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Fall 2006 Florida International University Magazine Fall 2006 Florida International University Division of University Relations

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This work is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections and University Archives at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Magazine by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE FALL 2006

20/20 VISION President Modesto A. Maidique crowns his 20-year anniversary at FIU with an historic accomplishment, winning approval for a new College of Medicine.

Also in this issue:

Alumna Dawn Ostroff ’80 FIU honors alumni College of Business takes the helm of a at largest-ever Administration expansion new television network Torch Awards Gala garners support THE 2006 GOLDEN PANTHERS FOOTBALL SEASON WILL BE THE HOTTEST ON RECORD WITH THE HISTORIC FIRST MATCHUP AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AT THE ORANGE BOWL.

DON'T MISS A MOMENT, CALL FOR YOUR TICKETS TODAY: 1 -866-FIU-GAME

FIU Golden Panthers 2006 Season Aug Middle Tennessee A 7 p.m.

September 9* South Florida A 7 p.m. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa September 16* Bowling green H 6 p.m.

Sept * Maryland

Arkansas State Parents weekend North Texas

University of Miami A TBA Orange Bowl, Miami October .21 Alabama A TBA

INfoverrtber Louisiana-Monroe H 7 p.m.

November Louisiana-Lafayette H 6 p.m. Homecoming * FAU A 3:30 p.m. Dolphin Stadium December!* Troy H 7 p.m.

ALUMNI Fun for the whole family with the Golden Panther DJ, dancing, FIU mascot Roary, games, ASSOCIATION giveaways, face painting,food catered by Tony Roma's, prizes and more. Be sure to join / us at the Orange Bowl to cheer on the Golden Panthers as they face the Hurricanes for the first time. Sponsored by the FIU Alumni Association. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINEFIU

on the cover in this issue

04 In Brief 30 Building for Business Success President awards A new four-building complex for the College 100,000th degree of his career of Business Administration will support a team-oriented, active learning approach. 12 Alumni Profile: Dawn Ostroff ’80 32 New Athletics Association Board to increase support for FIU sports 14 Into the Blue FIU marine biologist Michael Heithaus, a 33 Alumni News: renowned shark expert, explores how these The Alumni Association welcomes On the cover: 20/20 Vision mysterious animals behave and influence a new board of directors. President Modesto A. Maidique appeared other marine life and the ecosystem. in high spirits on an August afternoon to 34 Alumni Spotlight: stand for the cover portrait overlooking the 20 The FIU College of Medicine Danny Pino ’96 and his FIU Green Library, an iconic image of the In a series of stories, we explore what’s wife Lilly Bernard Pino ’97 university’s educational excellence. Dr, next now that the Florida Board of Maidique oversaw the expansion of the Governors has given a green light for FIU to 37 Class Notes library, as well as the construction of more open a new College of Medicine. And one than 20 major facilities at FIU. His 20 years 40 Donor Profile: Miami family shares their joy in learning the at Florida International University have North Dade Medical Foundation been, in the words of one community medical school has been approved. leader, “transformational.” 41 VIP: 26 2005 Torch Awards Gala Joy Wallace ’81 Performances by American Idol star and alumna Nadia Turner make the 2005 Gala an unforgettable night for honoring FlU’s best and brightest.

in the next issue Protecting our environment Research conducted by scientists in the FIU Southeast Environmental M u m ™ Research Center is playing a key role in the restoration and preservation of the Florida Everglades, as The Campaign for Each One, Teach One Florida’s Women well as other fragile resources: Biscayne The First Generation Legendary civil rights leader Business Leaders National Park, Big Cypress National FIU has the opportunity to and educator Bob Moses Find Balance Preserve and Florida Bay. We explore how award $1.6 million in joins FlU’s Center for Urban A new study by FlU’s the efforts of SERC scientist are improving scholarships to deserving Education and Innovation and Center for Leadership the future of South Florida’s threatened students if the university can brings the Algebra Project to explores the lives of environments. raise $823,000 by Nov. 30 to Miami’s public schools. women who hold top corporate positions. match a state grant. MAGAZINEFIU FALL2006 r volu'melFf FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

from the Editor

Dear Readers, FIU Magazine Editorial FIU MAGAZINE Florida International Advisory Board Division of University University 2006-07 Alumni On March 23, 2006, the Florida Board of Governors Administration Association Board Cathy Akens Executive Committee took the historic step of approving a new College of Assistant VP Student Affairs Marcos Perez ’90, Biscayne Bay Campus MBA ’00 William R. Trueba, Jr., Esq. ’90 Medicine for Florida International University. The vote Patricia Alvarez Vice President President was widely hailed for the promise of improved health care Director, Sponsored Research University Administration and Training Jose M. Perez de Corcho ’93 Terry Witherell Vice President and educational access for the community. These social and educational Pietro Bonacossa Associate Vice President Associate Director, External Relations Raymond del Rey ’97 issues are substantiated by hard numbers that ultimately made the case for Credit Programs of Continuing Secretary and Professional Studies Bill Draughon the new medical school. Associate Vice President George B. Brackett Jr. ’76 & 77 Gisela Casines Alumni Relations Treasurer The facts and figures, however, don’t alone tell the story. To understand Associate Dean, Coliege of Arts and Sciences William Stahl Samuel C. Jackson '97 just how important this medical college will be in our community, you Director of Publications Parliamentarian Dr. Carol Damian have to meet 16-year-old lasmin Qyyum and her family, whom we feature Char and Professor, Department Karen Cochrane Ty N. Javellana, CPA ’88, of Art and Art History; Associate Director MST ’98 as part of our medical college coverage starting on page 20. The Qyyums University-wide Arts Council Editorial Services Past President welcomed us into their home to share their personal reasons for celebrating Regina Delulio, Esq. Deborah O’Neil Associate General Counsel, Editor, FIU Magazine Officers news of the medical college. lasmin, who aspires to one day be a physician, Office of the General Counsel Aileen Sola Gabriel Albelo ’93 Dr. Stephen Fain embodies the true promise of FlU’s new College of Medicine. Art Director Stewart L. Appelrouth MS ’80 Professor, College of Education In the glow of this recent triumph, FIU is also reflecting on another Joseph L. Caruncho, Esq. ’81 Estela Garcia Writers Jose Manuel Diaz ’86 Assistant Director of success story, the 20-year anniversary of President Modesto A. Maidique. Communication and Sue Arrowsmith ’05 Cynthia J. Dienstag, PA ’84 Publications, College of Susan Feinberg Joaquin “Jack” F. Gonzalez ’98 While institutional success is certainly built on the hard work and Engineering and Computing Bryan Gilmer Carlos H. Hernandez ’97 Martin Haro '05 dedication of many, it also depends on strong leadership at the top. Few Dr. Sally Gallion Michael R. Mendez ’03 Assistant Dean of Marketing, Mark Hayes public university presidents have served as long as President Maidique, Communication, and Sara LaJeunesse Raul Perez Ballaga ’97 even fewer can be credited with the scope of his accomplishments at FIU. Publications; College of Jose Parra '97 Justo Luis Pozo ’80 Business Administration Dr. Susan Webster ’87 We at FIU Magazine marveled as we compiled the 20-year timeline of Dr. Lillian Kopenhaver Photographers Dean, School of Journalism Marimer Codina FIU milestones starting on page 16. FlU’s progress is nothing short of and Mass Communication Gloria O’Connell remarkable. Even more exciting is what the future holds as FIU fulfills its Dr. Larry Lunsford Ivan Santiago Assistant Vice President of Michael Upright vision of being a top public urban research university. Your thoughts are Student Affairs, University Ombudsman always welcome at [email protected]. Dr. John Stack Professor, College of Law and Department of Political Cheers, Science; Director, Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship Studies William R. Trueba, Jr., Esq. ’90 President, FIU Alumni Association Deborah O’Neil Dr. Bob Wolff Associate Dean, College of Education

Write To Us: Send your letters via email to [email protected], fax to 305-348-3247 or mail to PC 515, Miami, FL 33199. Letters should refer to content in the magazine, and may be edited for publication. All letters must include writer’s full name and address. Alumni, please include degree and year of graduation.

FiU MAGAZINE is published by the Florida International University Division of University Administration. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Distributed free of charge to alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the University. Postmaster and others, please send change of address information to FIU Magazine, Office of Alumni Relations, MARC 510, Miami, FL 33199.

Copyright ©2006, Florida International University * Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Institution. This document was produced at an annua! cost of $82,540 or $0.69 per copy to inform the public about a university program. Qualified individuals with disabilities as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act who need special accommodations for any F!U-sponsored event can request assistance by calling the number listed in association with the function. The request must be made five working days M o re the scheduled starting time. TDD, via FRS 1 -800-955-8771. ______~ 8366 08/06 FALL 2006[ FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE | 3

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Give today and your donation will be matched by the state to put college education within reach for needy students

The desire to see your child achieve what was not receive a quality education,” said Associate Vice within your reach is universal among parents. For President of University Advancement Sumner many families, that means seeing their children finish Hutcheson III. “As most of our graduates stay in college. At FIU, the promise of the next generation is Miami, this is a boon to the future vitality of the realized every day. region. And for donors who contribute to this But finishing college isn’t easy for some here in project, it is a rare opportunity to have their gifts Miami-Dade where 15 percent of families with two matched dollar for dollar, no matter the amount.” parents and 27 percent of single-mother families The grant dollars will be used to fill in the gaps for First Generation live below the poverty line. Young people who are first-generation, full-time, first-time-in-college Scholarship Fund the first in their families to attend college come to freshmen who do not have enough to pay their Fund-raising goal: $823,000 State deadline: Nov. 30, 2006 FIU with an ample supply of talent, determination education costs after receiving financial aid. A high State matching grant: $823,000 and potential. Often, they need just a bit of extra percentage of FIU students receive only partial Total new scholarships: $1.6M help financially. financial aid despite significant need. Earlier this year the Florida Legislature created a For the 2006-07 academic year the minimum HOW TO GIVE first-of-its-kind scholarship fund for first generation award amount is $250 and the maximum is $1,000. By Mail college students. The First Generation Matching Eligible students will be Florida residents and U.S. Fill in the attached pledge Grant Program provides $6.5 million statewide to be citizens with demonstrated financial need whose card and mail it to the address indicated. used to match private donations on a dollar-for- parent(s) or legal guardian did not earn a You can enclose a check or pay dollar basis for financial aid for needy first baccalaureate degree. by credit card. All credit card generation students. “These are students who, in fact, still have financial information is kept strictly FIU is eligible to receive up to $823,000 from need that has not been covered,” said Vice President confidential. the state if the university can raise an equal of Enrollment Management Corinne Webb. “This amount by Nov. 30. Through this new program, could make all the difference as to whether they By Phone Call University Advancement at all gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations venture forward. There have been many in the past 305-348-2288 to make a or organizations will be leveraged significantly by who have shied away from higher education because credit card gift over a secure qualifying for state matching dollars. Such a gift they don’t have quite enough money.” telephone line. can be an important investment in building Many FIU students, the large majority of whom economic self-sufficiency for many FIU students come from Miami-Dade County, are the first in their Online Make a gift by going to the who will remain in South Florida to live and families to attend college. In Miami- Dade, 75 following site: firstgen.fiu.edu work after graduation. percent of people over age 25 do not have a four-year The total grant pool of $1.6 million will help college degree. Of those, almost one quarter never hundreds of deserving first generation students finished high school. entering their freshman year at FIU. The financial aid What is clear is FIU has far more needy and will enable many of them to stay in school and help deserving students than it has dollars to help. others pursue their studies full-time, which in turn “If we can raise the full amount to have $1.6 will allow them to graduate sooner and become million that would make a big difference in how productive members of the community. many students we can help,” said Webb. “We’re “This scholarship program represents a tremendous excited about leading this aggressive campaign to help opportunity for the youth of our community to need-based students fulfill their academic dreams.” ■ 4~~| FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE |~^Zl 2006

philanthropic organization. Foundation reasonable prices. It is extremely pleasing to CEO Dr. Steven Marcus praised Grossman’s me that our achievements are being dedication to the nursing community. “She recognized by this magazine.” ■ is a crusader and a true leader who is constantly providing new and innovative nursing education programs, finding ways to Alumni welcomed into overcome the nursing shortage and working to close the diversity gap between health care CBA Hall of Fame professionals and patients.” FIU’s College of Business Administration inducted In her five years as dean, Grossman has tackled two of its most the nursing shortage crisis by spearheading accomplished alumni into many educational initiatives which have its Entrepreneurship Hall increased enrollment by more than 125 of Fame during a May percent. FIU is now the second-largest ceremony honoring the producer of nursing graduates in the state. K executives and marking the event’s seventh year. The college also presented Adriana Ayala, left, of the American Red Cross presents Kiplinger: FIU among School of Nursing Dean Divina Grossman the 2006 Spectrum a third non-alumnus Health Care Award. best education values Hall of Fame inductees executive with its South Albert Santalo ’97 (top) Florida Entrepreneur of American Red Cross Kiplinger Magazine ranked Florida and Glenn J. Rufrano International University No. 49 among the Top ‘MS 76 (bottom) accept the Year Award. honors nursing dean their recognitions from 100 Best Values in Public Colleges and CBA Executive Dean The three honorees The American Red Cross’ Greater Miami and universities in its 2006 survey. Not only was Joyce J. Elam. recognized during a Florida Keys Division honored FIU School FIU named as one of the best values among the luncheon ceremony held at Parrot Jungle on of Nursing Dean Divina Grossman in April nation’s public colleges and universities, but it Watson Island are alumni Albert Santalo ’97, with the 2006 Spectrum Health Care Award ranked in the top 100 as the best value for out- president and CEO of Miami-based Avisena; in recognition of her impact on quality of of-state and international students as well. and Glenn J. Rufrano MS ’76, CEO of New life in the South Florida community. Prior “My vision from the very beginning has been York-based New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc.; winners include environmentalist Marjorie to provide students with a high-quality and Manuel D. Medina, chairman and CEO Stoneman Douglas, U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek education at an affordable cost,” says FIU of Miami-based Terremark Worldwide, Inc., and State Sen. Frederica Wilson. President Modesto A. Maidique. “These who was honored for significant success in Grossman was nominated by Health rankings just confirm that we are providing and contributions to the South Florida Foundation of South Florida, a Miami students with the best possible education for business community. ■ PRESIDENT AWARDS THE 100,000TH DEGREE OF HIS CAREER TO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER Bhavani Jayachandran’s imaging probe could improve survival odds for women with breast cancer

By Sue Arrowsmith ’05 President Modesto A. Maidique marked a milestone on May 2 when he awarded the 100,000th degree of his 20-year tenure to Bhavani Jayachandran ’03, MS ’06, a biomedical engineering graduate student with a remarkable personal story.

“The act of awarding the 100,000th degree holds symbolic significance for me personally,” said Maidique, who handed out 3,200 degrees at the 2006 Spring Commencement. “Knowing that we’ve had such a profound impact on so many lives is very gratifying. Our graduates inspire me everyday.” President Maidique has presented 77 percent of all FIU degrees since the first FALL2006 pFL^RXD AlNTiR NAT 1 ONA i T u NWE r F i T V M A gT z IN e" ] " 5 T

New center will train May 15 on behalf of the Air Force Office of The center, which is one of the Ewing Marion Scientific Research. Kauffman Foundation’s eight centers around CAFTA entrepreneurs The research will be carried out by the the country, offers graduate and undergraduate The U.S. Agency for International College s Advanced Materials Engineering courses, and conducts research of national Development has awarded a $286,209 grant Research Institute and will bolster the nation’s reach, such as the 2004 U.S. Entrepreneurial to FlU’s College of Business Administration warfare technology base. It involves the Assessment. The center also assists small to train business executives in Central development of high-power microwave businesses through workshops and seminars. ■ America and the Dominican Republic. emitters that can irreversibly damage electronic Combined with funding from Florida FTAA, equipment such as enemy communication Inc., this grant will help establish the Small systems and incoming missiles. Researchers are Lifelong learning program and Medium Enterprises Center of also developing carbon nanotube sensors that awarded $100,000 grant Excellence (SMECE) at FIU, which will would enable a soldier to carry a portable provide business education and executive sensor and transmit biological and chemical FlU’s Continuing and Professional Studies training to entrepreneurs of small- and information to the command center. (CAPS) has been awarded a $100,000 grant medium-size businesses in CAFTA countries. by the The Bernard Osher Foundation for the “It’s just terrific to have a facility that’s so Academy for Lifelong Learning at the Entrepreneurs will learn strategies for accessing innovative and world-class right here in our Biscayne Bay Campus. The Academy will U.S. markets and procedures for dealing with own backyard,” said Ros-Lehtinen. now become The Osher Lifelong Learning port authorities, customs brokerages, and Institute at FIU. wholesale and retail outlets. FIU expects to train 40 entrepreneurs in the pilot program and FIU named “cool” school CAPS joins the prestigious network of 93 significantly more in subsequent years. Osher Foundation Lifelong Learning Institutes for entrepreneurship on university campuses across the country. Fortune Small Business magazine named FIU The grant will enable the institute to enhance Engineering research advances one of 10 “cool” universities in the country for its program development in a variety of areas, entrepreneurial programs and research. The including educational study tours, expanded U.S. warfare technology ranking, published in March, placed FIU language instruction and a guest lecture series. alongside institutions such as Harvard A $1.5 million grant awarded to the College of “We are proud to be at the forefront of a University and the University of Arizona. Engineering and Computing will allow FIU national awakening on the significance of researchers to develop technologies for The magazine, which is geared toward lifelong learning in our communities,” said electronic warfare as part of the ongoing entrepreneurs and small business owners, said Mercedes Ponce, executive director of CAPS. Bio/Nano Electronic Devices and Sensors that FlU’s Eugenio Pino and Family Global “In a knowledge-based society, it is imperative Program. U.S. Representative Ileana Ros- Entrepreneurship Center serves the largest that our citizens have access to lifelong Lehtinen ’75, MS ’87 presented FIU President minority population of any such higher learning opportunities to remain vital and Modesto A. Maidique with the grant check on education institution in the country. civically engaged.” ■

commencement in 1973, including 73,850 bachelor’s, 21,000 She learned English and completed a General Education Diploma master’s and all 790 doctorates ever awarded. (GED) while he finished his Ph.D. at Kansas State University. Receiving a master’s degree was a defining moment for The couple moved to Miami in 1996 and Jayachandran obtained a Jayachandran, who never finished school in her native India. In the bachelor’s degree in computer engineering at FIU. She then audience was her father, Babu Naidu Enaganti, who traveled from directed her focus toward breast cancer research by developing a Andra Pradesh in southern India to be at his daughter’s graduation. non-invasive, hand-held optical imaging device that utilizes “The number one thing I gained after six years at FIU is confidence,” infrared light to detect breast cancer in its early stages. said Jayachadran. “I know I’m starting a new phase in my life, but “While causes of breast cancer are not understood completely, I know I can do it.” early detection through screening is the best defense against In Jayachandran’s village, the single school house did not provide morbidity and mortality,” said Jayachandran. education beyond the seventh grade, so she began an eight-mile In addition to receiving the 100,000th degree, magna cum laude, trek, six days a week, to a school in a neighboring town. She was Jayachandran was named Best Teaching Assistant and won the the only girl among 15 boys making the same journey. Upon Outstanding Master Graduate Award from the College of completing the eighth grade, her parents advised her to stay home. Engineering and Computing. She plans to pursue a doctorate In 1988, she arrived in the United States with her husband Krish degree in biomedical engineering at FIU, but for now she wants to Jayachandran, now an FIU professor of environmental studies. devote more time to daughters Maanasa and Thejasa. ■ FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE FALL 2006

