encouraging responsible consumption and raising awareness about sustainability through a social entrepreneurial venture, College Thrifts, which allows people to sell gently used college apparel to enthusiastic individuals wishing to rep their institutions of higher education without breaking the bank.

Through virtual events, Melanie Rodriguez is working on a project that aims to engage members of the FIU community (and eventually the greater Miami community) in conversations about social issues through the arts.

“The arts carry a lot of meaning,” says Rodriguez, who is majoring in English and exceptional student education. “Social justice issues affect us daily."

People might not be willing to absorb hours of news or explore academic events, she says, but they are willing to tune into a film. And that’s where social activism – often called “artivism” – can happen.

As part of her project, Rodriguez and a fellow FIU student organized a Black education series that featured several virtual activities including film screenings; a workshop on the importance of advocacy and voting; and an open mic night where Panthers could express themselves through any art form. The team continues working on this project and Rodriguez hopes that one day it will become a community organization to help connect children with the arts.

Learning to lead

Rodriguez, who also participated in the fellowship last year, says the experience was instrumental in helping her break out of her shell. Today, she has been selected as one of two FIU fellowship student leaders who provides support and mentorship to other fellows.

“I used to have a really hard time asking for help,” she says. “The fellowship broke that for me. In order to complete the project, I had to step out of my comfort zone, talk to different departments, give an elevator pitch and ask them to partner with me. Because the fellowship gave me that skill, I wanted to go through it again and help other students. It’s a great leadership development experience.”

Several of FIU Millennium Fellows during one of their Zoom meetings

“A distinctive feature of this fellowship," adds Simon Mengana, "is that it is based on a collaborative leadership model that places students’ voices at the heart of the changemaking process while encouraging them to solve the world’s most pressing challenges."

The Millennium Fellowship team provides a curriculum, discussion topics, learning objectives and training materials; FIU’s Office of Global Learning provides support; and FIU fellows take it from there. The two designated student leaders facilitate the group's meetings (happening virtually now) and the fellows work together through concepts, ideas and their projects.

Fellows also participate in webinars with social impact leaders and other international movers and shakers including global business executives, diplomats and journalists from national and international organizations.

Gaining a global network is usually another one of the perks of the fellowship. Fellows attend a virtual town hall where they can interact with peers from around the world, and they are encouraged to reach out to each other, collaborate on projects and learn about their work.

This year, the students can do even more. Fellows from campuses all over the world are sharing their upcoming virtual events – and attending each other’s events. Just one example: one of the FIU fellows recently hosted a virtual event that was attended by a fellow in Mexico.

Simply put, Simon Mengana says: “It is global learning at its best!”

The application for the 2021 Millennium Fellows cohort is now open. If you are interested, check out the application form or if you have more questions, reach out to Yenisleidy Simon Mengana at ysimonme@fiu.edu.

FIU has been named a Millennium Fellowship Campus Hub by the United Nations. The recognition comes after 18 FIU students were awarded a 2019 Millennium Fellowship.

Launched in 2018 by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and Millennium Campus Network (MCN), the selective Millennium Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development program that convenes, challenges and celebrates student leadership.

Students receive the fellowship based on a proposed local project that advances at least one of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals and one UNAI principle. Through the semester-long process, the students will convene with other fellows to develop, implement and measure the impact of their proposed projects.

Millennium Fellows will be challenged to share best practices and take collective action on one or more of the sustainable development goals and will receive training, access to a network of alumni and UN connections—and a special recognition. Fellows' projects are projected to positively impact the lives of more than 978,400 people worldwide this year.

As part of the program, FIU will select two campus directors who will guide the rest of the cohort and convene monthly to engage in the leadership development program funded by MCN and UNAI.

“We want our FIU students to have global awareness, a global perspective and a passion to make deep transformational contributions,” said Elizabeth Bejar, senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. “The Millennium Fellowship gives our students a chance to become global citizens by devising problem-solving solutions to challenges our world and local community are facing.”

FIU is one of 69 campuses worldwide - and 18 in the United States - whose students have been granted the fellowship. The 2019 fellows from FIU are all women, and 16 of 18 students are part of the Global Medallion program. Once this fellowship concludes, FIU participants will form an FIU-based alumni group that will provide support for future fellows.

“When we created the United Nations Academic Impact to foster a culture of intellectual social responsibility, we considered ‘intellect’ not as something remote or esoteric, but rather as a quality innate in every thinking individual,” said Ramu Damodaran, chief of United Nations Academic Impact. “Our collaboration with MCN will allow students to demonstrate how the wisdom and thought they invest in their formal curriculum can be extended to a greater purpose of common good, lending their strengths to their communities and their world and, in turn, being enriched by them.”

In 2019, more than 7,000 young leaders on 1,209 campuses across 135 nations applied to join the Class of 2019. Just 69 campuses worldwide (6 percent) were selected to host the 1,092 Millennium Fellows.

