Delivering results: Behind FIU's unique strategy to lead impact in D.C.

At a young age, Kyomi Cabral '23 decided her life mission was to make a difference by working in the heart of the nation: Washington, D.C.

When she began her college search, she looked for a university that would help her get there. That's why she chose FIU. 

Impressed with the university's network in D.C., which is called FIU in Washington, D.C. or "FIU in DC" for short, Cabral became a Panther. Fast forward to today, and Cabral smashed her goals. She prepared herself with a top-notch education at FIU's Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. She also gained hands-on, behind-the-scenes experiences in the nation's capital through a variety of premier FIU in DC programs. 

She went on two “fly-in” seminars in which she was able to interact with elected officials and learn about potential career paths on location in D.C. She also completed two internships, both at the United States Agency for International Development — one in which she was part of a national anti-corruption taskforce and the other in which she interned at the Niger Foreign Office. As an FIU Honors College Hamilton Scholar, she also worked with Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth M. Béjar to advocate on higher education policy issues.

Cabral was hired as an analyst at Accenture Federal Services (AFS) in D.C. before graduating with her degrees in international relations and global education studies.

“When I was a student, I told myself I was going to go to D.C. to land a job and that’s what I did,” she says. “It feels really good saying that. For a lot of people, this is our dream.”

Cabral is one of thousands of students and alumni who, through FIU programs, have learned what it takes to be a leader and jumpstarted careers marked by an ardent desire to serve. She joins a long list of Panthers in D.C.:  More than 4,000 alumni live and work in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia; 40 work in Congressional offices; and more than 10 FIU alumni are employed at AFS.

Bringing the '305' to the '202'

For two decades, FIU has been successfully connecting students with careers, researchers with government funding and scholars with opportunities to make a difference in our country. Two years ago, these efforts were fortified when the university opened a new, full-service, academic, showcase and conference center in the capital. FIU in DC is housed in a 5,000-square-foot, high-tech facility that provides students, alumni, researchers, elected officials and the business community with a place to convene and collaborate steps away from the U.S. Capitol building.

The unique platform is leading to marked results. 

In the last academic year alone, FIU in DC helped secure more than $34 million in Congressional appropriations to support FIU research and more than $18 million in federal grants. Last year, FIU in DC produced or hosted more than 65 events, mostly research conferences led by FIU faculty. 

This year, thanks to an initiative called the Talent Lab at FIU in DC, more than 600 students are expected to visit the nation’s capital through 25 “fly-in” seminars that will give them the opportunity to learn about career paths in Washington, D.C. Additionally, nearly 100 students are expected to intern there. Six students within the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media are currently working at the D.C. student news bureau, which is located inside the FIU hub. These students will cover the Presidential Inauguration and other D.C.-related news for the semester. FIU in DC will host a slate of events surrounding the Presidential Inauguration. The center also launched a new program in which FIU students within the Green School are taking a for-credit academic course for a semester on location. 

FIU in DC is much more than a physical location. The real secret behind its success lies in its high-powered network of FIU alumni, government officials and partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors.

This network paves the way for triumphs: researchers working to apply their ideas to real-world issues advocate for their projects in front of decisionmakers; students aspiring to embark on careers of impact in D.C. are connected with potential employers and gain valuable experiences; and faculty and leaders come together to discuss some of the most pressing issues affecting the country and the globe.

“FIU is at the forefront among universities in the country that run this type of multifaceted hub in D.C.,” says Michelle L. Palacio, senior vice president of the Division of Strategic Communications, Government and External Affairs. “We want our faculty researchers and our students to experience the heart of the nation, to be engaged citizens who interact with policymakers, and most of all, we want our students to lead impact and make a positive difference in the world. That’s why FIU in DC exists, and that’s why it’s an important component of our research, student success and community engagement initiatives.” 

Research and advocacy

Leonardo Bobadilla, associate professor in the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences, is one of the researchers who is building a broader profile for the university in Washington.

Bobadilla’s research focuses on ways robotics and AI can be used to monitor the ocean’s health. He is the director of the Motion Robotics and Automation Lab at FIU. He has gone to the capital to participate in panel discussions with industry experts, given a presentation to officials from federal agencies and met with elected officials to advocate for FIU robotics research.

“Being able to [meet with] representatives and congresspeople and gain their support is an important first step,” Bobadilla says. “We have sea levels rising in Miami and water quality to monitor. There are lots of projects we want to work on at FIU to help the community. It is game-changing for FIU to have a network in D.C. and a national conference center within blocks of the agencies that make policies and affect long-term solutions.”

Thanks to such advocacy efforts, a group of researchers from the FIU Institute of Environment and the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences, including Bobadilla, received a $9.5 million federal earmark (funds) to build a lab at FIU's Biscayne Bay Campus focused on studying how robotics and AI systems can be used for coastal conservation. 

“Environmental resilience is one of FIU’s strategic priorities,” Bobadilla says. “This lab will be very important for FIU’s work in this area.”

Ultimately, it's important for the region's coastal health. “FIU is a reflection of our community,” Palacio says. “When we advocate for FIU, we’re advocating for Miami.”

The network

Students planning to start careers in D.C. say that the FIU network does in fact make all the difference. The university often acts as a key stabilizing force throughout their journeys. From helping students access scholarships to sharing career tips and information about potential resources (such as available apartments for alumni relocating to the area), FIU staff and faculty go above and beyond to set students up for success. 

Renaldine Lafleche '23 is one of the students who raves about her FIU support system. 

As an undergraduate, she was first introduced to the energy of D.C. when she went on a "fly-in seminar" with her FIU family.

“I always knew I wanted to work in government and in public policy,” says Lafleche, who earned her bachelor's in public administration from FIU and is a first-generation college graduate. “But when I did the fly-in, I realized D.C. is where I needed to be. This is where the decisions are made. This is where I can directly be involved in government and make an impact that can trickle down to my community.” 

She later completed a congressional fellowship in the office of Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. Various FIU units came together to award Lafleche funding that helped cover her expenses while living in D.C. during that time. On the heels of the fellowship, Lafleche landed a job as a legislative aide for Congressman Henry “Hank” Johnson, who represents Georgia’s fourth congressional district. 

Lafleche is currently pursuing her master's in public administration online from FIU. She says that the university has supported her every step of the way and has provided a community she is proud to be part of.

“FIU has a really big [presence] in D.C.," Lafleche says. "We’re recognized everywhere here. They already know who we are. I’m in a Georgia office, and I tell my boss all the time about FIU.”  

It's one more way Panthers are leaving their mark in D.C.