in brief. FlU’s Model U.N. delegation included, front, from left: Eloris Snyder, Annette Soberats, Diana Lora. Middle: Alex Alonso, Elizabeth Prochet, Lorena Davis, Head Delegate Aaron Ramirez, Henric Boiardt, Vivian Gonzalez, Model U.N. Interim Director Khaleel Seecharan ’02, MS ’03, Diana Lim, Kathryn Cubbons, Michelle Oria. Back: Randol Mora, Aurelio “PJ" Rivera, Armand Murach and Rocio Perez. produced more accurate figures on cost overruns for existing projects Hurricane Wilma’s losses for South Florida including the law school building, the than more expensive private models. FIU led graduate school of business and marine a team of experts from the University of biology buildings. Florida, Florida State University, Florida Institute of Technology, NOAA’s Hurricane 4. Major Gifts Matching Program — The Research Division and the University of Legislature fully funded the Matching Gifts Miami in developing the computer model. It Program, providing $2,617,000 for FIU. is used to estimate annual expected insured 5. Program Enhancement — The Florida losses from hurricanes and can also provide Legislature funded $366,000 in recurring immediate estimates of losses from specific money for FlU’s master’s nursing program hurricane events like Katrina, Wilma and and $3 million for life sciences. Model UN team Charley. This public model can also be used in the future to quantify the economic 6. College of Medicine — As agreed to with takes first place benefits of hurricane mitigation. the Board of Governors, FIU did not seek Once again, Florida International funding for the medical school this Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty University’s Model United Nations team session. The Legislature continued the noted that the private, proprietary models returned from New York with the top spot in funding for the current medical used by the insurance industry do not allow the Model United Nations competition. This partnership between the FIU Honors one to see the underlying assumptions, is the 14th time the FIU team returned from College and the University of South making it difficult to evaluate requested rate the oldest and most prestigious mock United Florida medical school. ■ Nations competition in the world with an increases. This project was initiated by U.S. award. The FIU team, which represented the Sen. Bill Nelson when he was insurance Seychelles Islands, obtained the commissioner. Florida CFO Tom Gallagher New York Times launches “Outstanding Delegation,” or first place and State Sen. Rudy Garcia, recognizing the award for performance. need for a transparent model for student journalism institute homeowners, helped secure $2.7 million to The N ew York Times and the National This year’s competition drew more than 3,500 pay for the model development. ■ Association of Hispanic Journalists students representing 200 universities. The five- (NAHJ) will launch an intensive training day competition, which took place April 11-15, program early in 2007 for Hispanic was created by the United Nations in the late State dollars to support student journalists at FIU. 1940s. The mock sessions were held at the United Nations complex in New York City, FIU growth, construction The program will consist of an institute for with closing ceremonies held in the UN FIU was one of Miami-Dade County’s Hispanics similar to one created for African- General Assembly Hall. biggest winners in the 2006 legislative session Americans in 2003 at Dillard University in that closed May 5. FlU’s advocates in the New Orleans. Allan Richards, chairman of “To say that our students had an outstanding Miami-Dade Delegation worked hard to week is an understatement,” said Khaleel the department of journalism and bring home state dollars for critical initiatives. Seecharan ’02, MS ’03, political science broadcasting at FIU, said: “ The New York This is how FIU fared in six priority areas: instructor and interim director of the program. Times, in conjunction with the NAHJ, will be 1. Enrollment Growth — Funded by the addressing the under-representation of “They worked extremely hard all semester and Legislature at $6 million. Hispanics in U.S. newsrooms. The institute they were constantly recognized in their will help educate the next generation of committees for their strong performance.” ■ 2. Salaries —FlU’s faculty and staff are talented young Hispanic journalists.” included in the 3 percent pay increase provided for state employees. FlU’s School of Journalism is 69 percent FIU completes first public Hispanic and it ranks number one in the U.S. hurricane loss model 3. Construction — This year, FIU received a in the number of undergraduate degrees record amount of funding for university awarded to Hispanics. New York Times The first public model to project hurricane projects, $45 million, including money Managing Editor Jill Abramson said that FIU losses for the state of Florida has been for the completion of the molecular was chosen to launch this program because of completed by the FIU International biology and social science buildings. FIU its strong reputation in journalism and the Hurricane Research Center and has already received an additional $7.8 million for diversity of its student body. ■

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Nursing students to study Havana design captures health issues abroad top architecture prizes A new research Alumnus Gabriel Fuentes ’02, M.Arch ’05 grant in the FIU has been recognized by two of the country’s School of most important professional associations for Nursing is his ability to see the Havana of tomorrow. In making possible May, the Florida chapter of the American a one-of-a-kind Institute of Architects awarded him an Honor learning Music Fest features jazz, Award for Un-built Design, the organization’s program for highest award category. Fuentes, a graduate of symphony, organ concerts minority the School of Architecture and an adjunct The 2006 FIU Music Festival will showcase a students to study professor, received the award for his design of talented line-up of FIU artists-in-residence and abroad. a modern building for the Plaza Vieja town student ensembles to raise money for Professors Marie-Luise Friedemann The $857,662 square in Old Havana, a section of the city scholarships. Unless otherwise indicated, all and Kathryn Anderson grant from the dating back to the 17th century. performances will start at 8 p.m. at the Wertheim National Institutes of Health will support the Performing Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased That same project, titled “Architecture as “Minority Health International Research from the FIU Box Office by calling 305-348-1998. Contextual (Re) Interpretation: A Mixed-Use Here is the festival schedule: Training Program,” a cross-cultural training Cultural Center in Old Havana, Cuba,” also program in which undergraduate and Nov. 2: Festival Grand Opening performance with landed him an Honor Award from the Boston graduate nursing students complete a FIU Symphony Orchestra, featuring cellist Mark Society of Architects, which grants the semester of coursework and hands-on Drobinsky and faculty conductor Maestro Carlos country’s most prestigious award for un-built Riazuelo; the Miami Master Chorale, under the experience in various European and Latin projects. Fuentes’ design of a cultural center direction of John Augenblick. American countries. The program, one of a and exhibition space situated between two handful in the nation, aims to attract Nov. 3: Choral ensemble Chanticleer performs at historically significant structures along Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 464 NE 16th, Miami. minority nursing students to pursue careers in Plaza Vieja explores contextual design of nursing research. Nov. 4: FIU Big Band featuring jazz singer Alan contemporary architecture in historic places. Harris, and jazz trumpeter Ingred Jenson. The four-year grant is the brainchild of FIU The concrete, wood and glass building nursing faculty members Kathryn Anderson would be five stories high and would house Nov. 5: The Amernet String Quartet in concert with cellist Mark Drobinsky, violinist Robert Davidovici, and Marie-Luise Friedemann. The professors apartments, art studios, offices and art galleries. and pianist Kemal Gekic. hope that by exposing the students to leading Fuentes, who currently works at the Miami- nursing research in other countries, they will Nov. 9: “Schumanniade,” an evening of Robert based architectural and urban planning firm learn about health care programs for the Schumann’s music, featuring faculty and guest Zyscovich, Inc., traveled to Havana in artists with Robert Dundas, faculty director. needy in their host countries and return to become future advocates for minorities and December of2004 to experience the city first­ Nov. 10: “A Tribute to America’s Musical Heritage” by the underserved in their own communities. hand. He said the trip, which was funded with Dallas Brass, featuring a full complement of brass and The students will be mentored by top a private grant he secured with the assistance of percussion with the music of Copland, Bernstein, nursing researchers working around the the Cuban Research Institute, was necessary to Gershwin, Sousa, Glen Miller and Benny Goodman. world on health disparities, family health physically understand the site. ■ Nov. 11: Argentina vs. Italian Night behaviors, health responses and family Nov. 12: Faculty composer Orlando J. Garcia quality of life. celebrates 20 years at FIU in a concert of his work Beginning this fall, the first group of nursing with faculty performers and music ensemble NODUS. minority students will be selected to work with nursing faculty at the University of Nov. 16: Artists-in-Residence violinist Robert Rome “La Sapienza” in Italy, the Private Davidovici and pianist Kemal Gekic in concert. University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany, Nov. 17: American organist Todd Wilson performs the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College on the Schantz organ donated to the FIU School of in England, and branches of the National Music by Herbert and Nicole Wertheim. University of Colombia in Colombia, Nov. 18: Artist-in-Residence Arturo Sandoval Honduras, Peru, Venezuela and Mexico. ■ performs Latin, standard and contemporary jazz with the FIU Big Band. ■ Gabriel Fuentes' design of a modern cultural and exhibition center for the Plaza Vieja town square in Old Havana. 8 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

Civil rights leader Bob Moses brings grassroots mathematics education to South Florida’s urban schools

Story by Mark E. Hayes Photos by Marimer Codina

They ride long yellow buses from Changing the educational system of Most people agree that public Mississippi and Louisiana — dozens of the nation is not a job he can do by schools in the United States aren’t high school students arriving in Miami himself — in fact, the degree and scale working properly — that is, they don’t to teach and preach their new, of change Moses envisions requires that do enough to prepare young people distinctive brand of academic activism. everybody get involved. In 2005, Moses for whatever future awaits them. But They are the young people of the and his collection of math activists took the roots of the problems in our Algebra Project, the modern heirs of the part in and, at many times, led the schools and the possible solutions to civil rights movement. The student-centered workshop, “Quality fix them are hard to find. From the mathematically-minded children of Bob Education as a Civil Right” at the highest level of government, there is Moses have come to town, and they Homeless Assistance Center in talk of the soft bigotry of low have some serious fun to share. downtown Miami. expectations and the hopeful remedy “Access for Over the past two years, legendary This summer, Moses led the of standardized testing, of a uniform civil rights activist, MacArthur all to this level Summer Mathematics Institute at the curriculum, vouchers, and charter Genius Fellowship winner and down- of education Biscayne Bay Campus, a college schools. No child will be left behind. preparatory program in mathematics But as Moses sees it, lots and lots to-earth Lanier High School algebra is the next teacher Robert Moses has partnered for high school graduates. In August of children are being left behind — civil right.” with FIU’s Center for Urban 2006, Moses initiated the first Algebra especially in poor and urban schools. Education and Innovation to bring Project site in a M iami high school at According to the Urban Institute, 50 the fruits of the Algebra Project to Bob Moses, Edison Senior High. Along with FIU percent of black ninth graders and M iam i’s public schools. He is an eminent doctoral student Mario Eraso, Moses 47 percent of Hispanics do not scholar, will teach 20 freshmen, who are graduate in four years. Drop-out eminent scholar of the Center for Center for Urban Education, where he joins Urban struggling with mathematics, five days rates approach 80 percent in some fellow MacArthur Genius winner and Education and a week for 90 minutes a day. He will poor and urban schools. Innovation center Director Lisa Delpit, also a teach the students for four years until In the area of math and sciences, pioneer in urban education. they graduate. U.S. students routinely trail behind FALL 2006 I FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

students in Europe and Asia. In 2004, the U.S. Department of possible K-12 education — an Education released the findings of an education that provides every child with international student assessment with the opportunity to go to college and, making a mathematical pun. He this summary: “America’s 15-year- afterwards, work in a global economy quotes the civil rights activist Ella Fifty percent olds performed below the that is driven less by industry and more Baker: “I use the term radical in its international average in mathematics by information. The key to preparing of black ninth original meaning — getting down to literacy and problem-solving.” everyone — and he means everyone — graders and understanding the root causes.” Moses talks about the “sharecropper for college and for the economy of the Moses developed the basic and education of low expectations” that has future, suggests Moses, is the ability to framework for a new, more accessible been in place since the national do the abstract and symbolic thinking 47percent approach to teaching algebra during educational system was desegregated best developed in an algebra class. of Hispanics the 1980s when his daughter was a decades ago. It isn’t necessarily a black “In today’s world,” he argues, do not middle school student in Cambridge, and white issue, he suggests, but rather “economic access and full citizenship Massachusetts. The idea is to use graduate in an issue of what public schools have depend crucially on math and science direct experience in the real world to become for most young people — a literacy. Access for all to this level of four years. provide a model for abstract place to acquire merely enough basic education is the next civil right.” mathematical concepts. Students education to work in a service or low- then work with those concepts The Urban end industrial job. A radical solution Institute symbolically. For instance, Moses The central issue, for Moses, is one of The roots of Moses’ life’s work can taught the concept of the number civil rights. If young people are to have be found in his remarkable book, line with its positive and negative future access to the best possible jobs, “Radical Equations.” When Moses numbers, by using the Boston then they must also have the best uses the word radical, he’s not just subway system. continues well as in terms of its language. On the results. The only way to get that is to be other hand, it has the mix of people in the classroom.” who are going to really be The Miami-Dade school system is instrumental in defining issues for the Algebra Project is now a tar bigger the fourth largest in the nation. Like country. And it also has the glaring venture than Moses can handle alone. many urban school systems around the issue which is facing the country: Can It is an organization of more than 300 country, it faces the continual challenge we continue to be a nation which has teachers across the country that serves of meeting the needs of an increasingly these enormous differences in wealth?” 10,000 students. Having figured out diverse student population. In 2004, All the more reason for FlU’s the basics with middle schoolers, Moses the district employed more than 19,000 Center for Urban Education and has, since 1996, been working with teachers and enrolled 360,000-plus Innovation to invite this education students at Lanier High School in students. More than 60 percent of those leader to bring his work to South Jackson, Mississippi. So, in addition to students qualified for free or reduced Florida. When he is working in “If we are able being a national leader of educational lunches, an indicator of poverty levels. Miami, his schedule is packed with to motivate innovation, he typically teaches two Miami-Dade’s schools are a cultural student-centered activities. It’s all part them sections of juniors and one section of melting pot, with students who speak of his grassroots approach to changing somehow, sophomores. dozens of languages, and come from a system that doesn’t serve the needs of “To understand fully the nature of they’ll be able even more ethnic groups. the people who are in it. the work,” he said, “you have to roll up to continue “M iami doesn’t seem to look toward your sleeves and be involved. You have learning.” the rest of the country,” Moses Seriously fun mathematics to really know what it means in the observes. “It looks toward the At the Homeless Assistance Center deepest sense to break through and Jose Jimenez Southern Hemisphere, both in terms on North Miami Avenue one math educator actually get student production and of its culture, in terms of its politics, as afternoon, in the facility’s gymnasium, some 40 or so students are running it develops with young people (not on important for them to know that this around in what appears to be barely them) in the classroom (not in state was something that they demanded organized chaos. Slips of paper capitals) looks messy. Someone and struggled for. You can’t hand clutched in their hands, four teams of coming into the gymnasium and people democracy, you can’t present it middle school students sprint back seeing the Mobius Function game in to them as a gift. Democracy has to be and forth. The floor is covered by a progress might never realize math was struggled for, and you have to engage network of hoops and colored tape — being learned. What Moses and his in the process of attaining it. red, blue and yellow. It’s hard to tell like-minded teachers and students are “Education is like that also,” he what’s going on exactly, but the kids doing is simply drawing on, in his “To continues. “You can’t hand the are clearly engaged, in between all the words, “the everyday culture of kids. understand students their educations. They have running, in some very intense What they’re into. How do we show to decide that they want an education. fully the calculations in group conference. them their experiences are related to They have to struggle for it. You can Moses stands smiling in a corner of important mathematics?” nature of the have reforms. But the problem is a the gym and watches the rather work, you missing conversation.” elaborate game of hopscotch unfold. In other words, if you want the kids Change from the bottom up have to roll He explains that the game is designed Some of the students who have been to care about learning, they must have up your to teach the Mobius Function, an involved in the Algebra Project for a legitimate say in how schools are run. important multiplicative operation in many years have set up the Young sleeves and In the larger picture, what Bob number theory and combinatorics. People’s Project, now an independently be involved.” Moses has begun now extends far The game continues. This is serious operating student-run group supporting beyond him — and he is content to fun — spirited play full of yelling and mentoring, training math literacy have it that way. His influences are jumping up and down. But it isn’t gym workers, and taking part in community Bob Moses, the forgotten names in the front lines eminent class or recess, it’s an algebra lesson. activism. They take what they have scholar, of the civil rights movement in the Moses again explains to the adults learned from Moses and apply it to the Center for 1950s and 60s, “people,” he says, observing how the game works: larger project of education reform. Urban “who are not necessarily in the history Education and “What you get from a game like this These ambassadors for math Innovation books, but people who belong to a is a conceptual language, which is literacy have a simple slogan: “Each legacy for whom what is most nobody’s spoken language, and the one, teach one.” important in this country is how you actual symbolic representations that Over the months and years, slowly, can still live a life of struggle. It’s still a are in all their science and math the skills and ideas and aspirations country in which you can have a textbooks. The transition from spoken have been passed on from teachers to meaningful life. Each one was able to language or natural language to students, from older students to make a difference.” conceptual language — which is the younger, from one to another. In South As clearly as Bob Moses is a man on scientist’s made-up language — is a Florida schools like Finlay Elementary, a mission — and he is happy to meet transition that the students need to Lake Stevens Elementary, Filer Middle with public officials, education leaders learn. But it has to be put out on the School, Miami Jackson High, Booker T. and journalists — his passion for floor for them.” Washington Senior High and John A. teaching always leads him around to Later in the day, math educator Jose Ferguson Senior High — as well as his students. Back in the gym where Jimenez who worked with Moses many others — students are taking the Mobius game was being played, while an FIU graduate student, arrives charge of their own educations. soon after finishing his talk with a few for a community forum to discuss All these lessons about changing a grown-ups, he drifts over to the quality education as a civil right. system from the bottom up Bob bleachers and begins talking with a Jimenez spent half a year at Lanier Moses learned fighting for voting pair of his students or rather, the High in Mississippi working with rights in Mississippi in the early young men begin talking to him. Bob Moses. He is quick to point out the 1960s as part of the larger civil Moses is always sure to listen carefully need for public schools to move rights movement. In his mind, before he responds — speaking softly beyond high-stakes testing. there’s a short distance between and with hopeful patience born of “Students are bored in math class,” he “Each One, Teach One” and “One many years of struggle. ■ says. “They lose hope and lose interest. Person, One Vote.” If we’re able to motivate them somehow, “When we were working on the Mark E. Hayes is a freelance writer in Miami. His cultural commentary feature, Passing Notes, can be they’ll be able to continue learning. We right to vote, it was very important for heard on 88.9 FM Serious Jazz. He teaches and focus too much on single individual the sharecroppers to be involved in the serves as the director o f the Center for Writing at achievement. We all must rise.” process of getting that right for Palmer Trinity School. Grassroots reform, especially when themselves,” Moses says. “It was Working her way to the top: Leading a new television network is the latest challenge for the SJMC alumna

By Bryan Gilmer Surrounded by a fleet of assistants who arrange and rearrange her schedule, Dawn Ostroff’80 anoints and punctures dreams in her Wilshire Boulevard office. Hollywood producers who have discovered a bright, young writer with a wild idea for a TV show work their connections to get a pitch meeting with her. Heartbroken fans of canceled or imperiled shows under her control post her address and phone number on the Internet with exhortations to lobby her. “Trek does not need a break,” a fan calling himself MJ wrote on the site enterpriseproject.org last year when Ostroff, as UPN TV president of entertainment, announced the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise. “And I am here to say that I will not give ... Dawn Ostroff, Viacom, Paramount, or any other human or corporate beings connected with this franchise a break. I have not yet begun to fight.” The show’s still dead. FALL 2006J f LQRIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITYMAGA zT n i T J 1 3 Alumni nrofile