“On every campus and in every community, student leaders are dedicated to making positive contributions while committed to our ethos: empathetic, humble, inclusive leadership,” shared Sam Vaghar, executive director and Co-founder of MCN. “Emerging leaders need requisite training, connections, and recognition to deepen their social impact as undergraduates and throughout their careers. Partnering with UNAI enables us to engage more students, providing a powerful framework to help them convene, take action, and elevate the important contributions they make. I congratulate FIU for a bold commitment to strengthen the community and help make UN goals a reality.”

FIU’s work on campus is being supported by FIU’s Office of Global Learning Initiatives and the Center for Leadership and Service.

FIU Millennium Fellowship Class of 2019:

Adeline Cieslak
Afsaana Mohammed
Alexandra Ruiz
Ashley Weathers
Carolina Echeverri
Cindy Zahnd
Janelle Acevedo
Kaylin Diaz
Mariela Perez Robledo
Melanie Rodriguez
Michelle Flores
Morgan Porter
Naomi Nunez Leon
Nicole Jara
Page Bachrach
Thalia Paulete
Yandra Mariano

For a complete list of fellows click here. For more information on the Millennium Fellowship, visit: https://www.millenniumfellows.org/meet-2019-fellows/.

Repping your school colors just got a bit cheaper, thanks to an innovative FIU undergrad.

Patricia Garcia is a rising senior in the Honors College on track to be the first graduate of FIU’s newly established School of Universal Computing, Construction, and Engineering Education (SUCCEED), pursuing an interdisciplinary engineering degree. Her concentration in manufacturing engineering coupled with a minor in business management serve as her foundation for creating a solution to an age-old campus challenge plaguing students on a budget.

College Thrifts, Garcia’s social entrepreneurial venture, bridges the gap between costly campus apparel and enthusiastic individuals wishing to rep their institutions of higher education without breaking the bank. Campus bookstores are notorious for their high prices.

“When you walk into any college bookstore no matter where in the nation, you’ll be sure to spot the $60 crewneck beside the $50 sweatpants and $35 tee,” Garcia says. “With rising costs of tuition, room and board, the average college student cannot afford to pay these high prices in hopes of simply sporting their school's name.”

How it came to be
Garcia says she first recognized the need for affordable college apparel between her internships, conference travels and hackathon trips to notable universities around the country. She wanted to purchase college-branded merchandise of the universities she visited, but steep price tags made it financially impossible.

Garcia soon realized it is a problem for many students. She also noted a general interest among students in upcycling and purchasing gently used apparel. She began looking for a marketplace facilitating the resale of college branded items but couldn’t find one. So she made her own.

In 2019, Garcia launched an Instagram page to sell her personal university gear to other students, which quickly took off. Customers soon began requesting inventory options from other universities, too.

Catering to her customers’ interest, Garcia in May relaunched the page to allow others to submit their university branded items for sale. Inventory has since grown to include pieces from the University of Southern California, George Washington University, Stanford University and University of Florida, among others. Items range from hoodies and t-shirts to branded sneakers, hats and jeans.

Since the relaunch, Garcia has brokered more than 275 transactions, on each of which she earns a small fee. On some items, purchasers can realize savings of up to $30 while the average discount is around 20 percent of the item’s original price.

Notable validation

Left to right: Nicole Malow (UC Berkeley), Ian Cramer (Northwestern University), Ninad Sant (Santa Clara University), Garcia, and Jessica Malow (UC Berkeley) at Stanford University for Tree Hacks in 2019, a 36-hour hackathon in Palo Alto, California.

Garcia explains that being unable to travel for engineering conferences during the pandemic devastated her at first. With her newfound free time, she was forced to turn the situation into a positive and decided to further develop her business idea.

“I have participated in various pitch competitions to further define the idea, conduct informal market research, and receive feedback,” Garcia says. “The awards I have received allowed me to believe that others see the potential in this becoming something big. I believe this has the ability to become something greater than myself."

Garcia has earned national recognition and, since just the start of the pandemic earlier this year, has won several competitions for businesses focused on social development with a sustainability capability. Garcia’s titles range from first place pitch winner to national finalist and entrepreneurship fellow.

One such title is Roo Crew Fellow awarded by the Aussie Pitch Competition. After presenting her idea and competing against hundreds of applicants, Garcia's College Thrifts venture was selected to be further developed through mentorship. Her assigned mentor, Nina Barnett, is the founder of grooop–a platform promoting safer commutes by allowing users to log their current locations and intended destinations with loved ones.

Left to right: Barnett and Garcia during a virtual business development meeting.

Barnett has been preparing Garcia for the competition's next round, a virtual pitch day. Garcia's business plan will be judged and evalutated by the founders of Her Campus and Proctor & Gamble executives. If selected as one of ten finalists, Garcia stands to win $10,000 for business development.

More than just a sale
Garcia says that a college graduate recently sold a sweatshirt through the College Thrifts platform and put a handwritten note to the purchaser, an incoming freshman, within the package. Garcia says that the seller expressed how monumental her college experience had been and wished the same to the freshman purchaser. This scenario proved to Garcia that her business is centered around more than just exchanges of clothing.

