Sara DuCuennois named FIU Chief Alumni Officer, will lead new era of alumni engagement

By Todd Ellenberg

Sara DuCuennois, who has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and has been with FIU since 2013, has been named the university’s associate vice president for alumni relations and Chief Alumni Officer, the first woman to hold the post in FIU’s history.

In her role, DuCuennois leads and directs the Office of Alumni Relations, which serves and engages FIU’s 270,000 alumni worldwide. She creates and guides FIU’s alumni strategy and vision, overseeing engagement initiatives with affiliate groups and other volunteers, including the 23-member Board of Directors of the FIU Alumni Association. She leads a growing staff, manages the organization’s broad range of programs, benefits, services and resources, and serves as a member of the FIU Foundation’s senior leadership team.

“Sara’s leadership has been integral in growing programs that engage with key constituent groups such as young alumni, recent graduates, Greek alumni, and former FIU athletes, said Gina Duarte-Romero ’91, MEd ’08, president of the FIU Alumni Association Board. “Her foresight and vision, coupled with her passion for the university and its alumni, have positioned us for our next phase of serving our alumni family.”

DuCuennois joined FIU’s Alumni Relations team in 2013 and was named assistant vice president in 2020. She previously served in several roles at Nova Southeastern University, including senior director of Alumni Relations & Special Events.

“We are delighted that Sara is now leading Alumni Relations,” said Howard R. Lipman, FIU senior vice president of University Advancement and CEO of the FIU Foundation, Inc. “During her tenure at FIU, she has implemented strategies and programs that are increasing engagement with alumni.”

A leader in her field, she is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and holds Faculty Star recognition for national presentations and contributions to her industry. In 2019, she served as the Robert G. Forman Fellow of the Council of Alumni Association Executives, a research fellowship designed to help inform the alumni relations profession.

DuCuennois received the FIU Torch Award at the university’s Employee Service and Recognition Awards, which is presented annually to an employee who exemplifies FIU’s institutional values of truth, freedom, respect, responsibility, and excellence.

She is a graduate of the University of South Florida, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and holds a certificate in Women in Leadership from Cornell University.

“It’s a privilege to lead our alumni as we are poised to enter an exciting new phase of programming and engagement,” DuCuennois said. “We are listening to our Panthers and are committed to enriching their alumni experience. As our largest constituent group, the Panther family is part of FIU’s greatness.”