Ostroff has ushered such hit shows Ostroff has a with friends from her Miami TV as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” history of getting news days who had also made boulders up hills. “Everybody Hates Chris” and the move to Hollywood, always She chose FIU for “America’s Next Top Model” into looking for an opportunity to journalism school over existence. Now, UPN is merging with become a decision maker. Northwestern University The WB, another decade-old upstart Finally, a small movie-of- because professors agreed to network that never made it to the top the-week production make her coursework flexible tier. The merged network will launch company hired her as an so she could also work full­ in September as “The CW,” and the executive, and then she time for Miami TV stations. networks’ parent companies have got a job at Disney She was a news reporter for tapped Ostroff as its president of producing sitcoms. the ABC affiliate and then a entertainment. She is weeding When she went back to producer for “Montage,” a through the mish-mash of both 20th Century Fox, it was as popular, local 60 Minutes- networks’ lineups and launching new president of show style program in the 1970s shows to forge a brand she hopes will development. In 1996, she and ’80s. Even with that attract the 18- to 34-year-old viewers stunned her Hollywood workload, she was able to get that make advertisers salivate. colleagues by leaving that her FIU degree at 19 (she took The new network will take plenty job to take over the a year of college-credit classes as of chances, Ostroff says. The 46- Lifetime cable channel a high school senior and studied year-old executive wants to imbue for women. through summers in college). The CW with a Myspace.com-like “People said, ‘Why But covering hard news in sense of community. would you go to a women’s M iam i Vice-era M iam i wasn’t for “We really believe in the viewer to network? You can’t do anything her: “I realized it was very hard to participate in the network, through “I’ve always live your life looking at tragedy and there,”’ she remembers. But she the Internet, yes, but ultimately on people’s bad experiences, and looked at my revamped the lineup of shows to our own air,” she says. sticking a microphone in people’s life...as attract more middle-age women For instance, The CW will provide faces asking how they feel when a needing that while keeping the network’s loyal online software in “The CW Lab” loved one has died tragically,” she impossible audience of 60-somethings. “And that lets viewers edit a set of recalls. “I just felt like there had to be task, where then, there we were, No. 1. It was photographs of, say, friends at a a better way to earn a living.” there’s a huge sort of sweet revenge.” party, into a 15-second slideshow. So she went to the bottom of a new boulder that Now, she hopes to repeat the feat Each day, it will choose and hill, becoming a production assistant I’ve got to and make The CW a leading broadcast a couple. She also wants to broadcast network. Her philosophy — essentially a gofer — for a Liza push up the let viewers make their own short on making it in Hollywood hasn’t Minelli special on HBO. She loved it. mountain.” films, which she’ll consider airing. She moved to Los Angeles to join a failed her yet: “There’s no other way, “This is a great opportunity,” Ostroff startup production company, and she in my opinion, to get ahead in this Dawn Ostroff says. “I’ve always looked at my life — worked as a casting assistant for the ’80 business than starting at the bottom the jobs that I’ve taken — as needing TV dramedy “Trapper John, M.D.” and working your way up.” ■ that impossible task, where there’s a Then she worked for years as a Bryan Gilmer, a form er St. Petersburg Times huge boulder that I’ve got to push up secretary at 20th Century Fox, reporter, is a freelance writer based in the mountain. This is a challenge.” making friends and staying in touch Durham, N.C. 14 I !

Professor Michael Heithaus jumps off a research boat to catch a green turtle in Shark INTO Bay, Australia. THE BLUE Shark expert Michael Heithaus dives in to study nature’s around the sharks body, Heithaus most feared walked in large, sweeping circles for nearly an hour to encourage oxygen creatures flow over her gills. W ith renewed strength and one thrust of her muscular tail, the shark eventually swam away. Thinking back on that day, the three­ By Sara LaJeunesse time Division-Ill National Title The great beast thrashed and rolled, collegiate swimming champion and shattering the waters calm surface into former host of “Crittercam” on the shimmering ripples. The slate gray fin National Geographic Channel says he glistened for a moment in the can’t let fears get in the way o f his sunshine before slipping beneath the underwater research. To really surface of the water. Exhausted, the His passion understand the behavior o f sharks and 500-pound tiger shark drifted slowly for marine life how they affect other marine life, to the ocean floor. Heithaus has to dive in. was inspired It was a tranquil day on Shark Bay, a “I wasn’t about to let a shark die just remote region of Western Australia that by childhood because I was too terrified to get into contains one of the world’s most Christmas the water,” he said. “But I wasn’t pristine underwater ecosystems. FIU nervous about the shark I was vacations on marine biology professor Michael handling,” he said, “I was worried about Heithaus and his research team had the Florida what else might be around.” been submerging drum lines with coast. A frequent visitor to Shark Bay, baited hooks — a typical and harmless Heithaus knew that it was home to one method for capturing the sharks they of the highest densities of tiger sharks routinely study —- when, in the anywhere in the world. He also knew distance, an unidentified boater was that this impressive predator — so seen harassing one o f the animals. commonly mistaken for a blind and As the teams boat approached, the Heithaus jumped into the water to vicious killer — was far less aggressive massive, murky shape o f a 12-foot tiger rescue the beast. As a world expert on than most people thought. shark became visible. Overcome with sharks, he knew that if the animal Still, tiger sharks are efficient killers anger at the reckless boater and remained still, she would eventually and may even serve as keystone compassion for the injured animal, suffocate. So, with arms wrapped predators, or those that have a major “ I wasn’t about to let a

From left, Heithaus attaches National shark die just Geographic’s “Crittercam” — an animal-borne video and data collection unit — on a green turtle because I in Shark Bay, Australia. Middle: Heithaus and his was too wife Linda tag a bull shark in the Florida Keys. Right: Heithaus shows off a gray seal pup on terrified to Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia while get in the helping to deploy Crittercams on adult seals during his time as a research fellow at National water.” Geographic. (All photos courtesy of Michael Heithaus.) composition of the entire seagrass community could change dramatically Michael influence over the rest of as a result. Heithaus, His passion for marine life was professor, the community. Among their Closer to home, one of Heithaus’ marine biology inspired by childhood Christmas favorite prey are green sea turtles newer projects examines the influence of vacations on the Florida coast. and dugongs — a relative of the sharks on a different kind of ecosystem. “Throughout my childhood I never manatee. These herbivores spend much The Florida Everglades is a naturally wanted to be anything but a biologist,” of their time grazing on the bay’s phosphorous-deprived freshwater he said. “I would see places like Shark extensive seagrass beds. Without sharks system. Bull sharks — unique among Bay on television and think, ‘I’d love to sharks because they can survive in fresh around to keep their numbers in check, go there, but people like me never get to water — often swim into the Everglades the turtle and dugong populations go to places like that’.” to pup and to avoid predators. Recently, could skyrocket and lead to a collapse of Well, Heithaus made it to Shark phosphorous from the Gulf of Mexico the entire seagrass ecosystem. Bay. He even made it to “prime time.” has been detected in these areas. It is precisely this delicate relationship And although he is the star of the “We are looking at the possibility that that Heithaus finds interesting. His show, he has a strong supporting cast. research has revealed that when tiger bull sharks acquire phosphorous His wife Linda, a biologist, is just one sharks are present, dolphins spend more through their marine diets, then swim of the many colleagues, including time feeding along the edge of the upstream and deposit it,” he said. graduate students, with whom he seagrass habitat, where there is less food, In a third project, Heithaus is collaborates. In fact, she recently but where the animals have access to working to improve “crittercams,” or accompanied him on a three-month deep waters into which they can escape. cameras that can be fitted onto the research trip to Shark Bay. “Basically, they are willing to scrape backs of animals to record their “We’ve been going to Shark Bay for out a meager living in areas where there behavior. He is trying to make them so long, that we’ve really become a part are fewer fish in order to stay away from smaller to fit onto smaller animals and of the community there,” he said. the sharks,” he said. record for longer periods of time. As a Heithaus and his wife work closely One of Heithaus’ goals is to research fellow with National with local conservation groups to determine how the presence of sharks Geographic, Heithaus hosted the protect their marine resources. “It’s affects the behavior of turtles and popular television show, “Crittercam,” really rewarding,” said Heithaus, “and dugongs, and to see what indirect for which the cameras are named. He effects they have on seagrass. If sharks even appeared on “The Tonight Show” it’s the right thing to do.” scare the turtles and dugongs away, they with Jay Leno — on the same night as Sara Lajeunesse is a science writer in Miami. Her won’t be around to graze on their Cameron Diaz — to explain his work previous article “Rescuing the Rivers”appeared in favorite seagrass types. The species with the cameras. the Winter 2006 issue o f FIU Magazine. By Deborah O’Neil and Martin Haro ’03 “What most people saw was a few than $100 million in foundation funds, Florida International University buildings that served as an upper division $79 million in sponsored research, celebrates a milestone this year, the 20- cap to Miami-Dade Community membership in the nation’s oldest honor year anniversary of the presidency of College,” Maidique said. “What I saw was society Phi Beta Kappa and a Carnegie Modesto A. “Mitch” Maidique, the the seed of a great public research Foundation ranking of high research, longest-serving university president in the university. Some who had not bought into FIU today stands at the threshold of state of Florida. The growth and academic “ I am the vision were skeptical.” joining a select group of national achievements of Florida International Earlier this year came the crowning research universities. passionate University during his tenure have few achievement. For the past decade, he has The magnitude of FIU’s economic parallels in the history of modern public about what set his sights on winning approval for an impact on the community can be universities in the United States. I do.” FIU medical college. Even when such a measured in both lives transformed and in “His 20 years at FIU have been triumph seemed most unlikely, Maidique dollars. One outside study pegs FIU’s transformational,” said Adolfo Henriques was unequivocal: It will happen. As if annual economic impact at nearly $2 MACC ‘76, CEO of Florida East Coast Modesto A. scripted for his biography, the approval billion. Through education and job Maidique Industries and the past chairman of the FIU President came when FIU would celebrate 20 years training, research, employment FIU Board ofTrustees. “He has created a of his accomplishments. opportunities and outreach programs, research institution of higher learning that “Establishing a medical college at FIU FIU bolsters every sector of South provides the excellence that this is the most significant accomplishment of Florida’s community, from industry and community needs.” my professional career, one that will health care to education and the arts. The two decades of growth championed positively impact this community for Today, FIU is educating more than by Maidique have been guided by a bold generations to come,” Maidique said. “I 38,000 students — more than 80 percent vision: to build one of the nation’s top am very grateful to the thousands of of whom will establish their careers in urban public research universities. In the volunteers, staff and students who helped South Florida. Already, FIU has produced early days, some considered that to make it happen.” more than 113,000 college graduates who overambitious for a local university that With a new medical college, and are working in board rooms, classrooms started out as two-year institution. schools of architecture and law, more and health organizations throughout

1988 ______1992 FIU unveils its 1990 official seal In a star-studded 1986 showing a “ FIU’s first patent is awarded for a commencement, U.S. October 12 is Modesto A. of Knowledge, Service and device created by researchers in President George Bush Maidique’s first day as president of and the motto engineering. The Beacon student is the guest speaker and Florida International University, “Spes, Scientia, Facultas,” Latin for newspaper revived with support Cuban salsa queen, the which has 16,000 students and a “Hope, Knowledge and from Student Government and late Ha Cruz, receives $93 million budget. Opportunity.” President Maidique. an honorary degree.

1987 1989 1991 Pope John Paul II visits FIU, leading The School of Hospitality and Former U.S. resident Jimmy Carter visits FIU. an outdoor Mass at Tamiami Park. Tourism Management establishes The new Ernest R. Graham University Center FIU athletic teams begin competing a new headquarters on the opens. The School of Journalism and Mass at NCAA Division I level. Biscayne Bay Campus. Communication is established as a separate school on the Biscayne Bay Campus. South Florida and the world. The Flores. “He has demonstrated tremendous a consultant to dozens of the world’s university itself has a total budget of $747 leadership that has allowed FIU to thrive, largest corporations. million and generates employment for which is something to emulate.” In 1984, Maidique moved to Miami more than 8,000 people. from Stanford University to help take care At the same time, says FIU Board of FIU was “the right place” When I go of his elderly mother. At the time, he was Trustees Chairman David Parker, The call to public education is rooted a general partner at Hambrecht & Quist Maidique has dramatically advanced in Maidique’s upbringing. He was born in back and Venture Partners, the largest venture educational opportunity in the county Cuba, the only child of Hilda Rodriguez, see what the capital firm in the world. He and his and state. “Access to high-quality, a teacher, and Modesto Maidique, who university partners raised more than $ 100 million affordable higher education is critical to earned a doctoral degree in education and annually for venture capital investment has become the future prosperity of South Florida,” served as a teacher, city councilman, and he oversaw the investments in 12 Parker said. “President Maidique has congressman and senator in Cuba. with all of its companies with revenues near $100 million. He had a seven-figure income. always understood that and has helped to Maidique was 11 months old when his programs build an institution that provides father was killed. At age 44, Maidique had achieved thousands of individuals with a singular “Not having my father has led to and now a the quintessential “American dream.” pathway to success.” profound introspection throughout my medical But Maidique wanted to carry on the “He loves FIU,” said Miami-Dade life,” said Maidique, who has a son, school, public service legacy of his parents. Mayor Carlos Alvarez ’74. “He has Mark, and daughter, Ana, and five Doing so would mean abandoning the I find it committed 20 years of his life to this grandchildren. affluent lifestyle he had worked hard to university with utmost integrity and we are Education remained central in the remarkable.” earn. It would cast him into the all, as a community, benefiting from it.” Maidique home. He attended Cuba’s unforgiving public spotlight and a Nationally, Maidique is a widely prestigious Ruston Academy prep school, turbulent political arena. Carlos Alvarez respected educational leader. Last year, graduating first in his high-school class. At ’74, He considered his options: running for H ispanic magazine named Maidique 18, Maidique headed to MIT in Boston. Miami-Dade Congress or seeking the presidency of a County mayor one of the nation’s “Elite Educators” He earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering major university. His mother worried. who are transforming America’s colleges. at MIT by winning fellowships and “The last thing she wanted was for me to “I think his legacy will carry on long working odd jobs including busboy, somehow get embroiled in politics.” She after he is gone,” said C. Peter Magrath, waiter, translator, short-order cook, died on March 13, 1986, leaving former president of the National electronics technician, assembly-line Maidique, an only child, devastated and Association of State Universities and worker and hi-fi installer. His Latin dance more determined to fulfill his calling. Land Grant Colleges. talents, refined during his youth in Cuba “I felt I needed to give back and I Antonio Flores, president of the and still known to turn heads, helped him wanted to devote myself to public Hispanic Association of Colleges and earn money as a dance instructor. service,” Maidique said. “I also felt Universities, said under Maidique’s Those were humble years. Says tremendous gratitude for a country that leadership, FIU has become a model for Maidique, “My net worth was negative.” had taken me in and given my family other universities around the nation. That soon changed. Maidique went an opportunity.” “President Maidique is one the most on to co-found Analog Devices Inc., More than 200 individuals — among well regarded, most respected leaders Semiconductor Division, the world’s them politicians, college administrators among Hispanic and national institutions third-largest producer of linear and a former ambassador — applied for of higher education in the country and I, integrated circuits. He sat on the boards the presidency of FIU. personally, think the world of him,” said of more than a dozen firms and served as On August 27, 1986, the Florida Board continues

The Martin Z. Marg. Family Collection, one of the finest private collections of outdoor sculpture, FIU opens a new School of Architecture. The new is relocated to University Park. For the sixth International Hurricane Research Center is established. The consecutive year, U.S. News and World Report new 'ertheim Performing Arts Center I names FIU one of the best colleges in the South. FIU * opens. FIU acquires a 38-acre satellite campus to house establishes the African-New World Studies Program. Engineering and Applied Science. Former U.S. Secretary of Preeminent author Mario Vargas Llosa and renowned State Madeleine Albright visits FIU. A study concludes that artist James Rosenquist visit FIU. FIU has a total economic impact of $930 million in Miami-Dade.

FIU establishes the Southeast Environmental Research Center to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awards FIU $1 million to establish the nation’s first spearhead research on South Florida’s threatened environments. National Resource and Policy Center on Nutrition and Aging to conduct research on quality-of-life The FIU Library adds the one millionth book to its collection and improvements for older adults. FIU establishes the GIS Lab and Remote Sensing Center, opening unveils plans for a $40-million expansion. The Center for unparalleled data analysis possibilities for researchers. The FIU International Forensic Research Advanced Technology and Education is established with an NSF Institute is established to serve law enforcement with research, education and training. grant to conduct research on human-computer interfaces, robotics and signal processing. 18 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE I FALL 2006 of Regents selected as FIU’s fourth Today, FIU offers all five; three were from both in and outside the university president 46-year-old Maidique, an approved under Maidique while the and community,” Maidique said. “They entrepreneurial engineer with pedigree other two have reached national would not rest until we had accomplished and real-world experience. As the first recognition under him. Chancellor of this two-decade change, and I am sure Cuban-born president of a U.S. the State University System Mark that they are still eager to move forward." “President university, he shared a cultural connection Rosenberg, who served as FIU provost Alumni often marvel at FIU’s progress. with the people of South Florida. Maidique is for seven years, points to what is most “When I go back and see what the “It turned out FIU was the right place,” one of the remarkable of Maidique’s achievements - university has become with all of its Maidique said. - bringing both a law school and a programs and now a medical school, I most well medical school to FIU in only six years. find it remarkable, nothing short of “A great public university” regarded, Since 1986, six new colleges and fantastic,” said Mayor Alvarez ‘74. When Maidique talks about building a most schools and 18 new undergraduate “President Maidique has always “top urban public research university,” he’s degrees have been created. remained dedicated to the mission of respected referring to specific criteria. Not all The university has also nearly making FIU a better place than when he colleges and universities are alike. Many leaders quadrupled the number of doctoral found it,” said Congresswoman Ileana offer only two-year degrees. Some provide among programs, adding 22 new Ph.D. degrees Ros-Lehtinen ’75, MS ‘87. only undergraduate education. Even fewer in fields ranging from nursing and This progress has made FIU a popular Hispanic and award masters and doctoral degrees. biomedical engineering to international choice for higher education. (Kiplinger’s “The last is a very difficult kind of national relations and Spanish. Throughout the Personal Finance magazine just named institution to build and it’s much more institutions of process of academic growth, Maidique has FIU one of the nations best public expensive,” Maidique said. “I started by pushed to raise standards and expectations university values.) Students have filled higher asking: What does this metropolitan area in faculty hiring and tenure review. FIU’s seats as fast as new programs have need to be competitive in the future? education.” Creating a major research university opened. Enrollment has more than What is appropriate for this city, which also entailed changing the FIU experience doubled from 15,000 in 1986 to more has a destiny to fulfill?” for students. Maidique has led the than 38,000 today. Antonio Flores, An important part of the answer, he president, conversion of FIU from a commuter realized, was “a great public research Hispanic school to a thriving, student-oriented Association of “I am passionate about what I do” university.” Colleges and campus with 3,000 students in residence, Twenty years in public leadership have Major research universities are diverse Universities Division I-A football, an expanded library, inevitably brought some bruises and hard- centers of intellectual possibilities, says new student housing and modern won lessons for Maidique. Early on, some Maidique. They have educational and recreation and student centers. in the community skewered Maidique for research programs that represent a broad Maidique credits much of his success to suggesting the university change its name. spectrum of human knowledge. They the strong commitment to institutional And the university’s rapid growth has been offer a rich portfolio of graduate and transformation from key members of the criticized by some faculty as too much, doctoral studies and serve as a forum for university community: faculty, too fast and caused others to question the the pre-eminent leaders of our times. professional staff, elected leaders in the trade-offs implicit in this growth. Major public research universities have community, Tallahassee and Washington Maidique has overseen $570 million strong liberal arts programs that are and South Florida's business leaders, of new construction totaling some complemented by at least five critical many of whom serve on the Board of 4.8-million square feet of new facilities, fields of professional study: engineering, Trustees. "I have been blessed with a including, among others, research law, business, architecture and medicine. strong coalition of change-oriented leaders laboratories, student housing, a campus