“Feedback from students has shown me the marketplace is going beyond just buying and selling apparel,” Garcia says. “My customers are forming connections over pieces of clothing. The purchaser could have found an ally, a mentor or even a friend through buying with College Thrifts.”

Evolution of the business
Next on the horizon, Garcia wants to transition her business from Instagram to her own independent e-commerce app.

She has been relying on engineering and design-thinking skills taught in her classes at FIU to create the new platform. During the Spring 2020 semester, she enrolled in the first taught section of EGN 3910 Socio-technical Systems Design, which she credits for providing a strong foundation. It is a project-based introduction to interdisciplinary design using systems thinking and human-centered design principles.

With the help of senior design professor Alexandra Strong, who is also a co-instructor of the course, Garcia has been learning how to incorporate the needs of different stakeholders to execute her vision and get the app to the beta testing phase.

“My end goal for the business is for it to be an app connecting individuals to more inclusive and individualized experiences,” Garcia says. “Through the creation of this platform, I hope to foster inclusivity, spark sustainable consumption behavior and make college campuses a better place.”

To students interested in pursuing a business venture, Garcia shares her encouragement and also advice she wishes she heard when she started the process.

“I spent a lot of time trying to learn the skills necessary to develop a fully functioning app overnight and do everything myself,” Garcia says. “I would get so frustrated trying to go from zero to 100 in one day and wasted valuable time trying to build something I didn’t have the expertise to do at the time.

Instead, I should have been fleshing out the idea, determining the mission of the business and features I’d like it to have. The technical skills and detailed development plans come further in the process, but my advice to students is to create a solid foundation first.”

Find College Thrifts on Instagram at @College_Thrifts and keep your eye out for the beta launch of the College Thrifts app soon.

Library collecting coronavirus research by FIU faculty and students

Adriana Harris — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, FIU faculty and students have been involved in research and scholarship to help better understand and manage the virus, while also looking at its impact on our local, national and global communities.

FIU Libraries serve an important role in collecting and preserving such impactful institutional scholarship through Digital Commons, the university’s research repository.

In this tradition, Digital Commons staff have gathered published papers by FIU faculty, researchers and students related to COVID-19 to provide a centralized collection of scholarship across all colleges, schools and departments and created the Coronavirus Research at FIU Collection.

The initiative is lead by FIU GIS Center and Digital Commons Systems Administrator Jill Krefft. “The Coronavirus Research Collection is a way that we can promote and preserve the important work of FIU faculty, researchers and students during this global pandemic. We hope to continue collecting these materials as they become available.”

Researchers are encouraged to submit papers, presentations, lectures and other related output to this quickly growing collection as they become available.

Among the published work currently held in the collection are titles such as

Mapping COVID-19: How web-based maps contribute to the infodemic
- Levente Juhasz, FIU GIS Center
Returning to School: Separation Problems and Anxiety in the Age of Pandemics
- Martha Pelaez, College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Current Response and Management Decisions of the European Union to the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Review
- Attila J. Hertelendy, College of Business

Digital Commons can support both textual materials (pdfs, PowerPoints slides, etc) as well as audio and visual materials (recorded lectures or presentations). In addition, researchers can submit finalized datasets, those that typically have gone through the peer review process and have been published, in a variety of formats to FIU’s Research Data Portal for open access and reuse.

Through broader access and dissemination of our institutional scholarship related to COVID-19, Digital Commons is committed to providing simple, equitable access to necessary information during the global pandemic and beyond. The hope is that both current and future investigators can rely on the collected materials to enhance their knowledge and own work.

For more information on the collection or how to submit research, contact Jill Krefft at jkrefft@fiu.edu.

FIU Libraries recently launched a new research data portal, powered by Harvard’s Dataverse.

The portal allows FIU faculty, affiliated researchers and students to share finalized data publicly and expands existing data support services to include archiving of research datasets across disciplines.

Currently, FIU’s research data portal supports publishing of a variety of finalized data and electronic material created by the university community. This includes:

Spreadsheets
Surveys
GIS data and imagery
Code
And more!

What are the benefits of the research data portal?

Increased visibility and impact of your research data.

Openly accessible data increases research visibility, helps facilitate new collaborations and enables verification of published results. Research datasets are discoverable through Google and are assigned their own Digital Object Identifiers (DOI), which supports citation and sharing.

Compliance with funder and journal mandates.

With more funders and publishers requiring data deposit in a repository, the research data portal provides an opportunity for researchers to meet those requirements.

Locally managed.

All datasets are locally hosted and supported for long term preservation and access. Library staff are available to assist with the deposit of datasets and to answer questions regarding formatting, access and permissions.

Easy to use.

To learn more about the research data portal, visit rdm.fiu.edu or contact rdm@fiu.edu.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, facts and figures are disseminated at rapid-fire speed. Whether from a trusted news outlet or a news feed, you can't hide from coronavirus updates. The height of COVID-19 saw information emerge as king, and maps as its queen.

Researcher Levente Juhász of FIU GIS Center at FIU Libraries teamed up with fellow researcher Peter Mooney of Maynooth University in Ireland for an analytical study of the use of web-based maps used during the pandemic. Equal parts illuminating and forward-thinking, Mapping COVID-19: How web-based maps contribute to the infodemic, examines the various mitigating factors that contribute to mapping inaccuracies. The article also considers how mapping errors and overuse contributed to wide-spread misinformation.

FIU News spoke with Juhász about his research and why he felt it was important to highlight the inconsistencies in mapping as it pertains to the spread of information during the latest coronavirus.

What made you decide to undertake this research endeavor?

The pandemic is inherently geographic in nature. As a geographic information scientist, I am interested in things like the spatial dimension of this virus, how and where it spreads and how this spread relates to our environment. Since the early days of the pandemic, I was consulting maps, news sites, data portals, and dashboards regularly; and I quickly realized none of these sites provided exactly what I was looking for. The number of options and different presentations of the same data was simply overwhelming and ineffective. Around the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) released their first concern about what they call the ‘infodemic’—the overload of information, sometimes misinformation about the pandemic.

Finding that they shared similar views on the use and misuse of web base mapping and its contribution to the infodemic, Juhasz and Mooney—also a geographic information scientist—joined forces. They analyzed available online COVID-19 maps seeking to identify the key issues and raise awareness to spark a larger conversation.

Why do you think web mapping has been such a widely used tool during the COVID-19 crisis?

Technology has evolved so much in the past 10-20 years in every aspect of our lives. Mapping and cartography is no exception, and today it has become very easy to create and share maps through freely available, easy to use software and apps. Another main factor is the data itself. The data that has been produced by health agencies and organizations is also geographic, e.g. number of cases by country, the total number of tests by state, etc.

For journalists, state agencies, data bloggers and data scientists, mapping this content is one of the easiest and logical ways to display the information. It just makes sense. Another aspect of the popularity of web mapping is that people trust maps; many are actually fascinated by them. I believe that in some cases, maps are more a tool to attract attention and drive web traffic as opposed to impartial and accurate information dissemination.

What factors should news and media consider when choosing mapping data to disseminate to the public?

Creating effective and useful maps is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. I believe the most common issues that can be easily fixed are poorly graduated or classified choropleth maps, maps without normalization that do not take into account the size of mapped features, the lack of representation or mention of uncertainty, and the incorrect use of bubble charts and heat maps.

However, using maps in journalistic contexts has a long tradition. It would be beneficial for those in positions to create maps that will be viewed by many to rediscover and revisit guidelines on the use of maps in the news. There are books aimed at reducing confusion in mapping, such as How to Lie with Maps and Maps with the News by Mark Monmonier.

How do you know if the map you're using is trustworthy? How can consumers be more discerning with the mapping information they receive?

The key is to be mindful of what they see and perceive from the information. To give you an example, the level of detail in which the data was collected or published has tremendous effects on the resulting map. It’s possible to zoom in on modern, interactive web maps and inspect neighborhoods or even city blocks. However, if the data that the map portrays refers to the county, this information tells us very little about the neighborhood. Information such as population density and dynamics would be needed to fully understand what a number means for a particular neighborhood. A relatively high concentration of infections within a small area can be invisible on a county map.

What do you ultimately want consumers to take away from your work?

The main take away message would be that collaboration is needed to ensure that web-based maps reach their full potential as useful tools to disseminate information. In reality, I believe that geographers and cartographers, health professionals, journalists, and data scientists should work together to come up with guidelines and best practices.

Apart from this, it is also important to point out that not everything that can be mapped should be on a map. Sometimes presenting results might be better in a tabular format as map visuals might divert from conceiving the real meaning.

Are you planning to work on related topics?

I am working with Suman Kakar and Ellen Cohn from the Department of Criminology on a study that aims to understand the relationship between COVID-19 and crime, which is a perfect example of the kind of collaboration that is needed to tackle a complex issue that requires knowledge in multiple domains.

I'm also interested in the quality of mobility datasets used to make decisions on lockdowns and reopenings. I am currently working with Mooney and Henry Hochmair from the University of Florida on a comparative study of different mobility datasets. I believe that a better understanding of the data is crucial to make informed decisions, so the outcomes of this research will potentially have practical implications.

Virtual hackathon breaks record with nearly 1,300 attendees

Elizabeth Calzadilla — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 17:30:00 -0400

During a 36-hour event that broke records for the fourth year in a row, nearly 1300 university students gathered virtually September 25-27 to participate in ShellHacks, Florida’s largest hackathon held annually by FIU during the fall semester.

Many of the participants were students from FIU’s College of Engineering & Computing and other universities from across the state. This year’s virtual setting, however, allowed students from around the world to also join in on the fun.

Organized by Upsilon Pi Epsilon, FIU’s largest technology-focused student organization, this year’s ShellHacks featured seven tracks that provided participants with a unique opportunity to learn about the latest technologies in engineering and create innovative solutions to problems in our community.