The Capital Campaign closes at $200 million, one year ahead of t FIU acquires the F | schedule. FIU creates a new t vs , a gift then valued at $75 bachelor’s degree in marine million. Enrollment surpasses 30,000, biology. University House, the placing FIU among the nation’s 25 largest His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama of president’s official residence, universities. The Center for Urban Education and Innovation is Tibet pays an historic visit to FIU. opens. — Phi established in the College of Education to promote excellence Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Gamma Delta — opens at University Park. in urban schools with underserved students. Desmond Tutu visits FIU.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranks FIU for the first FIU attains the highest ranking in the The FIU College of Law opens time among the country’s best values in public higher education. Carnegie Foundation classification system, for classes. FIU plays — and jW g Women’s movement icon Betty Friedan serves as a visiting “Doctoral/Research University-Extensive. wins — its first-ever collegiate faculty member. Rewnowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle visits FIU becomes the youngest university football game. FIU opens the ' i k FIU. The Metropolitan Center is established in dowtown Miami invited into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s new aul L. to help decision-makers forge solutions to community problems. most prestigious honor society. A new . Former Israeli President collegiate football program is approved. Yitzhak Navon and pre-eminent Catholic theologian Hans Kiing visit FIU. FALL 2006 F1.0 RI DA i N T E R NAT IO N'A L U NIV E RS f I Y M AG A ZIN E 1 9

recreation center, business and law Maidique’s leadership is his ability to In 1998, a state legislator demanded school buildings, the Paul L. Cejas motivate others to buy into his vision. Maidique sanction Professor Dario School of Architecture, the Patricia “He is a quick and great thinker,” said Moreno after Moreno appeared on and Phillip Frost Art Museum and the Rosa Sugranes, a BOT member and “60 Minutes” criticizing the influence Wertheim Performing Arts Center. former chair of the Greater Miami of Cubans on Miami politics. Moreno’s “President But that hasn’t always been enough. Chamber of Commerce. “Faculty and also description of the city as “almost the Enrollment growth has outpaced the the business community respect that a lot. Maidique has definition of a Third World banana dollars available to build more classrooms, He is politically savvy. He knows how to always republic,” ignited fury. Maidique expand programs, and hire more faculty navigate the different waters of refused to yield to the legislator’s remained and staff. Tallahassee, Washington or Miami-Dade threat, saying FIU faculty “can seek “Thankfully, the president has come County. They all take him seriously and dedicated to and follow the tracks to the truth, to recognize and begin to address these respect his opinion.” the mission wherever they might lie.” issues and is working just as hard to find The president’s political savvy, Maidique tries — not always with of making solutions to them,” said FIU Faculty coupled with his indefatigable drive, has success — to take criticism and media Senate Chairman Bruce Hauptli. “FIU time and again turned obstacles into FIU a better attention in stride. He knows he can’t stands poised to become what he victories. After failing twice, Maidique place than please everyone. He’s admitted to mistakes envisioned 20 years ago, but right now it approached the State Board of Regents and from time to time made changes, both when he needs to be enhanced and nurtured.” again seeking approval for a new law in policy and leadership style. “I think it is The pressure to find resources for a school, but the initiative was smacked found it.” most natural for me to be devastatingly fast-growing institution is unrelenting. down in a painful 11-2 vote. But on the direct,” he said. “But I’ve learned to work As a public university, much hinges on fourth initiative, the effort sailed around what is a virtue in scientific circles Congresswoman politics — an area Maidique admits is through the Legislature with a 160-0 lleana and to blunt my inclinations.” not his favorite part of the job. “Politics vote. The medical school also faced Ros-Lehtinen Ultimately, Maidique hopes his ’75, MS ’87. is the art of compromise. I don’t like strong opposition early on. Under legacy will be determined by the compromise. I like perfection.” Maidique’s direction, the plans were institution he has helped build. The president must also be a fund­ carefully revised to address every Wherever he goes, Maidique can be raiser, a role in which he isn’t always concern and the Board of Governors heard rattling off FIU’s latest points of comfortable. “I’m a terrible groveler,” he voted 16-1 in favor of the proposal. By pride. Says Ros-Lehtinen: “He is very said. “I’m far better at giving money.” early 2006, Maidique had again secured proud of the students and is always He’s discovered, however, that his overwhelming support for the initiative highlighting their accomplishments.” unwavering belief in FIU goes far in from the Legislature, which authorized Retirement isn’t in the plan at the winning supporters. “I am passionate, the medical school in May. moment, says Maidique, who was married maybe too passionate, about what I do. I Outspoken and opinionated, Maidique in June to FIU alumna Nancy Maidique, believe the most important institution for is a frequent subject of critique in local a dental health administrator. His focus, the future of our area is FIU.” newspapers and on Spanish-language even after 20 years, remains ever forward- His message has resonated with the radio. He has riled certain groups in looking. The vision of FIU as a top urban community leaders, philanthropists and Miami’s contentious political circles. public research university is within sight. the Florida Legislature, all of whom have When needed, he has done so as a stalwart Last year, the words of FIU’s presidents strongly supported FIU’s quest to of academic freedom, even when the were inscribed on a wall in the Graham achieve national research university message at issue has conflicted sharply Center. President Maidique’s reads: status. Indeed, one of the trademarks of with his personal views. “Boundless opportunities lie ahead.” ■

FIU honors its top donors in the inaugural Torch Society Gold Flame Induction FIU signs historic agreement with the University of Tianjin, China to . Ceremony. The new $15 million Motorola Nanofabrication Research Facility opens at open a hospitality management and tourism school in China. The Ewing the FIU Engineering Center. FIU graduates its first class from the College of Law and Marion Kauffman Foundation awards a $3 million grant to the FIU Global . breaks ground on the new Rafael Diaz Balart College of Law Building. New Entrepreneurship Center. FIU establishes the Dr. Robert R. Stempel Recreation Center opens at University Park. The university enters the ranks of School of Public Health, one of only two such schools in the state. oot .Trustee Herbert Wertheim pledges $20 million to the FIU Pulitzer Prize winning author Oscar Hijuelos visits FIU. The university College of Medicine. FIU enters its first pharmaceutical licensing agreement for a promising opens the FIU Broward Pines Center in Pembroke Pines. FIU breaks stroke treatment. The College of Business Administration celebrates the groundbreaking of a new ground on the $12 million Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum. graduate school building complex. FIU dedicates two new Health and Life Sciences Buildings. ,

His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet pays a Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranks FIU No. second visit to FIU. University researchers secure 49 on its list of the Top 100 values in public college nearly $80 million in sponsored research funding for education. U.S. News & World Report ranks FIU’s the 2004-’05 academic year, a new record for the College of Business Administration No. 7 in the university. FIU submits proposal for a new College of nation for undergraduate international business. Medicine to Florida Board of Governors. President Maidique confers FIU’s 100,000th degree. FIU wins approval for College of Medicine. FLORIDA INTERN'ATI( TY MAGAZINE

Jasmin Qyyum with her parents, Mohammed and Maria.

T H E S T A R T O F A D R E M FROM THE G ROUND UP

FIU President Modesto A. Maidique addresses the Florida Board of Governors about the medical college. By Deborah O’Neil

For more than a decade, FIU labored to create a viable proposal for a new College of Medicine. Countless meetings were held. Memo after memo went out. Proposals were written, revised and rewritten. Planners worked during weekends, over holidays and on vacations to get the plan exactly right. On March 23, the Board of Governors gave their blessing to this FALL 2006 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE 21

By Deborah O’Neil All that seemed clear and sure in But as the realities of her father’s illness At 16, Jasmin Qyyum is the the life of this close-knit family of and its financial and familial obligations quin tessence of an aspiring doctor. five — Jasmin has two younger sisters began to unfold at the end of her junior Dozens of Outstanding grades — a 4.3 GPA. — suddenly became frighteningly year, Jasmin began to have doubts about others in the A love of science. She volunteers at unknown. Jasmin’s mother Maria, her future. Maybe medical school was community Miami Children’s Hospital and who works part time at an elementary no longer an option. organizes blood drives at her school. school, trembles when she talks about also hailed the Her mother needs her at home. Her With a mother from Colombia and the disease that has left her once new medical younger sisters need her. And Jasmin father from Bangladesh, she has been robust husband a frail 125 pounds. school as a needs them too. She instinctively raised bilingual and multicultural. “We don’t know in the future what is much-needed draped a protective arm around her going to happen,” Mrs. Qyyum said father’s shoulders as she spoke. “We Poised, articulate and vivacious, addition to the Jasmin is a natural people person. quietly, tears in her eyes. were just a normal, happy family,” she community. Her desire to become a doctor Beside her, Mr. Qyyum, on leave said. “All of a sudden there were always seemed within reach. from his job as a graphic artist, questions you never imagine yourself Then, in early 2006, Jasmin’s looked at the floor. “I think about asking: Is he going to be there for my 47-year-old father Mohammed was them ...” he said, his voice trailing graduation? My 18th birthday?” For diagnosed with cancer: stage four off. “I don’t know how they will get Jasmin, leaving her family for school is lymphoma. The diagnosis was by if anything happens to me.” not an option, not now and not later. unthinkable. “I’d never been to a Being at her father’s side through And then there is the cost. With her doctor,” said Mr. Qyyum. “I’d never doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and father not working, the price tag of taken medication. I’d never been in chemotherapy has convinced Jasmin private medical education — her only the hospital in my life.'’ even more that she wants to be a doctor. option if she were to stay in Miami — ►►

Family welcomes approval of FIU’s College of Medicine

FIU begins building a 21st century medical school historic endeavor. Now, the real work of already begun making inquiries about Interim Executive Vice opening South Florida’s first public admissions and employment. President and Provost “ How rapidly medical school begins. However, a great deal has to happen Ron Berkman. “Ir is “Opening a 21st century medical before the new school can welcome its we become k A the most important school is an enormous task,” said charter class. FIU has few models to significant in F ¥ hire were doing for the George Dambach, FIU s newly guide the process — only one other health-care medical school.” Ron Berkman appointed associate provost for Health medical school has been established in services The university has Affairs and Medical School Planning. this country in the past 20 years, will depend hired Korn/Ferry International, the

He brings more than 30 years of Florida State University College of on the nations top consulting firm for experience in senior medical school Medicine. With a focus on rural health executive searches, and assembled a generosity administration, most recently at Wayne care, that school has a different mission search committee headed by School of of the State University in Detroit, to his new and setup than FIU’s program. Nursing Dean Divina Grossman. A community.” role in FIU’s medical planning team. Between now and opening day, FIU national search will be conducted and “We have many, many decisions to will create an original blueprint for the FIU hopes to have a new dean in place make as we move forward,” Dambach establishment of a contemporary medical George Dambach early next year. associate provost, said, “All of them are important because school. The first step will be selecting a Health Affairs and The individual will be responsible for Medical School the medical school is going to make a founding dean, a medical doctor who Planning hiring the administrative leadership of lasting impact on this community.” will serve as “the architect and the the medical school, a team that will Potential students and faculty have builder” of the new school, said FIU develop the school’s offices of financial ►► "i'VE GOT THE PATIENTS POINT OF VIEW. i HAVE THAT PASSION

TO HELP PEOPLE. nOW THAT i HAVE WATCHED MY DAD GO

THROUGH THIS, i'M MORE DETERMINED TO BECOME

A DOCTOR" -jASMIN QYUUM, 16

loomed large will definitely open up the options to and daunting. many students.” The financial Dozens of others in the community burden would also hailed the new medical school as a be unman­ much-needed addition to the ageable, community. Miami attorney Lourdes Jasmin (right) and her younger sister Soraya, 14, particularly Martinez-Esquivel noted, “With the since Jasmin’s recent addition of a law school and two younger sisters will be right behind now a medical school, FIU will be her on the college path. where it should be as a top university These adult-size worries all weighed in the 21st century.” on Jasmin in the days leading up to the Dr. J. Michael Cochran, a Boca March 23 approval of the medical school Raton neurologist, wrote, “We by the Florida Board of Governors. She definitely need more medical school and her mother had been following the programs as there are already too few headlines for news of South Florida’s first doctors in many areas of the country, public medical school. Jasmin wrote an even very desirable areas like South email to the university: “I truly hope Florida. We have extraordinarily that FIU is given the opportunity to talented young people as become a school of medicine because it undergraduates at prestigious

FIU to build South Florida’s first public medical aid, admissions and academic affairs. startup dollars in 2007. Early next “It is essential before we can recruit The new dean will complete FIUs Between now year, the university will seek $5.4 students,” said FIU Vice Provost for affiliation agreements with local and opening million from the state Legislature, Academic Affairs Tom Breslin. “We hospitals and appoint the new faculty day, FIU will most of which will pay for want to make sure we come out the members. The medical schools create an administrative and faculty salaries door with provisional accreditation and objectives, curriculum, teaching original and medical school library resources. moving quickly to full accreditation.” methodologies and evaluation methods blueprint An all-encompassing step in the As the search and planning efforts will all be developed under the development of the new medical school unfold, the university is redoubling its for the leadership of the new dean. will be winning provisional focus on raising private dollars for the establishment “Were looking for someone who will accreditation, a lengthy review and medical school. “How rapidly we of a have the innovative and creative vision to approval process that assures the become significant in health-care service contemporary build something from the ground up,” country’s M.D.-granting medical will depend on the generosity of the medical school. Dambach said. “There will probably be a schools meet established standards. FIU community,” Dambach said. “They clamoring of people eager to do this. The is already working toward applying for have to believe in us.” question is finding someone who not provisional accreditation but to get Thus far, the university has raised only has a vision, but the personal there, the medical school must have in $50 million, including state matches, led leadership to make it happen.” place all of the academic resources, by a $20 million gift from Dr. Herbert The medical school is expected to institutional functions and Wertheim. Associate Vice President of receive its first injection of critical administrative supports needed to open. Development Sumner Hutcheson III FALL2006 i FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL. UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE ~f 2 3

universities around the country who have Medical students w ill have the library in the ir laptops trouble finding a medical school program due to the relative paucity of available By Sue Arrowsmith ’05 “Our electronic collection includes more In the world of medical education, library than three million articles, with access to medical school freshman positions.” spaces once reserved for stacks of books more than 24,000 e-journals,” said Barbara The historic vote for the new College and journals are increasingly being Shearer, director of the College of Medicine of Medicine prompted a jubilant transformed into cutting-edge information library at FSU. “ In addition, of the 45,000 e- hubs that provide students with the most books in the university’s general collection, celebration at FIU. Alumni in the recent medical data available. With the about 4,000 are medical.” community hurrahed with pride. FIU’s approval of the new FIU College of According to Shearer, who has been with supporters in health care applauded the Medicine, the university is undertaking an the FSU medical library since its creation in exciting endeavor — designing South announcement. And in the small, 2001, much work goes into designing and Florida’s first public medical school library. maintaining an electronic collection. She cheerfully decorated Qyyum home, a “ Medicine today is online and we plan to be added that while the cost is substantial, the teenager smiled and a mother wept. forward-looking in the development of our benefits are significant. “We wished and prayed FIU would get medical school library,” said George “You can hardly compare. In a print Dambach, associate provost for Health the medical school,” said Mrs. Qyyum. “I collection there is only one book, one Affairs and Medical School Planning. access point for many people,” said see God has opened a door for her. Its the “Students at the FIU College of Medicine Shearer. Medical students, she said, need start of a dream come true.” ■ will have the library in their laptops.” access to information at all times. New medical libraries are mainly digital and FIU’s medical students will work in hospitals Editor’s Note: At press time in early August, The take up much less physical space than and medical facilities within the community. Qyyum fam ily was rallying around Mr. Qyyum after traditional libraries, said Medical School be underwent another round o f chemotherapy. Said With a digital library, they will be able to Project Director Dr. Carlos Martini. They must fasmin, “Things got a little on the down side and still quickly access the latest in medical science as are with my dad. He has not been doing too well since include extensive databases with patient they are treating patients. the last chemo. ” The summer was a roller coaster for the information at the hospital level where students family with Mr. Qyyum’s condition improving in mid- can do their clinical work. As a critical Providing “portable access to high-quality fuly, then weakening after chemotherapy, fasmin spent component of medical education, the new electronic information” is a fundamental her summer working part-time to save money and library will open in tandem with the college. mission of the FIU medical library, said preparing to apply for college. “I have learned, ” the 16- Schwartz. To maximize access, students, year-old wrote in an e-mail, “life is not easy, but i f you Tony Schwartz, associate director of faculty and staff will carry portable computing work with all your heart, and you do it honestly, there collection management at FIU, is is no stopping you. ” devices, such as laptops and Personal Digital collaborating with medical school planners Assistants (PDAs). In addition to meeting the to provide cost projections for online medical school’s needs, Schwartz believes the journals and to assemble a basic collection, library will also be a service to the people of which will include some 250 core books that South Florida. school library y meet the national requirements. Once the program’s curriculum is completed, the rest “There should be a partnership between FIU of the collection will consist of electronic and the Public Library System on how to serve the general public,” said Schwartz. said the university will continue to resources tailored to program. Creating the new collection will be challenging. pursue gifts from foundations and With most of the collection available “Given the sheer volume and exponential electronically, Schwartz said, the physical individual donors. growth of online information related to health space of FIU’s library will be designed as a “People love dreams,” Hutcheson care, the need for it to be filtered, work space for small groups, training and social interaction. FSU’s shearer emphasized said. “We expect the community will synthesized and structured to particular users’ purposes is a critical role for the importance of having a “third place” — a step forward now that we have librarians,” said Schwartz. quiet location other than home or work. approval and the new medical school Across the country, medical libraries are “There is still a valid need for a place,” said is within sight.” making the transition from print to digital. Shearer. “Place represents the unique and personalized niche that libraries and librarians The medical school to-do list The Charlotte Edwards Maguire Medical Library at Florida State University (FSU) still hold.” ■ contains a multitude of other was the first library in the nation created in Sue Arrowsmith’ 05, a recent graduate from the FIU School decisions still in the formative stage, the 21st century. More than 90 percent of offournalismandMass Communication, is a staff writer its resources are web-based. but FIU is well on the way. “Medical and copy editor with PulseMiamiNews.com. schools are large institutions and the FIU College of Medicine is going to take time to develop and mature,” said Berkman. “The university views this as a long-term project precisely because it is so important to the future of the community.” ■ FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE FALL2006

*Includes medical school operations, new FIU physicians who practice in Florida and new jobs created by commercialization o f research State Employment Impact

15000------— ------— _____ - □ Conservative Projection

■ Aggressive Projection \ 2,491 I 2000 ------r u -----

9000------— - ___ 8,208 $68,000: 6,599 ■ 6000------:------F T —| ------I - — The average salary of new jobs created by the FIU College of Medicine 3000 ------. ------1,188 $35,170: 447 r~I n The average salary in the 0I— __i__LLB__i I I ■ i l l __j state of Florida

FIU Medical Research Growth In Millions of Dollars

j f y $60 ------— ------m ------TJ rt

« $50 ------' ------I I : Florida’s rank among the £ * 8 | $ 4 0 ------country’s largest biotechnology centers s- U 'o ^ - Z $30 ------.------$40 billion: 0 'o Dollar value of the 1 & $20 ------n ------U.S. biotechnology industry ~o =

64,705: Number of hours of volunteer service medical faculty, students and staff are expected to give to S. Florida residents in 2010

$1.8 million: Amount of money Florida will save for each FIU medical school graduate who practices in a medically underserved area FALL 2006 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE 25 A VITAL ECONOMIC ENGINE Economic impact of FIU College of Medicine projected at $1.2 billion by 2025

By Jose Dante Parra Herrera ’97 University of North Carolina, Ohio much as $78 million in taxes per year Every spring for the past several years, State University and the University of as a result of the medical school. Tallahassee lawmakers have wrangled Pittsburgh, among others. And “The medical college is an about two topics of state-wide concern: TrippUmbach recently began its third “ In our case, extraordinary economic catalyst for the national study of the nation’s 125 economic development and funding for the FIU community, not only because of the education. medical schools and 450 teaching direct impact of the school but the College of The debates, however, have almost hospital affiliates for the Association of opportunity it presents to expand always been independent of each other. American Medical Colleges. Medicine will South Florida’s biomedical industry,” But an outside study on the The FIU study, released in February, be equivalent said FIU Senior Vice President and economic impact of a new public looked at possible economic scenarios to bringing a Chief Financial Officer Vivian Sanchez, medical college in Miami once the FIU College of Medicine a graduate of Harvard Business School. Fortune 1000 commissioned by FIU shows that begins to operate. The study The TrippUmbach study points out education and economic development concentrated on four benchmark years company to that the College of Medicine will are closely intertwined and part of a in which impacts such as employment our area.” bring in additional research common solution. and tax revenues were analyzed: 2008, investment from government agencies One of the study’s major findings is 2010, 2015 and 2025. such as the National Institutes of Modesto A. that by the year 2025, Florida’s The report emphasizes the multi­ Maidique Health (NIH), which magnifies itself taxpayers would receive as much as $3 faceted nature of the economic impact. FIU President in the economy through what is called for every $ 1 they invest in the FIU About half of the $1.2 billion in the “multiplier effect,” which College of Medicine. economic impact is expected to come represents the re-spending of dollars FIU President Modesto A. Maidique, from the operational activities of the within the economy. a former general partner of the world’s college, including purchases for capital “It is important to note that only largest venture capital firm, said this is and goods, and new spending from the (Florida) universities with the evidence that educational funding students, employees and visitors. The established medical schools should be seen not as a drain on state or remainder of the $1.2 billion will be (University of Florida, University of local budgets, but as a vital investment generated by the physician community South Florida and the University of in every resident’s standard of living. of the FIU College of Medicine. Miami) perform more NIH-sponsored The College of Medicine will Much like a business, each year research than FIU,” the study says. influence a variety of economic sectors showed a growing return on investment This is all in addition to other in the state and South Florida that includes new jobs and spin-off economic benefits the new medical communities. In its first 10 years alone, companies as FIU’s medical research college would bring, such as affordable the economic impact of the college is fosters the expansion of the region’s tuition for medical students and conservatively estimated at $4.3 billion. biotechnology industry. The report improved health care in the region, By 2025, the total economic impact on estimates the commercialization of FIU which support a healthier and more the state is projected to be an estimated medical research could have an productive work force. $1.2 billion. economic benefit ranging from $248 “The FIU College of Medicine will “In our case, the FIU College of million to $577 million with more do more than train physicians Florida Medicine will be equivalent to bringing aggressive economic climate needs for the future,” says the report. a Fortune 1000 company to our area,” assumptions. In addition, more than “It will attract industries that will add Maidique said. 12,000 jobs will be generated through to the economic infrastructure, The study was conducted by the medical school operations, private develop more medical research and Pittsburgh-based firm TrippUmbach, sector research and physicians who improve the health of its citizens.” ■ the national leader in health-care remain in Florida to practice. industry economic analysis. The firm By 2025, the study projects the state Jose Parra ’97, a form er reporter fo r the Florida Sun-Sentinel, is an FIU media relations has conducted similar studies for the of Florida will receive $62 million to as coordinator. FLORIDA I NT LII 2005 TORCH awards G ala Stories by: D eborah

O 'N eil P hotos by GL lorida O 'C onnell l

A l u m n i T o r c h G a l a EX U D ES FIU PRIDE

More than 500 alumni and members of the FIU community gathered in February for the Alumni Association’s largest-ever and most spectacular Torch Awards Gala to honor outstanding graduates. A live musical performance by FIU alumna Nadia Turner, a top American Idol finalist, was among the highlights of the event, held at Parrot Jungle’s Treetop Ballroom. Elegant and festive, the Torch Gala was befitting the achievements of this year’s 16 award recipients. Among the 11 to receive Distinguished Alumni Awards were a longtime and award- winning Miami-Dade Public Schools educator, a landscape architect whose public service career and volunteer work is devoted to preserving Florida’s natural environment and a CEO who founded an international hospitality company. “Our alumni are using their education to make a difference in the community and in their professions,” said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique in praising the award recipients’ leadership and entrepreneurship. Noting that FIU now has nearly 130,000 alumni, most of whom live and work in South Florida, Maidique joked, “II we ever get together, we can take over the world.” 1 he Torch Award Gala had been set to take place in October 2005, but was postponed because of Hurricane The 2005 Torch Award recipients, front from left: Dr. Eric Shamus ’92, Myhosi Ashton ’02, Gerald Hunsicker MS '76, Beth Rosenthal Davis ’89, Charles Ermer ’81, Janet Hupp ’75, MS ’83, and Frances Nipe MLA ’91. Back from left: Humberto Cabanas ’76, Christine Kling ’88, MFA ’93, professor Stephen Fain, Rosanna Fiske ’94, Paul Jones ’78 and Mikki Canton MS ’79. Not Pictured Stephanie A. Burns ’77, Christina M. Ceballos-Levy '97, and Augusto L. Vidaurreta ’80.

Wilma. Rescheduling allowed FIU to expand the event to a E. Perry Visionary Award. The honor is given annually to a record-setting 530 attendees. Barry Johnson, president and CEO successful graduate in the early stages of his or her career. This of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, served as emcee year’s recipient was Myhosi S. Ashton, or “Josie” as she is for the evening. known, executive director of Safespace Foundation, which Chair of the Torch Gala committee was Alumni Association provides assistance and advocacy for survivors of domestic Board member Susan Webster ’87 and sponsors for the event violence. Ashton is also the inspiration behind the “Bride’s included Wachovia Bank; The Miami Herald; GEICO; Preferred March” staged each year in New York City to raise awareness Care Partners; Nelnet; Bacardi; Banco Popular; Parrot Jungle about domestic violence. Island; Broward Professional Alliance; Community Health Ashton, said Mrs. Perry, is an alumna “who has made great use Foundation, Inc./Community Health of South Dade, Inc.; of the educational opportunities my husband and others worked Greenberg Traurig, P.A.; and Afrodita’s Garden Florist at FIU. so hard to create for this community.. .He always believed in FIU s The impressive crowd at this year’s Torch Gala was a reflection of ability and that of its faculty, staff, students and alumni to the tremendous growth that has been occurring in Alumni Relations, transform lives in this community.” said Associate Vice President Bill Draughon. In 2006, membership The 2005 FIU Outstanding Achievement Award was given surpassed the 8,000 mark for the first time. And the Student Alumni to Stephanie Burns, president and CEO of Dow Corning Association is the largest student organization at FIU. Corporation. College of Education Professor Stephen Fain was the “Thanks to all of our alumni family who make us look good on winner of the 2005 Outstanding Faculty Award. a daily basis, I feel a tremendous sense of pride about who we are and where we’re headed,” Draughon said. I f you are interested in nominating an FI U graduate for a 2006 Torch A ward or i f you Special guest Betty Perry, wife of FIU’s late founding are interested in sponsorship information for the event, please contact Rtindi West in Alumni Relations at [email protected] or 305-348-1009. The 2006 Torch Awards Gala president Charles E. Perry, was on hand to present the Charles will be held on March 31, 2007. [ 28 | 1 IQ R lD A INTI RNA'I'IONAi. UNIVERSITY M A(, A/.l Nl. | FALL 2006

OUTSTANDING DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS, DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA, ACHIEVEMENT AWARD SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT Dr. Stephanie A. Burns ’77, MASS COMMUNICATION Humberto “Burt” Cabanas ’76, College of Arts and Sciences, Rosanna M. Fiske, APR ’94 is the founder, chairm an and is president and CTO of is principal and partner at CEO of Bench mark Dow Corning Corporation. Communique Group/Rise Hospitality International in Burns joined Dow Corning Strategies, Inc. in Coral Texas, which provides in 1 983 as a researcher and Gables. W idely regarded for management services for later became product her multicultural expertise, resorts, executive conference development manager for electronics. She Fiske has developed local, centers, conference hotels and golf clubs. In 2000, became director of Women’s Health in 1994. national and international communications he formed a subsidiary company, Benchmark In 1997 she was named science and campaigns for a variety of companies, Golf, to manage the golf clubs o f the company technology director for Europe. Burns became including Charles Schwab, M TV Networks, and golf operations o f the conference centers and president in 2003 and chief executive officer in Wells Fargo Bank and MCI. An expert in resorts. Cabanas is a founding board member o f 2004. She earned her bachelor’s degree in corporate and executive communications, Fiske the International Association of Conference chemistry from FIU and her Ph.D. from Iowa was the first Hispanic woman named president Centers and co-authored “The Uniform System of State University. o f the Public Relations Society of America’s Accounts for Conference Centers.” (PRSA) Miami chapter and serves on PRSA’s CHARLES E. PERRY VISIONARY AWARD national board of directors. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA. Myhosi S. Ashton ’02, COLLEGE OF LAW College of Health and Urban DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS, ATHLETICS A ffairs. A sh to n is the M tkki C an ton , Esq. M S 7 9 , is Gerald H. Hunsicker MS ’76 executive director o f the shareholder o f Gunster Yoakley is the senior vice president of Safespace Foundation in &C Stew art, P.A. in M iam i, Baseball Operations for the Miami, which serves survivors , where she chairs the Corporate Tampa Bay Devil Rays. While o f domestic violence. In I Strategic Counseling and earning his master’s degree in 2001, she heard about the murder of a I Public Affairs Division. She the College of Education, Dominican woman on her wedding day by an I often speaks to women about _ Hunsicker served as a ex-boyfriend. Ashton undertook a 1,600-m ile leadership. Through the John F. Kennedy School pitching coach for FlU ’s baseball team and walk from New Jersey to Miami in her wedding of Governmen t Womens Leadership Board at assistant athletic director from 1974-78. He dress to raise awareness about domestic violence Harvard University she delivers a message o f entered Major League Baseball in 1978, filling a in the Latin community. This walk has inspired authenticity and self realization. She is initiating a number of roles with the Houston Astros. He “Brides’ Marches” against domestic violence similar project at the FIU College o f Law. later joined the New York Mets in 1988, before across the country. Recently, Canton received the American Jewish Committees Learned Hand Award. rejoining the Astros in 1995 as general manager.

FIU SERVICE AWARD DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA, DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA, Augusto L. Vidaurreta ’80, HONORS COLLEGE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION C o lle g e o f B usiness Christina M. Ceballos-Levy ’97 Janet L. Hupp ’75, MS ’83 is Administration, is the is an associate at K enny the superintendent of founder of RAM Strategy, Nachwaiter, PA. in Miami. Her Regional Center V in the Inc. in Miami, a consulting practice focuses on malpractice Miami-Dade County Public training and executive defense o f attorneys, securities Schools. After serving as coaching firm. He is a litigation, class-action defense principal of Miami Palmetto member of the College o f Business and commercial litigation. After Senior High School, Hupp Administration’s Entrepreneurship Hall of graduating from FIU, Ceballos-Levy earned a juris was promoted to her current position. She has Fame and helped create the college’s Alumni doctorate at the University o f Miami, where she worked in the school system since 1975 as a Circle, serving as its first chairman. was executive editor for the UM Law Review. She teacher, department chair, assistant principal, Additionally, he helped form the college’s is a member o f the FIU Honors College Advisory principal and regional superintendent. She was M entoring Program and serves on the college’ Board and serves on the Florida Bar Association selected as Miami-Dade County’s Principal o f Dean’s Council. Recently, he and his wife, International Arbitration Committee and the the Year in 2003. In 1984 and 1988, she won Jeannie, became major donors of the college’s Cuban American Bar Association. Teacher o f the Year at Palmetto. building campaign.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS, COLLEGE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS. OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Dr. Stephen M. Fain Charles D. Ermer ’81 is ADMINISTRATION a founding faculty member president of Right Way Paul L. Jones ’78 is the and one of the founders of Plumbing Co. in Sunrise, a founder and president of the Faculty Senate, Fain held 74-year-old company with Pyramid Realty Group, Inc. a leadership role in the operations throughout in M iam i, a national development of the Miami-Dade, Broward and consulting and investment I university’s curricular Palm Beach counties. W idely banking firm. Under Jones’ framework. A professor in the College of recognized for excellence and quality leadership, Pyramid Realty Education and Fellow of the Honors College, workmanship, the company is a pioneer of has become a leading advisory firm in the Fain is an eminent scholar in his field and has computer cost estimating and has grown by industry. Jones has shared his experience with served on more than 1 00 successful doctoral expanding a new construction division. Ermer’s FIU students as an adjunct professor in the dissertation committees. He developed an parents Charles C. and Annette G. Ermer College of Business Administration. He has also Honors College seminar on discovering the purchased Right Way Plumbing in 1968. Chuck served as a trustee o f the FIU Foundation, American character and in 2003 was awarded became involved full-time after graduating from chairman of the Alumni Association and an Outstanding Honors Fellow Award. FIU with a degree in construction management. founder o f the FIU Real Estate Alumni Council. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA, Nadia Turner gives COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES a little tenderness’ Christine L. Kling ’88, MFA '93 is a Fort Lauderdale author to her alma mater who lias been inspired by a passion for the sea. She has spent more than two decades Nadia Turner is onstage warming up sailing the South Pacific, Pacific, Caribbean and before show time in a white Bohemian Atlantic. During a two-year voyage cruising the skirt and t-shirt. She’ll tell you she’s Caribbean in 1993, Kling started her first novel, tired, just arrived in Miami from Los “Surface Tension.” Later, Kling went back to work as a teacher. W riting nights and weekends, she Angeles. (She looks fabulous finished her first novel. Her other books include nonetheless.) Life has been a whirlwind “Cross Current” and “Bitter End.” for this FIU alumna since she wowed DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA, audiences as a top eight finalist on the SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE FOX hit show American Idol, where the Frances C. Nipe MLA ‘91 is infamous Simon Cowell dubbed her “a an historic properties and redevelopment planner for the young Tina Turner.” city ofEustis, Florida. Her In the past year, she went on a 43- passion for the environment other,” Turner said. “My family keeps has guided her career and city tour and posed for G la m o ur earned her much recognition, me grounded.” magazine. She chatted with Jay Leno including the Ernest and Virginia Makemson Turner said she was happy to accept Scholarship for Environmental Preservation. In on The Tonight Show and Donald addition to a distinguished career, Nipe has long the invitation to sing for her alma Rumsfeld at the White House been a devoted community volunteer. She mater. She was an active student, helped develop the Broward Blueway, and has Correspondents’ Dinner. Miami-Dade been honored by the 1,000 Friends of Florida living in Panther Hall, serving as vice County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and the Florida Urban Forestry Council. She was president of the Black Student Union the chairperson of the Broward County Tree proclaimed June 15, 2005, “ Nadia Management Advisory Committee for five years, and Queen of the Pan-African Turner Day.” Her new album featuring spearheading the development of a county Celebration and running for the FIU ordinance for tree pruning standards. her distinctive mix of rock and roll, soul track team. “I have a lot of great and funk is due out any day. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS, COLLEGE memories at FIU,” she said. OF HEALTH AND URBAN AFFAIRS Dreams of “singing for the world” are Backstage, the Turners got a surprise coming true for the Miami girl who’s been Dr. Eric C. Shamus ’92 is an visit from Nadia’s favorite FIU professor, assistant professor in the College singing all her life. But this Saturday o f Osteopathic Medicine at Margo Berman, with whom she studied night, Turner has come home to perform Nova Southeastern University. advertising in the School of Journalism. Shamus earned a bachelors for her alma mater, treating more than degree at FIU in physical “Who told you that you were going to 500 FIU alumni, donors and supporters ------therapy, a masters degree in be a star?!” Berman said, as the two biochemical trauma from the University o f Miami to two performances at the Alumni and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Lynn joyfully embraced. Association’s 2005 Torch Awards Gala. University. Shamus specializes in biomechanics and “ Mom, this is the professor at FIU I therapeutic exercise and is a certified strength and “With FIU always comes a little conditioning specialist. He has authored more than wanted you to meet,” Nadia said tenderness,” she cooed into her 30 publications including two textbooks, book introducing Berman. “She was my chapters and refereed journal articles. microphone before heading backstage inspiration at FIU.” to change. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD Later, it was Turner serving up She brought along her family: Beth Rosenthal Davis '89, inspiration with her dazzling voice. daughter Zareh, her mother Rosita College o f Education, is Onstage before launching into her final founder of the Kids For Kids Lopes-Silverman ’97, an alumna of the Academy in Miami. From number, “A Little Tenderness,” Turner College of Business Administration, 1989-’95, Rosenthal Davis perfectly captured the mood of the became a teacher advocate for and her two little sisters Vanessa and the homeless, coordinating Torch Awards Gala: “It’s been a Danielle. Turner says she would not be school-wide programs to distribute meals to the wonderful night...meeting old friends homeless. In 1996, she created Kids 4 Kids, which able to manage her ascent to fame has delivered 45,000 backpacks with school and good times.” ■ without her family and her faith. supplies and 80,000 books to children in homeless shelters, migrant camps, foster homes “Spirituality is a big facet of our To catch up with Nadia’s latest projects, visit her website and low-income housing. She is currently opening family, other than us just loving each at http://www. nadiacturner. com a preschool and after-school tutoring program. ■ 30 FI. ORIDA INTERNATIONAL UN I VERS I TV \! u ! A Z I N 4 ] FALL ?006.