“We are so proud of what ShellHacks has become,” says FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “This event is empowering students from all backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups, to explore the field of technology and find professional success in tech. ShellHacks provides highly motivated, tech-savvy students with a unique opportunity to showcase their talents while engaging top industry recruiters, which can open doors to exciting internships and job opportunities upon graduation.”

At the start of the weekend hackathon, students participated in a team-building exercise via Hopin, a virtual venue platform with multiple interactive areas. The exercise allowed attendees to form small teams to engage in learning about areas such as web development, mobile development, artificial intelligence, game development, information technology, hardware and design and project management.

Each track featured a series of workshops that guided students through the development of innovative tech solutions to a series of social problems. The student debt crisis, COVID-19 pandemic and natural disaster recovery efforts were among some of the real-world challenges that attendees worked to address. Students engaged in the implementation of machine learning algorithms, code building, development of interactive mobile applications, website design and game creation. One team focused on defining best practices around the use of Google’s cloud platform, while another worked on a “Best Hack for Social Good” challenge hosted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. At the end of the weekend, 43 sponsor-led workshops were hosted, and 241 projects were submitted.

“The students did an amazing job navigating the lifecycles of the different projects and came up with amazing solutions to the complex challenges our sponsors presented,” says ShellHacks co-director Kevin Losada. “We had a record number of highly innovative projects submitted that genuinely impressed our sponsors.”

The Farsense team won first place for developing a disaster mitigation device that collects weather data, including outdoor temperatures, humidity, wind speed and biometric pressure. The data is then used to populate a dashboard that helps experts predict damage and come up with targeted mitigation plans in response to a natural disaster.

Social Distance Beer Pong won second place with a fun, well-executed game that allows users to play beer pong from safe distances in response to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

The CloudPlate team won third place for building a scanning product designed to help car service providers minimize customer wait times by streamlining the vehicle intake process at service centers. The innovative scanner allows providers to store general data and maintenance history on vehicles by license plate. When a car pulls up to a service facility, its tag is scanned, and the stored data is quickly retrieved for mechanics.

“I am a computer science major, and an event like ShellHacks is invaluable to someone like me,” says FIU engineering student Antonella Avogadro. “Not only are we given an opportunity to work on amazing, real-world tech solutions, but we are also able to showcase our skills and talents before top industry recruiters. That level of engagement is far more impactful than submitting a resume with the hopes of getting a callback.”

This year’s ShellHacks was supported by more than 50 sponsors, including tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter. Other notable sponsors included Amazon, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Xbox and State Farm. Aside from learning while having great fun, participants also competed for a chance to win more than $20,000 in prizes.

The next big hackathon event, Global Game Jam®, will take place January 29-31, 2021. GGJ is the world's largest game creation event that focuses on development. Earlier this year, more than 115 countries were represented and approximately 9,600 games created at the 2020 Global Game Jam®.

Fully online students can receive valuable therapy and guidance digitally

Monica Smith — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:45:00 -0400

Value

Multiple stressors

Faculty and staff who want to help

“We are living through a uniquely difficult time,” Lengnick affirms, “but we are here to help and offer hope. We’ll get through this together.”

Concerns that already weighed heavily upon college students—worries about landing internships, unrealistic social media expectations and more—have taken a back seat to the wide-reaching uneasiness caused by COVID-19.

Even before the latest health scare, more than 60 percent of U.S. college students reported experiencing “overwhelming anxiety,” according to the American College Health Association. Now those anxieties have escalated as students transition to remote learning, spend their days cooped up at home and experience job loss.

As the surge of coronavirus cases forced universities nationwide to close campuses, FIU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) turned to its existing online infrastructure to respond quickly to students’ mental health needs.

CAPS has for more than two decades offered traditional clinical services in support of mental health and in recent years has seen roughly a 30 percent increase in utilization by students seeking professional help for everything from anxiety and stress management to serious and persistent mental illness that impact their ability to graduate.

Recognizing that urgent need, FIU several years ago began increasing its number of licensed therapists, added more group therapy sessions and created new services that include teletherapy and other online offerings. These latter in particular have proved to be essential during the current pandemic.

Students who previously attended in-person appointments are now instead tapping into teletherapy, which allows them to meet a licensed clinician via secure video conferencing. Since CAPS began operating fully remotely in response to the closure of campus, an average of 250 student consultations per week have taken place, which includes appointments with a psychologist or psychiatrist as well as group therapy. This accounts for about 80 percent of the usual volume of on-campus consultations.

Students also have the option of speaking over the phone to a clinician or participating in text/chat therapy. Plus, online-modules that teach skills to achieve stress relief and reduce anxiety can be used in conjunction with other available digital therapy or on their own. Finally, live virtual events, which replace many formerly on-campus activities, are drawing in students. These include “Ask Me” sessions with clinicians and Zoom-based workshops on topics such as managing social isolation and anxiety.

“My usual coping mechanisms where I would hang out with some friends or go to a park are not an option during a time of social distancing and quarantine,” says Eliandro Ramirez Chang, a 23-year-old psychology major. “I found teletherapy to be oddly comforting during this time. Maybe it’s because I had already established a relationship with my clinician before this pandemic, so I know who’s on the other side of that phone call, but it feels new and more convenient.”