Building for

Digital rendering of the new Business Success Student Hall and Academic Hall of the new CBA complex. Corporate leaders support College of Business Administration expansion

By Martin Haro ’05 The most recent gift came in January MBAs with an international business A new $45 million, state-of-the-art, when Florida-based Office Depot donated specialty in its 2007 “America’s Best multi-building complex set to open next “To be $1 million to the project in a new Graduate Schools” survey. year will expand FIU’s nationally-ranked nationally partnership that includes collaborative The College is among the elite 15 College of Business Administration student and faculty research. In presenting recognized is percent of business schools worldwide while fostering greater interaction the Office Depot gift, company Chairman accredited by the Association to Advance really among students, faculty, administrators, and CEO Steve Odland praised FIU’s Collegiate Schools of Business and since alumni and the business community. wonderful, strength in international business. 1998 has been placed by Hispanic Business The project will be the result of the but to now “We are very pleased to be able to magazine among the Top 10 business college’s ongoing “Building for Business” have the form an important strategic relationship schools for Hispanics. Hispanic Trends has campaign, which has attracted support with FIU’s business school, one of the opportunity ranked the College since 2003 in the Top from throughout the community. pacesetters in international business 25 MBA programs for Hispanics. to expand The complex is being paid for in a education,” Odland said. “As a global “We have worked hard over the years to three-way arrangement: $15 million the college company with operations in 23 enhance our programs, our facilities and from the state of Florida, $15 million and its countries, we have a keen interest in our faculty,” Elam said. “To be nationally from donations and $15 million in reach...is enhancing academic programs that recognized is really wonderful, but to now state matching dollars. More than $9.9 support this emphasis.” have the opportunity to expand the really great.” million of the $15 million needed has “The college has been blessed by having college and its reach — to leave our mark been raised. terrific support both from within and on the future — is really great.” FIU Trustee R. Kirk Landon made the Joyce Elam, outside the university in our quest to The new 110,000-square-foot, four- executive lead gift of $5 million, a donation that dean, achieve our vision and mission. Today, we building complex will facilitate a sense of qualified for a state match, making its College of are well on our way,” College of Business Business community within the college. Currently, impact $ 10 million — the largest cash Adminstration Executive Dean Joyce Elam said. business classes are taught in buildings gift at the time from an individual. Other With more than 6,000 undergraduate, across campus, making it difficult to reach donors include Ocean Bank ($1 million), 1,000 graduate students and 30,000 and communicate with its students. businessman and former trustee Alvah alumni, the College is the largest of FIU’s “Now we will have everyone together Chapman ($800,000), businessman and professional schools. U.S. News & World in one complex and information will be former trustee Armando Codina Report ranked its undergraduate more available and more efficiently ($500,000), Bank of America international business programs No. 7 in shared,” Elam said. “The new complex ($500,000), Wachovia Bank ($250,000) the nation in its 2007 “America’s Best will support a team-oriented, active and Regions Bank ($250,000). Colleges” report and No. 18 among learning approach.” ■ *% M. - |£-«t - jobs,” says Mayra Beers, executive director for director executive Beers, Mayra says jobs,” stayed environments family traditional in are who those of percent 40 about and married, achieve to lives personal their sacrificing when they were young that they wanted to wanted they that young were they when career progression, personal motivation, work work motivation, personal progression, career including leaders of women characteristics companies. own Women-Led Businesses 2006,” found that that found 2006,” Businesses Women-Led home past maternity leave. maternity past home be CEOs and presidents, or to own their their own to or presidents, and CEOs be professional success. A majority of them are them of majority A success. professional not are women These choices. life and habits, Metropolitan Center. The study, “Florida’s “Florida’s study, The Center. FIU Metropolitan the by conducted was survey The Administration, Hamaty-Simmonds launched launched Hamaty-Simmonds Administration, of women business leaders by the FIU FIU the by leaders business study women of kind first-of-its a to according leaders, nearly 60 percent of the women decided decided women the of percent 60 nearly al g orahtetpo e rfsin is profession her of top the reach to age early Caribbean. the and million two nearly sells She revenues. annual the Commonwealth Institute, South Florida. Florida. South Institute, with Commonwealth the cooperation in Leadership for Center Tortuga Imports, Inc., in 1997. Today, the the Today, 1997. in Inc., Imports, Tortuga Business of College FIU the at administration typical of many local women business business women local many of typical States United the throughout a year cakes rum was in college, she began working during during working began she college, in was international business with $3.8 million in in million $3.8 with business international thriving a of president and CEO is 34-year-old to be a CEO of my own company someday.” company own my of CEO a be to I wanted that “Idecided she recalls. business,” own his having and boss own his being in had for business. aptitude natural summer vacations for her father, who founded founded who father, her for vacations summer Cayman. She quickly discovered that she had a had she that discovered quickly She Cayman. the Tortuga Rum Company in Grand Grand in Company Rum the Tortuga By SusanFein berg New study finds female CEOs don’t sacrifice home life home sacrifice work for don’t CEOsfemale finds study New EDR FN BALANCE FIND LEADERS FLORIDA’S WOMEN BUSINESS BUSINESS WOMEN FLORIDA’S “They are not women who live only for their their for only live who women not are “They Published in June, the study analyzes key key analyzes study the in June, Published After earning a degree in business business in degree a earning After Hamaty-Simmonds’ determination at an an at determination Hamaty-Simmonds’ When Monique Hamaty-Simmonds ’96 ’96 Hamaty-Simmonds Monique When “1 liked and admired the control my father father my control the admired and “1liked women’s professional network asbeing network professional women’s preceded them. preceded take will leaders business of women generation out.” find to want we that something their places, having learned from those who who those from learned having places, their a whole have we Will daughters? their to down Elam. asked like?” be to going high-achieving these when new group of women-owned businesses? That’s businesses? That’s of women-owned group new retire. to start 51, is age average whose women, me helps “Technology said. she wife,” week, she has a caretaker for her children, as isas children, her for caretaker a has she week, “W ill these businesses be passed passed be businesses these ill “W when I’m home. I’m always in always I’m home. I’m when Sundays now because I’m a mom and a a and mom a I’m because now Sundays family. her with time quality to dedicated are nepoigwa ilhpe VV V V happen will what exploring in It benefit. real a “That’s Administration. business leaders surveyed. But her weekends weekends her But surveyed. leaders business women the of percent 61 case with the touch with my Blackberry.” my with touch business my to connected stay to “I rarely go in to work on Saturdays or or Saturdays on to work in go “Irarely two children is a challenge. During the work work the During challenge. isa children two and husband her with spend to time finding shared a of more is there that appears Business of College FIU the of dean executive Elam, Joyce says schedules,” their in flexibility more have to seem responsibility for the home life.” home the for responsibility that spouses have businesses Florida leading life. professional and husbands with helping them manage home home manage them helping with husbands hard work.” hard it’s that us tell they though even lives, their in balance a good find and be successful to able been “They’ve Leadership. for Center the “These women view a connection to a to connection a view women “These Beers thinks it is likely that a younger younger a that likely is it thinks Beers The researchers are interested interested are researchers The “What’s the next generation W W generation next the “What’s Hamaty-Simmonds acknowledges that that acknowledges Hamaty-Simmonds “The survey told us that women who are are who women that us told survey “The In fact, the executives and CEOs credit their their credit CEOs and executives the fact, In Jsm

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Community leaders will raise dollars and support for FIU Athletics

By Martin Haro ‘05 Arena—home to FIU basketball, volleyball and a variety of A new board of community leaders has been founded to intramural competitions, as well as commencement and other strengthen Golden Panthers Athletics by increasing awareness, events—the Pharmed Arena. revenue and community support. De Cespedes said he is excited about the initiatives and The founding 26 members include prominent members of FIU’s objectives the board has mapped for the future. business and philanthropic community, as well as FIU Board of “We hope to create awareness of FIU’s terrific athletics Trustees member Al Dotson. They were invited to participate in the programs, and to boost the fan experience and financial support new Athletic Association Board based on their long-standing for Athletics both within the FIU family and in the South Florida enthusiasm and support for FIU. The board will be tasked with community,” he said. “This is a critical time in FIU Athletics raising money for student-athlete scholarships, facility improvement history, and I am truly honored to have been asked to recruit and and for the overall budget of the Athletics Department. lead these community leaders who are committed to helping us Its initial projects will include the introduction of an Athletics become nationally recognized.” Annual Fund, which raises unrestricted dollars for athletic Athletics Association Executive Director Joe Velasco said scholarships and facility improvements. The board will also be athletics has an important role to play as a marketing and fund raising for the expansion of the Football Stadium. promotion tool for the university. The board’s founding chair Jorge de Cespedes has been a “The university needs to selflessly use Athletics for its potential leading supporter of FIU Athletics. In 2004, he and his brother to rally support and bring positive exposure to the university Carlos de Cespedes, owners of the Miami-based Pharmed Group, beyond our borders,” Velasco said. “I hope everyone in the donated $1 million to the FIU Athletics Department. In recognition community will join us at FIU athletic events to continue building of their donation, the University renamed the Golden Panther Panther Pride.” ■

Mr. Jorge de Jim Mandich Stewart Appelrouth Jorge L. Armenteros Judith Blucker Rafael I. Bru ’89 Marcio Cabrera Armando Camejo ’89 Alberto Cosio Cespedes MS ’80 Vice-Chairman Continental Concrete Interim Dean Ladex MBF Healthcare Integrated Technology Bernstein Investments Chairman Athletic Athletic Association Appelrouth, College of Education Partners Services Association Farah & Co. Lotspeich Pharmed Group

Albert £. Ricardo Estrada Frank Gonzalez llien Hechtman Alberto Hernandez William Herrera Cesar Llano Juan Mendiola ’82 Pete Pizarro Dotson,JSr. Northwestern Mutual Morrison, Brown, Philanthropist Hunton & Williams LLP Premier American Bank Century Home Builders Ocean Bank Telefonica FIU Boarcbf Trustees Investments Argiz & Farra Puryear Ino,

Ignacio Quirch Raul Rivero ’83 Javier Rodriguez Jose Roque Charles Sacher Henry Salas Ricardo Sanchez Jorge Turruellas Quirch Foods ICC Claims Terremark Worldwide Integral Design Group Sacher, Martini, Sacher Salas, Peterson, U.S. Century Bank Lennar Corporation Edes & Lage FALL 2006 [FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNTVERSITY MXGAZlRT~f 3 3 T

Will Trueba President Alumni Association

The 2006-07 Alumni Association Board of Directors: Top Row: Letter from JackF. Gonzalez’98, Joseph L. Caruncho, Esq.’81, Professor Bruce Hauptli, Jose Manuel Diaz ’86, Carlos H, Hernandez ’97, Alumni Association President Will Trueba ’90: Secretary Raymond del Rey ’97, Parliamentarian Samuel C. Jackson '97; Middle Row: Treasurer George B. Brackett Jr. ’76 Greetings to all FIU alumni, family and friends. In May, I was honored to accept the appointment & 1 1 , Michael R. Mendez ’03, Gabriel Albelo ’93, President as president of the Alumni Association at our Annual Meeting. I want to acknowledge the Modesto A. Maidique, Cynthia J. Dienstag '84, Dr. Susan Webster ’87, Vice President Jose M. Perez de Corcho '93, contributions of outgoing President Ty Javellana, who provided leadership to the organization for Executive Director Bill Draughon; Bottom Row: President William R. Trueba, Jr. ’90 and Past President Ty N. Javellana more than two years. His legacy at FIU began when he was a student and served as a student ’88, MST ’98, Not Pictured: Stewart L. Appelrouth MS ’80, Raul counselor and founded one of FIU’s first fraternities. He is a true model to us all. Perez Ballaga ’97, Justo Luis Pozo '80. This is an historic time to be involved with our alma mater and a perfect moment to reflect on Alumni Association how far we have come. My first experience at FIU was in 1985, taking two summer classes. The welcomes new board following year, I enrolled as a full-time student as Modesto A. Maidique became FIU’s new By Martin Haro ’05 president. As shown in the story of his presidency (page 16), Maidique awakened an educational Alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the giant that’s still in the process of reaching its true potential. university came together in June for the festive In the past 20 years, FIU has been transformed, growing from 15,000 students to more than 37,000 Alumni Association Annual Meeting at today. I still remember the old “Tamiami Campus” with its airport runway and air traffic control University House to welcome the 2006-2007 tower. Today, University Park campus is a dynamic and thriving community. The recent approval of Alumni Association Board of Directors. the new FIU College of Medicine represents an exciting promise of academic opportunity and Nearly 200 guests were in attendance for the improved quality of life for the community. swearing in of William R. Trueba, Jr. ’90 as president; Jose M. Perez de Corcho ’93 as vice The FIU Alumni Association has evolved in tandem with the university. We went from having a president; Raymond del Ray ’97 as secretary; loosely organized alumni association to having a robust and reinvigorated alumni association, George B. Brackett ’76, ’77 as treasurer; Samuel thanks in large part to the support we have received from the university. The team at Alumni C. Jackson ’97 as parliamentarian; and Ty N. Relations works hard to cultivate lasting bonds by engaging alumni in the life of the university and Javellana ’88, MST ’98 as past president. staging signature events. The board of directors of the Alumni Association is mindful and grateful Javellana and Bill Draughon, associate vice that this institution believes in the importance of maintaining a relationship with us. president of Alumni Relations, presented I am extremely proud of FIU and its accomplishments. I look forward to sharing that pride with outgoing board members Gayle Bainbridge ’75, all of you. Ralph Espinosa ’89, MBA ’94, Lisa Peniche ’90 and Estelle Vera ’88 with plaques in recognition In the Spirit of Blue and Gold, of their years of service to the Board and to FIU. President Modesto A. Maidique remarked that “FIU is about to be transformed” with the recent approval to open South Florida’s first public medical school. Will Trueba “The FIU College of Medicine will impact every member of this community and dramatically improve the quality of life in South Florida,” he said. “This historic FlU’s Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations Bill Draughon and accomplishment could not have come about his wife Dale model their Panther Pride during a recent tour of the without the enthusiasm of many alumni who historic Coliseum in Rome. championed this cause.” Alumni, remember to demonstrate your Panther Pride with an FIU t-shirt, cap, flag or the FIU Magazine when you travel and you may appear in Panther Sites. Send your high resolution (300 dpi) photographs with a complete description to [email protected]. ~| 3 4 [TToRIPA INTOJ^IQNAL UNlVERStTYMAGA^'E-| PaI l ?006 ALUMNI Jose Perez de Corcho ’93 (left) and Ramon Ferran 79 (right) FIU doctoral student Jan Solomon with Gregory and Alumni and friends of FIU participating in the 10-day Oceania present tournament winner.Sergio Ferreira ’06 with a Mary-Ann Wolfe on the Oceania Insignia. cruise proudly disDlav the FIU banner on board the Insinnia one-of-a-kind Gary Traczyk sculpture.

At the same time, Maidique said, the university and Portofino), and France (Marseille, two Oceania voyages on the Regatta: a 10-day continues to grow and its programs continue to Nice/Sete), Spain (Barcelona, Palma de Athens to Venice cruise (April 27, 2007) and rise in national rankings. Mallorca) and Monte Carlo, Monaco. a 14-day Stockholm to London cruise (June With the alumni base growing stronger every The getaway combined activities both on ship 30, 2007). For more information on these day — the Alumni Relations team crossed the and on land. Marian Demos, associate Golden Panther Getaways, contact the Office membership threshold of 8,000 this year — professor of classical languages and of Alumni Relations at 305-348-3334. ■ Maidique reiterated the university’s humanities in the Department of Modern commitment to reaching out and fostering Languages, joined the cruise as the Fishing Tournament lifelong relationships with its graduates. ■ enrichment lecturer, providing a series of presentations on board. catches the pride By Martin Haro ’05 New travel program “The cruise was a great way for alumni to come together and meet, sightsee and learn,” The FIU Alumni Association reeled in the fun, off to a great start said Jan Solomon, an international relations hook, line and sinker in June as it hosted the The FIU Alumni Association launched a Ph.D. student who also works in that 4th Annual FIU Alumni Association Fishing new travel program in May with a 10-day department as a development associate. “It Tournament at the Miami Beach Marina and Mediterranean voyage on Oceania Cruises’ was a whirlwind, but we had a blast.” Monty’s South Beach. More than 200 alumni, Insignia. The program, called Golden faculty, staff, students and friends of the Prior to developing the travel program, the Panther Getaways, offers alumni and friends university came together to bask in the sun of the university the opportunity to enjoy Alumni Association surveyed alumni to find out which destinations were of most interest. and catch the spirit — and a lot of dolphin — world travel, fellowship and lifelong in an effort to lend their support to the FIU learning. Alumni Association revenues The Mediterranean countries were among Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. earned from the travel program will be used the most often mentioned so we selected the to award student scholarships. perfect Oceania cruise to meet the desires of After lines were out around 3 p.m., Jose Bofill our alumni,” said Bill Draughon, associate ’90, director of this year’s Fishing Former FIU President Gregory B. Wolfe and Tournament, kicked off the ceremony his wife, Mary-Ann, hosted the inaugural vice president of Alumni Relations. “We’re off to a good start.” portion of the day’s program, by inviting getaway, which included visits to Italy (Rome, everyone to enjoy great food and drinks and Sorrento/Capri, Amalfi/Positano, Florence/Pisa Upcoming Golden Panther Getaways include try their luck in a raffle featuring prizes such

READY FOR THEIR CLOSE-UP returning to Flollywood for the you do comedy, drama, soap fourth season of “Cold Case.” operas, film or TV — it never FIU Magazine talks parenthood and Hollywood with Danny and Lilly Pino The new parents were in Miami helps to be pigeonholed. introducing son Luca Daniel to Certainly, as a Latino, my Whether he is playing a drug lord their Miami relatives. concern is not only to be the on the cable drama “The Shield,” best Latino actor I can be, but Desi Arnaz on a telepic or solving Before lunch, Pino sat down with also the best actor I can be and crimes on CBS’ “Cold Case,” FIU Magazine writer and film critic hopefully to play roles that Danny Pino ’96 has constantly (www.movie martin.blogspot.com) proven his versatility as an actor. Martin Haro ’05. represent the community well, and others that are challenging You played a Latin drug lord on This spring, Pino appeared in in different ways. “The Lost City,” a film set against “The Shield.” Are you concerned the Cuban revolution. In June, as a Latino actor about Are you doing that more? In your Pino and his wife Lilly Bernal typecasting? new movie, “Flicka,” you play a character named Jack. Pino ’97, came back to FIU for a DP; It’s always a concern as an lunch date with President actor, not only as a Latino actor, DP: Jack is a mix of Irish, Modesto A. Maidique before but as any kind of actor, whether Native American and Mexican

President Maidique and his wife Wancy had lunch with Lilly and Danny Pino recently at University House. FALl'20061 H.OK IDA iNTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE J ~ 3 5 j

Showing off their catch at the Fishing Tournament are Ernesto Ramon Ferran ’79 and Jose Perez de Corcho ’93 (right) with scholarship Cima/NEO VERTIKA Sponsor Gabriel Albelo ’93 enjoys the Fishing Santiesteban, Manny Matalon ’01, MACC '03, Jose Seota, recipients Lourdes Cortizo, Providence Okoye, Kelly-Ann Williams, Tournament with anglers Luis Hidalgo, Ralph Calderon, Casey Kaplan Daniel Pena, Rene Hernandez and Alejandro Pena. Geoffrey Anderson and Giselle Gutierrez accepting for Martha Gutierrez. and FIU Foundation Board Member Dr. Sanford L. Ziff.

as a pair of American Airlines tickets to members of the alumni association. Insurance Brokers Incorporated, Mercury anywhere in the 48 states, Bahamas, Bill Draughon, associate vice president of Marine, Solo Printing Incorporated, Tigress Bermuda, Caribbean or Mexico. Alumni Relations, Jose Perez de Corcho ’93, Outrigging and Gear and Tortuga Imports This year, six scholarships were awarded to chair for this year’s tournament, and Ramon were Blue Sponsors. The Tournament’s FIU students who are full-time students, have Ferran. ’79 of title sponsor TotalBank, stunning kinetic sculpture was donated by maintained at least a 3.0 GPA and are presented Geoffrey Anderson Jr., Tiffany artist Gary Traczyk. Brannon, Martha Gutierrez, Providence For sponsorship information for the 2005 Alumni Association Okoye, Aviva Rose-Avila and Kelly-Ann 2007 FIU Alumni Association Fishing Fishing Tournament Winners Williams with Panther Pride Scholarships. Tournament, contact Randi N. West, CMP, They then presented this year’s tournament at 305-348-1009 or [email protected]. ■ Most Aggregate Dolphin Weight; winners with their prizes. Sergio Ferreira ’06, $2,500 and Gary Traczyk sculpture Committee members for this year’s tournament Alumni gather for included Chair Jose Perez de Corcho ’93, Jose ■ Largest Dolphin: Miguel Cabrera, Herald Corporate Day $1,000 and large fishing trophy Bofill ’90, Joe Caruncho, Esq. ’81, Ramon Ferran ’79, Gabriel Albelo ’93, Ray del Rey ’97, FIU’s Alumni Association hosted a M iam i ■ Largest Ladies Dolphin: Katie Blitz, Ray Del Toro ’96, Manny Matalon ’01, $500 and large fishing trophy Herald Corporate Day reception for alumni MACC ’03, Jennifer Restrepo MS ’05 and employed at the region’s largest newspaper. ■ Largest Fun Fish: Anthony Rodriguez, Randi N. West. Serving as weighmasters were Thirty-three Miami Herald employees $250 and medium fishing trophy Clayton Williams and Cliff Ruehl of the attended the program and afternoon tea. ■ Largest Junior: Chris Diaz, $100 gift Department of Marine Biology. certificate to Dave & Busters Bill Draughon, associate vice president of TotalBank was the tournament’s title Alumni Relations, opened the program with ■ 2nd Place Most Aggregate Dolphin Weight: sponsor for the third year in a row; the Manny Matalon ’01, MACC ’03, $500 an update on an association milestone: The Pride Presenting Sponsor was Preferred Care Alumni Association broke the 7,000 dues ■ 2nd Place Largest Dolphin: Armando Partners; American Airlines, CIMA-Neo- paying members mark for the first time, and Miguel Suarez ’98, $250 Vertika, GEICO and Marine Max were the 2005 TORCH awards gala attracted 530 ■ 2nd Place Junior: Tony Perez, $50 gift Gold Sponsors; and Bofill & Vilar attendees in February. Alumni also heard certificate to Dave & Busters Attorney’s at Law, CyberAngler, Financial updates about FIU’s medical school, the and he’s a ranch hand. That’s people are responding to and Tell me about making “The Lost pretty grounded, so when we something I’ve never done they seem to like is a blessing City” with feliow Golden Panther come home our moms ask us to before — never had to spend a because we also know the Andy Garcia. help set the dinner table or take long period of time on a horse. opposite of that all too well. out the garbage. The movie is set in Wyoming, so DP: The only way to describe it it’s beautiful rural scenery. It’s a I’m glad you mention that is: Finally our story was told in DP: My mom uses all three coming of age of story and sort because you have pretty much our way. For me, it was a way to names, “ Daniel Gonzalo Pino, of the antithesis of “Cold Case.” done it all: television, film and immortalize and to pay homage ven aca!” and puts me right back It was exciting for me to tackle. theater. Which do you prefer? to the sacrifice made by the in my place. generation of my grandparents What is it like to be on DP: Every medium is very and my parents. How has fatherhood affected you? a hit TV show? challenging and each has its You often hear actors talk about DP: It’s made everything DP: Lilly and I have been a part own set of techniques that you adjusting to stardom and fame. better...That joy is infectious and of things that didn’t have need to master, but I think most What has that been like for you? inspiring, so I’m sure that will longevity, you know, plays, a few actors who’ve done them all will show in my work. television shows, independent say theater outweighs TV and Lilly Pino; Between the two of films that never made it out, so film by far because you get an us we have six brothers — I’m To read more from Danny and Lilly to finally have something that immediate response. the only girl — and they keep us Pino, visit www.fiu.edu. ■ 3 6 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE FALL 2006 ALUMNI Participating in this year’s Golf Tournament were Frank R. Nero, of Golf Tournament scholarship winners Vanessa Fortun; Dianne Bazzani; Kristina FIU Board of Trustees member Albert Dotson, far right, enjoyed The Beacon Council; Billy Baldwin of Pro Golf; Golf Committee chair Clarke; Dina Asis; Sean Kramer ’95 of Alumni Relations; Martha Gutierrez himself at this years Golf Tournament with Walter Richardson Jose Diaz '86; Tony Rosabal, principal of LIVS Architecture. accepting for Giselle Gutierrez; Qaid Waheed; and Stephanie Jacques. (left) and Bill and Beverly Parker.

upcoming football season, along with other On May 2, the university honored Grant for items like a VIP trip to Napa Valley, more Alumni events. his commitment to FIU and the Honors than two dozen raffle gifts and a Cinco de Jesus Diaz, Jr., publisher of The M iam i College by awarding him an FIU Medallion. Mayo reception. The high honor was bestowed by FIU H erald and member of the FIU Foundation President Modesto A. Maidique during the This year, eight Legacy Scholarships, which are Board, along with Tom Fiedler, executive 2006 commencement ceremonies. ■ given to second-generation alumni, were editor of The Miami Herald, both spoke of presented to qualifying students. their respective ties to the university and the high quality of graduates that FIU produces. Star alumnus’ novel Bill Draughon, associate vice president of They underscored that local businesses have a Alumni Relations; Sean Kramer ’95, director of distinct advantage when they employ FIU adapted for new film Student Alumni Association and Young graduates who are comfortable in a multi­ Ben Affleck is making his directorial debut Alumni Programs; and Golf Tournament Chair cultural environment. with the film adapation of FIU alumnus Jose Manuel Diaz ’86, of the FI U Alumni Dennis Lehane’s novel, “Gone, Baby, Gone,” Fiedler highlighted the success of FIU’s Association Board of Directors, presented which began shooting in May. Lehane earned journalism alumni who have risen to the top scholarships to Dina Asis, Diana Bazzani, an MFA from FIU’s nationally ranked of several local and national media outlets. Kristina Clarke, Lourdes Cortizo, Vanessa creative writing program in 2001. In all, six FIU alumni have won eight Fortun, Giselle Gutierrez, Stephanie Jacques Pulitzer prizes. “Gone, Baby, Gone” focuses on two private and Qaid Waheed. investigators hunting for a kidnapped four- Gold Sponsors for this year’s tournament year-old in Boston’s underworld. Academy included Preferred Card Partners, Seitlin Alumnus pledges gift Award-nominated actor Ed Harris will play a Insurance, Stanford Private Wealth cop while Affleck’s younger brother Casey to Honors College Management and Turner. Fox Pan American and Michelle Monaghan (“Mission: Sports sponsored the Jim McLean Short Game FIU alumnus Gerald C. Grant, Jr. ’78, Impossible III”) have also signed on. MBA ’89, former president of the Alumni Clinic, while Gibraltar Bank sponsored the Association and an Honors College Meanwhile, production on another Lehane Million Dollar Hole, which afforded four lucky Community Advisory Board member, adaptation has been announced, this time raffle winners the chance to test their skill on a pledged a $100,000 gift to the university’s from his short story “Until Gwen,” with 165-yard hole and win $1 million if they made Honors College to endow study abroad and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Josh a hole in one. research scholarships for highly motivated Olson (“A History of Violence”) at the helm. Panther Sponsors included Auto Trader students in the college. No cast has been announced. Magazines/AutoExtra.com; the FIU Bookstore; The gift is eligible for a 50 percent match BCM Higher Education Management Group; from the state of Florida, as part of the state’s Golfers tee off Earl Haygood, Inc.; GEICO; and Nelnet. Major Gifts Matching Program, making the for scholarships Corporate Sponsors included Adidas, Banco impact of the gift $150,000. The 10th Annual FIU Alumni Association Popular, Commercebank, Compass Office “A number of professors at FIU made a Golf Tournament at the Doral Golf Resort & Solutions, Sonesta Hotels of Florida and significant impact in my professional Spa in May was a fun-filled day of golf and TraveLeaders, among others. Spirits and beer development. To show my appreciation, I am fundraising for student scholarships. were generously donated by Angostura and making a financial contribution to FIU to Participants enjoyed a one-hour Jim McLean Carib Beer. If you are interested in participating assist deserving students,” Grant said, short-game clinic, great food and drinks, or sponsoring the 2007 FIU Alumni pointing out that this gift is the first step golfer bags filled with such goodies as a shirt, Association GolfTournament, contact Randi toward an even more significant contribution cap, golf balls and more, a post-tournament N. West, CMP, in the Alumni Relations office he wishes to make to the university. awards ceremony featuring a live auction for at 305-348-1009 or [email protected]. ■ FALL2006 I FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE 3 7

First Generation tlve/ iPxxxle/! Scholarship Fund enhance a woman’s physical appearance and young adult historical fiction book titled “Sixty (See related article on page 3.) refinement. Prior to UdefineLI, she worked for Jars in a Pioneer Town” that is now available on more than 13 years at Reuters, where she held Amazon.com. various sales and global sales management |med IpEladio Gil, Jr. ’89, a health ledia Arts at positions in Miami and New York City. Give before Nov. 30, 2006 care industry veteran, was aving taken and your donation will be William A. Ramos ’85 and WAna J. Colls ’02 appointed the new CFO of bureau have been selected as National Urban Fellows Preferred Care Partners matched by the state to put also an (NUF) to complete a master’s degree in Public Health Plan. college education within laginus, a Administration from Bernard Baruch College - reach for needy students. 5oto lives in City University of New York, in New York City. The fellowship is an all-expenses paid program that provides each fellow the opportunity to complete IpDr. J. Scott Hamilton ’89, Fund-raising goal: $823,000 Jge ’75 was I Gibson a nine-month internship in a local, state or federal MS ’93, associate director of the State matching grant: $823,000 by the government agency, as well as internships in the Ronald E. McNair Total new scholarships: $1.6M pf Commerce, non-profit and philanthropic arena. This is the Postbaccalaureate Achievement jividual who first time in the 35-year history of NUF that two Program at FIU, raised funds recently, in conjunction with HOW TO GIVE loting FIU alumni are members of the program. Caribbean Students Association b and Gretchen E. von Dwingelo ’85 joined Powell and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for a young By Mail ate and Goldstein LLC’s Real Estate Finance and Jamaican boy who was diagnosed with Fill in the attached pledge Int of the Development Practice Group as Of Counsel after osteosarcoma. card and mail it to the receiving her Juris Doctor degree from the address indicated. jrofessor University of Miami’s School of Law. She is a Ernesto Larrea MIB ’89 has been named vice rnational member of the State Bar of Georgia. president of correspondent banking by The You can enclose a check or pay by International Bank of Miami. has H?Jose M. Diaz ’86 is the principal of Compass credit card. All credit card j/ers information is kept strictly Office Solutions (www.compass-office.com), a [ides lectures company that helps businesses profitably confidential. iBorder navigate the business environment needs of 1990s South Florida. He also teamed up with William Jennifer Levin ’90 has opened her own law firm, By Phone 19, branch White of the Allsteel Corporation to create a new Jennifer Levin, P.A., specializing in real estate. Call University Advancement at I Financial experience in the commercial office furniture Juan Martinez ’90 was named vice president of pth Florida industry and provide quick, affordable and 305-348-2288 to make a accounting and treasurer for the James L. lent environmentally sound solutions to today’s Knight Foundation. credit card gift over a )f the office environment needs. secure telephone line. Heidi Allespach Pomm ’90 is the director of ling the At was named vice president of Ed Thompson ’86 behavioral science in the Family Medicine I only 50 AXA U.S. operations for Neoris, a global IT Residency Program at St. Vincent’s Medical ticipating in consultancy based in Miami, in late 2005. Fie Online Center in Jacksonville, Fla. (igram). He is received his MBA from UNC - Greensboro (Cum Make a gift by going to the Nation following site: firstgen.fiu.edu Laude) in 1994. Wgfek. W Paul B. Winkeljohn ’90, Council of MPA ’93 a former member of Noel Rosquete ’86 has been appointed vice lard of the * % the Alumni Association Board president and marketing manager at TotalBank. |r of the 100 * of Directors, welcomed the in Palmetto Lynn Carrier ’87, a third-grade teacher at m m arrival of son Charles William their children Gulfstream Elementary, was named Miami- ^ 4 |j^ on Feb. 10. Dade’s Teacher of the Year in January. She then competed for statewide honors. Luis Munoz ’91 has joined Bright Star Credit Braulio L. Baez, Esq. ’88, former chairman of Union as an investment representative. 8647 08/06 the Florida Public Service Commission, joined Equal Opportunity/Access Employer and Institution Kimberly (Zulick) Olden ’91 welcomed son TDD via FRS 1-800-955-8771 Is Bank as a the firm of Holland & Knight’s Public Policy & Brody on Dec. 9, 2005. She lives in Chestertown, Inking in Regulation practice as senior counsel. N.Y., with her husband, Bob, and Brody’s older jveloping and brothers, Brandon, 5, and Brayden, 2. lanies that ^ N ich o las G. Bustle MIB ’88, city president )n. He lives for SunTrust Bank’s South Florida Region, has William J. Schinas ’91 was elected to KPMG )n Vincent. joined the Community Partnership for the LLP partnership. Schinas, who joined the audit, Homeless Board. tax and advisory firm in 1994, provides audit epted a services to consumer markets, and information rvisorat Edward Gannon ’88 has been named director of and communications to clients in the Miami area. ncy for litigation and consulting practices at Kaufman, Rossin & Co. PA. Leonely Valdes ’91 has been appointed accounting manager at The Allen Morris Co. jblside, a Joaquin Urquiola ’88 an FIU MBA candidate, has cently been promoted to partner at Goldstein Schechter Alphoncia LaFrance ’92 is president of Midas i Twin brother Price Lucas Horwitz. He is a member of the Lending Corp., an adjunct professor at Miami- Ron. On the website, he provides news on the 15 College of Business Alumni Circle. Dade College and host of a weekly Creole- residential projects that are in various states of ^Israel Velasco ’88 has been named regional language program on small business completion in the Channelside District of Tampa. executive for South Florida at Banco Popular North development on WLQY-AM 1320. Lourdes M. Figueroa ’85 is the founder, America. He was formerly president of CEO of IpMarteena Rodriguez ’92 has been president and CEO of UdefineU LLC, a business Alabama-based Colonial Bank’s South Florida region. appointed chief financial officer of Diversified focused on selling products and services that Nanette L. Avery ’89 recently published a Investment Advisors. FALL 2006 | FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE [ 3 7

CLASS NOTES enhance a woman’s physical appearance and young adult historical fiction book titled “Sixty refinement. Prior to UdefineU, she worked for Jars in a Pioneer Town” that is now available on more than 13 years at Reuters, where she held Amazon.com. Roberto F. Soto ’74 was recently named various sales and global sales management WEIadio Gil, Jr. ’89, a health distinguished visiting professor of Media Arts at positions in Miami and New York City. care industry veteran, was New York Institute of Technology. Having taken William A. Ramos ’85 and ^ A n a J. Colls ’02 appointed the new CFO of early retirement after serving as NYC bureau have been selected as National Urban Fellows Preferred Care Partners chief for The Associated Press, he is also an (NUF) to complete a master’s degree in Public Health Plan. international media consultant for Imaginus, a Administration from Bernard Baruch College - multilingual media consulting firm. Soto lives in City University of New York, in New York City. The New York City. fellowship is an all-expenses paid program that Hfcayle A. Bainbridge ’75 was provides each fellow the opportunity to complete H?Dr. J. Scott Hamilton ’89, awarded the Thelma Gibson a nine-month internship in a local, state or federal MS ’93, associate director of the Award of Excellence by the government agency as well as internships in the Ronald E. McNair Women’s Chamber of Commerce, non-profit and philanthropic arena. This is the Postbaccalaureate Achievement which honors an individual who first time in the 35-year history of NUF that two Program at FIU, raised funds has excelled in promoting FIU alumni are members of the program. recently, in conjunction with leadership, excellence and Gretchen E. von Dwingelo ’85 joined Powell Caribbean Students Association business development among corporate and Goldstein LLC’s Real Estate Finance and and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for a young professional women. She was president of the Development Practice Group as Of Counsel after Jamaican boy who was diagnosed with Alumni Association from 2003-’04. receiving her Juris Doctor degree from the osteosarcoma. Dr. James Giermanski MIB ’75, a professor University of Miami’s School of Law. She is a Ernesto Larrea MIB ’89 has been named vice and chair of the Department of International member of the State Bar of Georgia. president of correspondent banking by The Business at Belmont Abbey College, has W Jose M. Diaz ’86 is the principal of Compass International Bank of Miami. become a principal and CEO of Powers Office Solutions (www.compass-office.com), a International Inc. He currently provides lectures company that helps businesses profitably on C-TPAT and other Customs and Border navigate the business environment needs of Protection programs. South Florida. He also teamed up with William Jennifer Levin ’90 has opened her own law firm, WGerald C. Grant, Jr., ’78 MBA ’89, branch White of the Allsteel Corporation to create a new Jennifer Levin, P.A., specializing in real estate. director of Corporate and Individual Financial experience in the commercial office furniture Juan Martinez ’90 was named vice president of Planning of AXA Advisors LLC’s South Florida industry and provide quick, affordable and accounting and treasurer for the James L. branch, earned a certificate in retirement environmentally sound solutions to today’s Knight Foundation. planning from The Wharton School of the office environment needs. University of Pennsylvania for attending the At Heidi Allespach Pomm ’90 is the director of Ed Thompson ’86 was named vice president of Retirement Program (he was one of only 50 AXA behavioral science in the Family Medicine U.S. operations for Neoris, a global IT Advisors financial professionals participating in Residency Program at St. Vincent’s Medical consultancy based in Miami, in late 2005. He the inaugural session of the elite program). He is Center in Jacksonville, Fla. received his MBA from UNC - Greensboro (Cum a past president of the Alumni Association Laude) in 1994. IpPaul B. Winkeljohn ’90, (1995-’96), a current member of the Council of MPA ’93 a former member of 100 and member on the advisory board of the Noel Rosquete ’86 has been appointed vice the Alumni Association Board Honors College, as well as a member of the 100 president and marketing manager at TotalBank. of Directors, welcomed the Black Men of South Florida. He lives in Palmetto Lynn Carrier ’87, a third-grade teacher at arrival of son Charles William Bay, Fla., with his wife Jennifer and their children Gulfstream Elementary, was named Miami- on Feb. 10. Jasmin and Gerald III. Dade’s Teacher of the Year in January. She then competed for statewide honors. Luis Munoz ’91 has joined Bright Star Credit Braulio L. Baez, Esq. ’88, former chairman of Union as an investment representative. the Florida Public Service Commission, joined welcomed son Joseph Marchese ’80 joined Regions Bank as a Kimberly (Zulick) Olden ’91 the firm of Holland & Knight’s Public Policy & Brody on Dec. 9, 2005. She lives in Chestertown, senior vice president in corporate banking in Regulation practice as senior counsel. 2005, where he is responsible for developing and N.Y., with her husband, Bob, and Brody’s older maintaining relationships with companies that ^ N ich o las G. Bustle MIB ’88, city president brothers, Brandon, 5, and Brayden, 2. have revenue in excess of $100 million. He lives for SunTrust Bank’s South Florida Region, has William J. Schinas ’91 was elected to KPMG joined the Community Partnership for the in Davie, Fla., with his wife Liz and son Vincent. LLP partnership. Schinas, who joined the audit, Homeless Board. Stephen Waters III ’82 recently accepted a tax and advisory firm in 1994, provides audit position of career development supervisor at Edward Gannon ’88 has been named director of services to consumer markets, and information LINQ Financial Group, a general agency for litigation and consulting practices at Kaufman, and communications to clients in the Miami area. Rossin & Co. PA. Guardian Life Insurance Company Leonely Valdes ’91 has been appointed Randy B. Zalis ’82, a.k.a. Mr. Channelside, a Joaquin Urquiola ’88 an FIU MBA candidate, has accounting manager at The Allen Morris Co. been promoted to partner at Goldstein Schechter licensed Florida real estate broker, recently Alphoncia LaFrance ’92 is president of Midas Price Lucas Horwitz. He is a member of the launched www.channelside.us with twin brother Lending Corp., an adjunct professor at Miami- College of Business Alumni Circle. Ron. On the website, he provides news on the 15 Dade College and host of a weekly Creole- residential projects that are in various states of Wlsrael Velasco ’88 has been named regional language program on small business completion in the Channelside District of Tampa. executive for South Florida at Banco Popular North development on WLQY-AM 1320. America. He was formerly president of CEO of Lourdes M. Figueroa ’85 is the founder, WMarteena Rodriguez ’92 has been Alabama-based Colonial Bank’s South Florida region. president and CEO of UdefineU LLC, a business appointed chief financial officer of Diversified focused on selling products and services that Nanette L. Avery ’89 recently published a Investment Advisors. 3 8 1 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE FALL 2006 ALUMNI