Another component of the CAPS portfolio is the peer education program, which annually employs about 15 students who proactively address their classmates on mental health topics. These campus-based educators reach more than 2,500 students through presentations and literature distribution—and they continue to be on the job during the current crisis.

Realizing that community building is more important than ever, these same peer educators are using social media to keep the channels of communication open during this time of social distancing. Peer educators are reaching out to students via the CAPS Instagram account, which has the largest social media audience for a counseling center at a public university in Florida.

“There is no question that students receive the message better from their peers,” says Wendy X. Ordonez, who oversees the program. She cites the feeling of community created through peer-to-peer interaction, which ultimately reduces isolation and normalizes the conversation surrounding mental health.

FIU’s forward thinking is clearly paying off. According to the Psychiatric Times, many universities are just now trying to respond to the changing climate by attempting to rapidly shift to virtual visits and telehealth. Fortunately for FIU students, CAPS is ahead of the game with so much of its programming already structured for offering online.

Some of the innovations are a direct result of feedback from students. “CAPS is an ever-evolving program that students help shape,” says Todd Lengnick, director. “By collaborating with students, peer educators and other departments, we are constantly finding better ways to deliver services.”

Virtual happy hour to unite Panthers for a university cause

David Drucker — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0400

The pandemic has kept Panthers distanced for more than half of a year. But an upcoming virtual happy hour promises to bring the FIU community together while raising money for the university.

CRAFT is an annual event that invites staff and faculty to enjoy an evening of refreshments while financially supporting their FIU. Instead of an in-person event, this year's CRAFT will be a series of live virtual sessions beginning on October 9.

All members of the university community over the age of 21 are invited. Proceeds from this year’s CRAFT will benefit the Panther Protection Fund, which supports students facing difficulties that threaten to interrupt their education.

The first happy hour, scheduled for October 9 and open to the first 30 registrants, will feature alumnus Tony Haber, owner of Qvivo Brands Inc. Haber will introduce participants to his Felices los 4 Pinot Grigio and Crazy For You Petit Sirah. Both wines will be paired with a manchego cheese from El Jaron and Chorizo Piel de Toro.

The price of registration for each session covers all of the beverages and materials needed. Participants just have to drive by the carpool loop in front of the Ryder Business Building to pick up their kits, says Vanessa Vazquez ‘12 MS 14, director of event management and conference services at the Graham University Center.

“After registering, participants will receive an email with a Zoom link to join us in their session of choice. We will share any special instructions for prep in advance. We can’t wait for everyone to join us for a fun time," Vazquez says.

CRAFT was founded two years ago by the Division of Academic and Student Affairs and Ignite, the university's internal faculty and staff fundraising arm.

Check out the full list of events here.

Alumna shares her journey from reporter to Spotify chief content and advertising business officer

Tatianna Basanta — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 10:45:00 -0400

Dawn Ostroff ’80 took the streaming world by storm two years ago when she joined Spotify as its chief content and advertising business officer. But before jumping on to the Swedish music platform in 2018, Ostroff spent much of her professional career knee-deep in the television and entertainment industries.

While studying broadcast journalism at FIU, she worked as a radio reporter for the local CBS-affiliate station. She credits FIU for its flexibility in helping her earn her bachelor’s degree in the midst of a demanding work schedule.

“Being able to take my classes at night was a really big plus for me,” Ostroff says. “And going to school locally meant I didn’t have to leave my job.”

Moving into television, Ostroff reported during the height of the social and political unrest that plagued Miami in the 1980s – with the peak of the Miami drug war, the Mariel boatlift and a series of race riots that followed the acquittal of four police officers in the death of Arthur McDuffie, all occurring around the same time. Ostroff found working as a reporter became increasingly “overwhelming” and decided to venture more in the entertainment industry, where she could do something that would allow her to “laugh and see the brighter parts of life.” She moved to Los Angeles and began working in entertainment television as an assistant.

“I took maybe 20 steps back from being somebody who was already on-air and producing TV shows and learned the industry and made the connections I needed in order to really pursue a career in the entertainment business,” Ostroff says.

From 1996 to 2002, Ostroff served as the executive vice president of Lifetime where she led the network to become the No. 1 rated cable network on primetime. After leaving Lifetime, Ostroff went to work as president of UPN where she helped merge the UPN and WB platforms to create the CW network and developed several top-rated TV series including “Gossip Girl,” “Vampire Diaries” and “America’s Next Top Model.”

In 2011, she co-founded and launched Conde Nast Entertainment (CNE), a studio and distribution network for film, television, digital video, social and virtual reality. One of her favorite projects was getting to produce the film “Only the Brave,” based on the true story of the 18 firefighters who perished in the Yarnell Hill wildfire in Arizona in 2013.

“I got to know so many firefighters while working on this film,” Ostroff says. “Getting to make a film honoring them and gaining this immense understanding of what their families go through and what their lives are like was such a privilege to me."