Rick Escudero ’92, MACC ’93 has joined Reason Milagros S. Rosales ’95 received her doctor of Armando A. Pina ’97, MS ’00, Ph.D. ’05 management Group’s Board of Directors. veterinary degree from the University of Florida’s recently began a faculty position at the ^Barbara Yvonne Debesa-Hernandez ’82, College of Veterinary Medicine in June 2000. After Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina. working in South Florida for two years, she MACC ’94 has been promoted to chief operations and returned to UF’s School of Veterinary Medicine to Lilly Bernal Pino ’97 officers at TotalBank. an actor on pursue a residency in dermatology, graduating in Danny Pino ’96, TV’s “Cold Case,” welcomed WSergio Fernandez ’93, MPA ’96 was honored June 2005 and passing boards the same year. She with the Leonard D. White Award for best doctoral is currently self-employed. the arrival of son Luca Daniel dissertation in the field of public administration at on Feb. 15. the annual American Political Science Association Gulnaz Sharafutdinova ’95 was the runner-up for the Juan Linz Award for best dissertation in conference in Washington, D.C. He is currently an comparative democratization at the annual assistant professor at Indiana University. American Political Science Association FLizzette Torres ’97 recently received an award Audrey A. Edmonson ’94 became El Portal Village conference in Washington, D.C. She is now a as 2005 Sales Representative of the Year for mayor in 1999 after five years on the village council, professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Schering Plough del Caribe, Key Division, in was reelected by the council in 2002 and 2003 and Puerto Rico. WBrian D. Abramson, Esq. became the municipality’s first mayor to be elected ’96, JD ’05 was hired as an Sara L. Torres ’97 is a full-time by residents in 2004. She is a member of, among associate at the intellectual evangelist who uses her music others, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, the Miami- property law firm of Lott & and personal testimony as Dade County League of Cities and the National Friedland, P.A., where he is tools to reach out for Christ. Association for the Advancement of Colored People. primarily involved in trademark Her international ministry has Juan C. Garcia, Esq. ’94 was named junior prosecution and litigation. been active in the last six years, partner at the law firm of Walton, Lantaff, visiting more than 80 cities all ^M artin Amado ’96 launched a national home Schroeder & Carson. He lives in Tampa, Fla. over Latin America, the Caribbean, North makeover segment called “Manos A La Obra” America and Europe. Her songs have been Benjamin F. Gilbert Jr. MBA ’94 has been on TeleFutura Network’s “ En Vivo y Directo” in heard through radio and the Internet (thanks appointed to the Children’s Trust by Gov. Jeb Bush. January. This is in addition to the similar to her website www.saratorres.com) in places He is vice president of Montenay Power Corp. “ Room for Improvement,” which airs on South Florida’s WSVN 7’s Monday night newscast. as faraway as Oslo, Tokyo and Queensland, WBeatriz Gonzalez Hernandez Australia. ’94 welcomed the arrival of her Alison D. Austin-Bruyning ’96 Andrew Yap ’91, MBA ’97 was promoted to second baby, Kate. was appointed CEO of the president and chief operating officer of LEASA Belafonte-TacoIcy Center, one of the largest private non-profit youth Industries Co., Inc., the largest grower of bean service centers in the Greater and alfalfa sprouts and one of the largest Miami area. In her new position, manufacturers of tofu in Florida. Hannesson I. Murphy, Esq. ’94 joined Barnes & she coordinates a broad spectrum Loaina M. Matos Kerner ’98 of programs dedicated to assisting children and Thornburg LLP as an associate in the firm’s gave birth to her first child, youth from pre-school through college age. Indianapolis office where he practices in the Luciana Mari Kerner Matos on department of Labor and Employment Law. In Alexandra Ortiz-Sans ’96 Nov. 14,2005. 2005, he received the Defense Research welcomed daughter Sofia into Institute’s Exceptional Performance Citation for the world on Valentine’s Day. his work as president of the Dade County Defense Bar Association. fpYvette m. Perdomo ’98 and Carlos E. Torrents Albert Perez ’94 was recently hired as the ’98 were married in February in Miami. director of public utilities for the City of Wayne Smith ’98 was promoted to commercial Hollywood, Fla. FHoward Mark Shore ’91, MBA ’96, a founding real estate credit manager by Union Planters Bank. principal of Elite Advisory Group, has been named Raquel Elejabarrieta ’95 has been named an Carlos A. Zarraluqui ’98 has been named vice to the regional advisory board of Teach for associate at Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza president of marketing and special projects for America and to the Board of Governors of the Guedes Cole and Boniske’s labor and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. employment law group. Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. has joined Bacardi USA Fabio Estrada ’97 has joined TotalBank as Jennifer Cardenes ’99 Rebecca H. Markham ’95, MS ’01 received the as an assistant marketing manager. assistant vice president/corporate lender at the Sandra Weiner Travel Award to attend the bank’s Coral Way branch. was promoted to International Society for Developmental WJosefina (Josie) Carreno ’99 vice president-director of Miami Manufacturing Psychobiology annual meeting in Washington, Maria E. Fernandez ’97 was Operations for Beckman Coulter Corp. D.C. Last summer, she also received a fellowship promoted to executive mortgage and completed an intensive eight-week course on banker at Quicken Loans after Kwan Wang Lin ’99 is now the general Neural Systems and Behavior at the Marine joining the company in manager of Universal Industrial Trading Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. January 2004. Company in Taipei, Taiwan. WKirill Reznick, Esq. ’95, president of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the FIU Alumni Association, filed paperwork to begin practicing WFernando Mesia MBA ’97 has been named law on his own, aiming to become wholly vice president of corporate lending at fjeremy Baker ’00, ’06 has joined Shake-a- independent within a year and dedicate 100 Commercebank. Leg Miami as grants administrator. percent of his time to the legal practice and Denise Pena ’97 joined Bank United as a senior Allan Holder MA ’00 has joined Berkowitz Dick short-term international consulting. credit analyst. Pollack & Brant Certified Public Accountants &

** Individuals denoted with a Panther § are members of the FIU Alumni Association. To become a member, please visit the online membership site at: https://web.fiu.edu/alumni/jointoday_form.htm FALL 2006 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE 39

Consultants as a staff accountant in the tax Jennifer A. Hodgetts-Barber MS ’02, Ph.D. services department. ’04 recently took and passed the exam for the WMichelle Jo ’00 has been accepted at Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Panther Perks Thunderbird University’s Garvin School of WAIfredo Machado MBA ’02 has been International Management where she will named vice president of marketing of the FIU CONTINUING AND pursue an MBA in the fall at the Geneva, South Florida Chapter of the National Society Switzerland campus. of Hispanic MBAs. PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Jessica Samo ’00 was promoted to general Tara L. Mitchell ’02, Ph.D. ’05 recently Panther Partner: Continuing manager for Courvoisier Centre, where she will be accepted a position at Lock Haven University and Professional Studies (CAPS) offers a responsible for building management. in Pennsylvania. variety of convenient, non-traditional learning Jonathan G. Tubman MSW ’00 was honored with IfR aq u el Schwarz MBA ’02 was promoted to opportunities to facilitate professional and the prestigious Excellence in Research Award at sales manager for the Hispanic market for personal development. CAPS provides an the 2005 FIU Faculty Convocation. Molson Coors Brewing Company. array of certificates, distance learning Arlene Tur ’00 recently signed a George Bermudez ’03 was appointed senior opportunities, online instruction, workshops, holding deal with ABC Network vice president-middle market manager for customized and professional training, and Touchstone Television. She Commerce Bank in Miami-Dade County. personal enrichment courses and more. is best know for her turn in the has joined Palms West 2003 hit Telemundo teen drama Lisa Bernardo MBA ’03 Hospital as director of marketing and Panther Perk: FIU Alumni Association “ Lost Teens” and was recently community relations. members receive a FREE one-year featured on an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” She splits her time between Los Joe Izquierdo ’03 has been promoted to membership to take non-credit academic Angeles and New York City. director of circulation technology for courses at the member-only rate. This adds Knight Ridder. up to a savings of $20! Randall J. Wisser ’00 pursued a Ph.D. at Cornell University (’01-’06), where he researched plant Fadia M. Narchet ’03 recently accepted a How to Take Advantage: For more breeding and genetics, focusing on gene resistance position at the University of New Haven. information about course offerings, properties of maize and traveling to multiple WMichelle Nunez-Mendoza ’03 welcomed regions in Africa, where he collaborated with local registration, and to receive a comprehensive daughter Zara Michelle into the world on Oct. course catalog, please call the Academy for institutions to improve their agricultural situations. 21, 2005. He recently accepted a post-doc position with the Lifelong Learning office at 305-919-5910 or USDA at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Carlos Wright ’03 has been appointed branch visit www.caps.fiu.edu/academy. manager for TotalBank’s Brickell branch. Camille Khan-Bird ’01 has joined Pamlico County in North Carolina as assistant Cary Cabanas ’04 has joined Berkowitz Dick finance officer. Pollack & Brant Certified Public Accountants KOVENS CONFERENCE CENTER as a manager in the international tax has joined Fish and Richardson Desa Burton ’01 services department. Panther Partner: The Kovens Conference PC. in Silicon Valley. W sienda Chan ’04 is owner and chief Center at FIU Biscayne Bay has facilities and has been named assistant Steven Bustillo ’01 executive officer of Strategia Consulting Group, high-tech meeting services such as vice president and lender at Beach Bank, where he LLC in Miami. videoconferencing, web casting, web will be responsible for forming and maintaining small business accounts. Stephen Grell ’04 has joined the Trust and conferencing, high-speed Ethernet access, Asset Management Division of Republic Bank satellite broadcast services, wireless Internet Sandi Morais ’01 published a Limited in Trinidad as a senior investment fitness book titled “Tune Up” in connectivity and access to Internet2. The analyst. 2005. She also co-wrote a Kovens Center is partnering with Thierry’s musical, “Sacha and the Magic Lora M. Levett ’04 began her assistant Catering and Event Design as its new in- Cookie Maker,” with former professor position at the University of house caterer. Thierry’s uses traditional Florida’s Department of Criminology, Law “Miami Vice” star Philip French cooking techniques and blends Michael Thomas. and Society recently. Mediterranean, Caribbean and Pacific Munoz ’05 was recently certified as Melissa A. Shuman ’01, a former PRIME scholar, influences to design the perfect menu for received the prestigious NIH-funded MBRS a Longevity wedding planner and has launched (Minority Biomedical Research Support) RISE a new full-service wedding and event planning your meeting, conference or special event. (Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement) company Moments Made With Love, in Miami Panther Perk: FIU Alumni Association scholarship, which will fund her research for up with her sister and mother. Members receive 15 percent off on personal to two years with $20,000 awarded each year. ^Adriana Pereira ’05 recently accepted a bookings such as weddings and receptions, She works in the Infant Perception Lab. position as a staff assistant in the Washington, corporate events, theme parties, retirement W Sara Z. Abramson ’02, D.C. office of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. MBA ’04 was recently hired as a Pereira just completed an internship with the FIU parties, sweet sixteen parties, bar/bat marketing analyst by Cafe Bom Office of Governmental Relations in Washington mitzvahs, confirmations, quince ahos Dia, a Brazilian coffee company and formerly was an intern at FIU Magazine. and proms. located in Coral Gables, Fla. Haroldo Silva ’05, a Ronald E. McNair How to Take Advantage: Call today for an Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program appointment at 305-919-5000 or scholar, was accepted into the Ph.D. program Ryann M. Haw ’02, Ph.D. ’05 recently accepted at UC Berkeley, where he will pursue a degree 866-4-KOVENS. Visit the Kovens website at: a position at Big Bend Community College. in bioengineering in the fall. http://kovens.fiu.edu/index.htm

How to submit a Class Note: Share your good news with your fellow alumni by filling out an online Class Notes form at http://www.fiualumni.com/classnotes.htm. Send us information on recent hires, promotions, awards, career achievements, appointments, births and marriages. You may also fax us your information to 30 5 -3 4 8 - 3 6 36 , ATT: Class Notes. Electronic photos can be submitted in jpeg or bitmap format to appear with class notes by emailing [email protected]. Please indicate in the email which class notes the photo should appear with, along with the full names and class years of all the individuals who appear in the photo.______4 0 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE FALL 2006 donor oroti e

From Lto R: North Dade Medical Foundation Board member Dr: John Kathe; NDMF Executive Director Sandra Giblin; Board Member William Heffernan; FIU President Modesto Maidique; former NDMF Chairman of the Board Dr. Chester Morris; Fill Dean of Nursing Divina Grossman; FIU Provost Ronald Berkman; and NDMF Board Member Dr. Cesar Sastre. North Dade Medical Foundation NDMF gifts to the School of Nursing and College of Medicine will improve opportunities for health-care education

More than a half century ago, a group health care professions.” to become nursing professionals,” said of physicians founded a non-profit FIU President Modesto A. Maidique Grossman. “But many are limited in hospital in North Miami-Dade County “We are hailed the grants as a significant benefit to pursuing their dreams by barriers such as dedicated for “the benefit of mankind.” committed the community. lack of finances, program size Economic pressures forced that hospital, “In making these gifts, the North Dade or limited teaching resources. This North Shore Hospital, to be sold in to students Medical Foundation is carrying on its generous gift from the NDMF is helping 1997, but the vision to improve lives in who want to tradition of caring for and serving our break down these barriers for future the community lived on with the most vulnerable residents,” said nursing students.” dedicate their establishment of the North Dade Maidique. “These gifts will make a The Foundation has also pledged Medical Foundation. lives to the substantial impact on the quality of life in $5 million for scholarships for the FIU The Foundation, which received the health-care our community.” College of Medicine. Matched by the proceeds of the hospital sale, is governed A $1.25 million grant to the College of state, the gift will provide $10 million by a nine-member board of physicians profession.” Nursing — matched by the state for a in scholarships for north Miami-Dade and community members that ensures its total impact of $2.1 million — will students who demonstrate financial assets continue the hospitals legacy of address the critical statewide nursing need. The scholarships will play a Chester Morris, caring for the community. The M.D. shortage. The NDMF endowment will critical role in helping FIU to recruit Foundation will close its doors in January North Dade provide 20 full scholarships to highly qualified students. 2007 having provided more than $40 Medical undergraduates from North Miami-Dade As the region’s first public medical million in grants to local non-profit Foundation County pursuing a degree in nursing. The school, the College of Medicine will be health, social service and educational endowment will also provide the nursing strongly community oriented. The organizations, including FIU. laboratories with state-of-the-art university will identify talented students “That was a dream of mine, to give equipment. In recognition of the from area high schools and help prepare all the money away,” said Chester H. Foundations gift, the Advanced Nursing them for undergraduate education and Morris, M.D., former chairman of the Laboratory on the Biscayne Bay Campus acceptance into the FIU College of Foundation Board. “You know where it has been named in its honor. Medicine. Those students will be is going to go. You know it is going to With a projected need for one million trained to serve the health needs of make a difference.” new nurses nationwide by 2010, South Florida with the expectation that Two grants from the North Dade communities across the country are being upon graduation, they will practice in Medical Foundation will support FIUs challenged to attract new talent into the the community. health initiatives in the School of Nursing profession. The FIU School of Nursing “I want to see those medical students and the College of Medicine by providing has responded with innovative programs clamoring at your door and getting student scholarships. that have increased admissions to the in,” Morris said. “I want to see them “We are committed to students who program by more than 100 percent in stay in the area to practice medicine. want to dedicate their lives to the recent years. The School will do even We need more doctors. We need more health-care profession,” Morris said. more with the grant, said Nursing Dean nurses. That’s why we have created “Our gift will open career Divina Grossman. these endowments for education. It is opportunities to those who have been “We know of the desire and interest of going to solve a lot of problems for historically underrepresented in the thousands of bright individuals who want South Florida.” ■ 800-FIU-ALUM - 305-348-3334 - www.fiualumni.com

VIP: Joy Wallace 81 FIU Alumni Association Lifetime Member

Year of Graduation: 19 8 1

Profession: Owner of A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team since 1988. I’m a caterer, event planner and producer, designer of event decor and themes.

FIU degree: Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management

FIU affiliations: Lifetime Member, FIU Alumni Association What are your favorite memories of your time at FIU? I loved the peace and freedom o f walking across the campus with the sun shining on my face, green grass, palm trees and little white fluffy clouds. I loved learning from and being associated with FIU’s professors; my relationship with them was extremely important to my learning experience and to my future. FIU had some very colorful professors at the time. Professor Tony Marshall, who taught risk management, put on a great performance on stage in the theater for every class. It was a privilege to learn from him. His method of teaching got the point across and was terrifically entertaining at the same time. He would lock the doors, so if you weren’t there on time you couldn’t come in and you couldn’t get A’s. And Steve Moll, my advisor, is still a dear friend whose advice was irreplaceable and indispensable. How has your FIU experience helped you in life and in business? Another great professor I had was Charles Ilvento. On the first day of class, he came into the classroom and wrote the most important lesson I learned at FIU across a huge chalkboard that wrapped around two sides o f the room: “W ithout no dough, there ain’t no go.” This seems like such a simple concept, but it’s a lesson that I have applied during my career and life for 25 years. You can’t believe how many times this great philosophy has been applied to business situations and decisions. Do you have any advice th at you would offer to FIU students? Take business courses and take accounting courses; they will prepare you for your life in the business world as well as in your personal life. Money really does make the world go round, so if you understand how to manage it well, then you’ll do well. If there are time management or business management courses available, take them because they will give you direction for success. Psychology classes are a big plus, too. But definitely, I would say, get your degree. It is so personally rewarding to do; it affects your future forever in life, as well as in business. Why do you think it is important to be a m em ber of the FIU Alum ni Association? To show the university that you care, that you appreciate your education and the degree that you received there and the success that’s come o f it. Also, to help support the future o f the university and its students. W e have a very powerful group o f alumni living and working here in South Florida. O ur successes can make a difference in the enrollment and positive financial position of FIU. What is your proudest accomplishment? Personally, it would have to be my family: m y husband, my children Very and my grandchildren. Secondly, to have created a business that’s really amazing. W e have fun working here every day. W e have the best staff in the United States. To have been able to put together such an Important unbelievable and dynamic team is one of my most awesome accomplishments; it is my second family, which I was able to choose. Panthers It’s most satisfying to see the work they accomplish as a team and as a beautiful family. Life’s an exciting ride. ■ Are you a card carrying Member? The FIU Alumni Association is your gateway back to FIU. Well keep you connected and informed, wherever you may be.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS: Food discounts for annual members • The award-winning FIU Magazine and (free for Life & SAA members) at the NOW@FIU e-newsletter Panther Pit football tailgate parties catered by Tony Roma's • Student programs and scholarships • University Park & Biscayne Bay • Alumni college chapter programs library privileges and events • Discounts on major theme parks, Programming such as the Alumni Job travel and car rental programs Fair and Alumni Networking events • COMING SOON! Access to the new Alumni Online Directory and your own MEMBERS GET PANTHER PERKS: FIU email address that includes email Automatic membership in your forwarding for life school/college chapter * Priority seating and ticket discounts for FIU home football games and other Golden Panther athletic events ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

It's easy to take advantage of the many benefits of membership. Join today by dialing 1-800-FIU-ALUM, email [email protected] or go online at www.fiualumni.com. Get carded! Feel the pride and carry the card.

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