Part of Ostroff’s success in the entertainment industry is always being able to discern the next big thing and helping businesses triumph in new platforms – which is also how she found her way to Spotify and podcasting. In an interview with Elle magazine, she claimed her children couldn’t understand why she would leave the CW network to join CNE and launch digital videos, but within two years the world – and her kids – were overtaken with the new medium.

“I’ve always gone where the younger generations have forged a path and being at the forefront of ‘what’s next’ has always driven me in my career,” she says.

She joined the Spotify team to help grow podcasting, where she’s made great strides, like signing Joe Rogan, Michelle Obama and Kim Kardashian to the streaming platform. She says working in the music industry, working with chief executive officer and “visionary” Daniel Ek and being part of a globally respected company that’s at the forefront of changing the music industry all drove her to join the team.

Ostroff shares some advice she has for FIU students looking to break into the media and entertainment industries.

“Do something that you really love,” Ostroff says. “I always say you have to have passion, persistence, and patience because if you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you’re persistent in how you’re going about it and you have patience you’ll eventually move up the ladder and make your way to the career that you want. Also, look at who you’re working for and work for somebody who is supportive, can serve as a mentor and who will be in your corner.”

To learn more about Dawn Ostroff or to keep up with her latest ventures, you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

FIU Cuba Poll: Most Cuban Americans support President Trump and his policies, will vote to re-elect him

Madeline Baro — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0400

A majority of Cuban Americans support President Donald Trump and plan to vote for him in November, according to the latest FIU Cuba Poll.

They gave Trump high marks on his handling of key national issues such as the COVID-19 crisis, immigration, health care, Cuba policy, China policy and the economy, and mixed but still supportive reviews on his handling of race relations and national protests. The Cuba Poll, which is the longest-running research project measuring Cuban American public opinion, also found increased support for isolationist policies and for the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

“Cubans remain a majority Republican ethnic group and like the majority of Republicans throughout the country, they are supportive of President Trump and his administration’s approach to governing,” said Guillermo Grenier, the principal investigator on the project and chair of the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies in the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, the primary sponsor of the poll. “He receives high marks on handling all of the measured key national issues as well as his handling of Cuba policy and will receive a strong majority of the Cuban-American vote on Election Day.”

A total of 1,002 Cuban Americans were polled from July 7 to Aug. 17. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percent. The poll was conducted by Grenier and Qing Lai, associate professor of sociology in the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies.

Support for the embargo has fluctuated over the past three decades. The 2020 poll found 60 percent of Cuban Americans support the policy, continuing an upward trend seen initially in the 2018 poll. This is the highest level of support since 2007. Younger Cuban Americans are more likely to oppose the embargo (46 percent) as are Cuban Americans who were not born in Cuba (50 percent) and registered Democrats (72 percent). The general support for the embargo is expressed simultaneously with the view, by 71 percent of the population, that the embargo has not been an effective policy.

“There is strong support to give antagonism a chance,” Grenier said. “The political narrative encouraging engagement has been replaced by one encouraging isolation of Cuba. This is a national narrative and Cubans are more sensitive to it than other groups.”

Grenier and Lai characterized the tendencies in the results of the poll as either supporting “policies of the carrot” (engagement) or “policies of the stick” (isolation).

When it comes to the “policies of the stick,” 73 percent of respondents support polices that are designed to promote regime change by putting maximum pressure on the Cuban government. All categories of respondents expressed overwhelming support for hardline policies, with only registered Democrats and the oldest respondents (76 years of age and above) opposing the policies. The increased support for the embargo is also an indication of this type of assertive policy.

In the “policies of the carrot” camp, the sociologists noted the strong support for suspending embargo sanctions during the COVID-19 crisis (61 percent), high support for engagement measures such as selling of food (69 percent) and medicines (74 percent), and strong support for policies designed specifically to improve the economic well-being of Cubans on the island (70 percent). Also, while fewer Cuban Americans support a policy of unrestricted travel compared to the 2018 poll (47 percent in 2020 vs. 57 percent in 2018), the support for airlines to establish routes to all regions of Cuba is strong (65 percent). The pollsters noted that about half of Cuban Americans in South Florida send remittances to family members on the island and 70 percent have close relatives or significant others living in Cuba.

“It is not surprising that the poll measures a certain amount of ambivalence in the population,” Grenier said. “Most Cubans desire change in Cuba and in U.S. Cuba policy. They are unclear, even after 60 years of experience, whether isolation or engagement will bring about change so they are leaving the door open to more engagement while signaling that, perhaps due to the leadership provided by Trump and his administration, they are willing to give isolation policies their support. Still, both tendencies are evident in the community.”

Florida International University’s Cuban Research Institute (CRI) began sponsoring the Cuba Poll in 1991 to record a snapshot of the Cuban-American community at a time of major geopolitical change, including the collapse of the Soviet Union. Funding for the 2020 Cuba Poll was provided by the Green School, CRI and the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, the FIU Office of the President and the Division of External Relations, Strategic Communication and Marketing.

Emeritus professor, renowned scholar brought Cuban art to the forefront of scholarship

Gisela Maria Valencia — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 14:54:00 -0400

Juan Martínez was born in Jaruco, a rural town east of Havana. A country-side speckled with palm trees, mountain peaks and a coastal fishing town created a landscape that planted itself in Martínez’s heart and would surface years later through his passion for art.

Martínez arrived in Miami in 1966 when he was 15 years old. As a student at Miami Dade College, Martínez took an art history course with a professor that changed his life.

“I was fascinated by these pictures and the story behind them,” recalls Martínez, now an FIU emeritus professor of art history. “I learned that you can actually have a career in this. I started from there.”

He went on to earn multiple graduate degrees in art history at Florida State University. But it wasn’t until a friend asked him if he wanted to check out an exhibit featuring Cuban art that Martínez discovered an area that spoke to his past. He was hooked.

“It’s pretty obvious now, I realized that studying Cuban art was a way to put me in contact with my culture and my identity,” says Martínez, citing one of his favorite Cuban artists, Carlos Enríquez, whose works often explore themes related to Cuba’s countryside.

“When people are immigrants, they yearn for their original culture,” Martínez explains. “In many cases, they like to have their material culture. Part of that material culture is art, so they want to collect it, share it and want to add to the knowledge of it.”

Martínez would eventually become one of the leading scholars on Cuban art and one of the main voices in Miami keeping Cuban art and its history alive.

Writing the textbook

Martínez came to FIU in 1990. For more than two decades, he helped carve out a future for the department of Art + Art History and eventually served as its chair. In addition to teaching a variety of courses, he and several colleagues created the foundation for scholarly work about Cuban art at FIU.

"Juan was one of the leaders of the Art + Art History Department, and a pillar for Cuban art studies,” says Brian Schriner, dean of the College of Communication, Architecture + the Arts. “Two words that come to mind when I think about Juan are compassion and dedication. He is a down-to-earth professor, a very accomplished scholar and a tireless advocate for students and faculty."

A prolific writer and scholar, Martínez most notably wrote the first book to examine the art of the Vanguardia painters of 1927-1950. These artists, many of whom had lived in Paris, rejected the conventions of Cuba’s national art academy and led an avant-garde artistic movement on the island to capture Cuban heritage and national identity, primarily by depicting rural life and embracing tenets of surrealism and cubism.

“He became the expert on Cuban art of the Vanguardia period,” says Carol Damian, a retired professor and former director of the Frost Museum FIU. “He represents FIU in a level of scholarship that is respected throughout the academic community. That’s a very lasting legacy.”

Among his publications is a monograph about Cuban-American artist Maria Brito, which he was selected to write by a national panel of experts and for which he won an award.

Although an accomplished scholar, Martínez’s first love remained working with students.

Educating a generation of artists

“When the students talked to me during and after class and when they were excited about the subject matter, it’s wonderful,” he says. “One of the things that makes me happy is that I had a number of students that told me ‘You were the one who got me into art.’”

George Sánchez-Calderón ’92 is one of those students. The Miami-based artist has had his work displayed at Art Basel and the Franklin Furnace Archive in New York, among other venues.

“I still remember the first day I walked into Juan’s class,” he says. “Juan is the most passionate person I’ve ever met in my life.”

The son of a Cuban baker, Sánchez-Calderón had his doubts about pursuing a degree in a field that didn’t seem pragmatic. When he took Martínez’s course, though, everything fell into place. “[Juan] made being an artist accessible to me,” recalls Sánchez-Calderón, adding that others were likewise inspired by Martínez. “He’s had a huge impact on this community. A lot of [his students] are the people that in the past 20 years helped create the art scene. He’s the person that put all these people out into the world.”

Legacy in Cuban Studies

Martínez also became involved in a number of conferences and programming through FIU’s Cuban Research Institute (CRI). By the time Jorge Duany, the institute’s current director, arrived at the university in 2012, he had already heard about Martínez and was familiar with his work.

“He published a number of very insightful essays, exhibit catalogs and book chapters that have helped to put art history on the map of Cuban studies,” Duany explains. “His 1994 book [on the Vanguardia painters] had become a classic in the interdisciplinary study of Cuban culture, encompassing art, history, literature and other related disciplines."

After his retirement in 2013, Martínez continued to impact the field. He led presentations, collaborated with local museums and published articles. Through his work, Martínez also claimed a place as one of the frontrunners who set the stage for further scholarship and education about Cuban art at FIU, something Duany and FIU recognized by dedicating a 2017 Cuban art conference to him.

As Martínez reflects on his legacy – and that of others like him – who have worked to bring Cuban art into the limelight, he says the future is bright.

“Latin American and Caribbean art are beginning to bask in the recognition they’ve always deserved in the art world,” Martínez says. The proof? Collectors are increasingly buying and selling these works, and scholars continue conversations about the regions’ art and the cultural richness these works share with all of humanity.

Addition to the original story: Martinez passed away on Oct. 11, 2020 at the age of 69.

FIU recognized for supporting students in the military, veterans

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