FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY - Key Persons


Adriene McCoy

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Advisors
  • Vice Chair
  • Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Baptist Health South Florida
  • VICE CHAIR, BOARD of ADVISORS, CENTER for LEADERSHIP / SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT and CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
  • VICE CHAIR, BOARD of ADVISORS, CENTER for LEADERSHIP / SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT and CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER, BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA
Adriene McCoy is the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Baptist Health South Florida. Adriene is responsible for overseeing all of Baptist Health's Talent functions, including Workforce Development, Total Rewards, HR Operations, Talent Management and Talent Acquisition. Adriene has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare human resources management. She joined Baptist Health in 2007 as Assistant Vice President, Human Resources and was promoted to CHRO in 2014. Adriene completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Barry University in Miami, Florida. She holds a Master's degree in Human Resources Development and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management. Adriene's background includes leadership roles in both for-profit and non-for-profit healthcare environments, including large hospital systems and acute and long-term care facilities. Prior to joining Baptist Health, she was Regional Director of Employee Relations at Tenet Healthcare, where she provided support to senior executives on employee relations, labor relations and workforce compliance matters. Adriene currently serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Advisors for Florida International University (FIU) Center for Leadership, Vice Chair Lotus House/Sundari Foundation Board, Children's Harbor in Broward, Bakehouse Art Complex Board, and she serves as the Chair for the YWCA South Florida Board. She lives in Miramar with her husband and two sons.

ALVAH CHAPMAN EMINENT

Job Titles:
  • SCHOLAR ENDOWMENT CHAIR
His research areas include leadership (e.g., leader-member exchange and leadership development), management of dynamic performance and multi-level methodology in organizational research. Dr. Sin has published more than a dozen articles and book chapters including several publications in premier outlets such as Academy of Management Review, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Leadership Quarterly, Organizational Research Methods, Personnel Psychology, and Strategic Management Journal. His research has garnered over 2,400 scholarly citations according to the Google Scholar index. He regularly reviews for numerous academic journals and currently serves as editorial board member for the Journal of Applied Psychology, the Organizational Research Methods, and the Journal of Business and Psychology. He is also the recipient of several best paper awards including the Leadership Quarterly Best Paper Award for a paper published in 2011. In addition to teaching organizational behavior and human resource management courses at the undergraduate-, MBA-, MSHRM-, and PhD-levels, Dr. Sin also regularly conducts executive training on strategic leadership, traps in decision making, and 360-degree executive feedback at the leadership development programs through the Center for Leadership at FIU, as well as the annual Chapmanville leadership development program for senior leaders from across Miami-Dade County government.

Austin Hollo

Job Titles:
  • CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, FLORIDA EAST COAST REALTY, LLC
Austin Hollo joined FECR in 2009, as the third generation of the Hollo family to be welcomed into the company and become a valued member of the team. As Chief Operating Officer, Austin focuses on the development of upcoming projects, the marketing and positioning of existing properties, and the coordination of property management and leasing activities, as well as the company's strategic vision, day-to-day administration and operations, and business development. Further, Austin is integrally involved in all financing efforts, oversees the company's risk management and insurance portfolio, and is responsible for underwriting and evaluating any real estate acquisitions and investments. Austin graduated from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis in 2007, with BSBAs in Finance and Marketing, as well as a minor in Organizational Psychology. Prior to joining FECR, he spent two years as an analyst in the Real Estate Finance and Servicing Group at LNR Partners, Inc. in Miami Beach, Florida, working on the acquisition, surveillance, servicing, and disposition of Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS). Additionally, Austin serves as a Past Chair of the New Leaders Taskforce and Member of the Board of Directors and Funding Development Committee for the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Executive Committee Member and Co-Chair of Professional Development for the United Way Miami Young Leaders, and Advisory Board Member for Florida International University's Center for Leadership and Tibor and Sheila Hollo School of Real Estate. He is also a member of the Developing Leaders Group for the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties South Florida Chapter, the Young Leaders Group for the Urban Land Institute of Southeast Florida, the Young Professionals of the Lighthouse for the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Austin also was selected as one of Brickell Magazine's Top 20 Professionals Under 40 for 2017, Miami Today's Achiever Profiles and Book of Leaders Honorees for 2020, and South Florida Business and Wealth's Up and Comer Award Recipients for 2021.

Beesham A. Seecharan - Chief Legal Officer, COO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Operating Officer
  • General Counsel
  • CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, GENERAL COUNSEL, and CLIENT ADVISOR at MATTHEWS SOUTH
Beesham A. Seecharan is Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, and a Client Advisor at Matthews South. Previously, Beesham advised the equity derivatives and convertibles businesses of Goldman Sachs for over fifteen years as a Managing Director and Senior Counsel, where in addition he lead through a number of other committees including as co-chair of its Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit and Executive Office Asian Professionals Network. Beesham previously worked as a vice president and assistant general counsel at JPMorgan Chase and in the New York and London offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell. Prior legal experience includes work at Shearman & Sterling, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Department of Education. Beesham also serves on the Board of Visitors of Columbia Law School, Board of Directors of Sakhi for South Asian Women, on the Advisory Board of the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University, on the Legal Advisory Committee for the New York City Urban Debate League, and on the Private Sector Steering Committee of the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY). He previously served as secretary on the Board of Directors of SAYA! - South Asian Youth Action and on the Board of Directors of The Columbia Law School Association and of SABANY. Beesham received a JD and the Parker School Certificate in Foreign and Comparative Law from Columbia Law School and earned at the same time an MS in Mathematics and an AB in International Relations from Stanford University. His passion for philanthropy and the law are complemented by his passion for partaking and supporting all forms of the arts and innovative small businesses.

Bill Mateikis

Job Titles:
  • Partner at Odgers Berndtson
Bill is a Partner at Odgers Berndtson, a full-service HR consulting firm offering established and start-up/emerging organizations around the globe retained executive search and other talent solutions, including interim executive placements, leadership assessment & coaching, general organizational development support and compliance risk mitigation. Bill focuses on the human resources and legal/compliance functional practices and is also a member of Odgers Berndtson's global industrial practice team.

Brian Dunn

Job Titles:
  • Founder and President of Best Dunn Enterprises, Inc
Brian Dunn is the founder and President of Best Dunn Enterprises, Inc. a professional development company focused on helping executives and teams improve their performance in the workplace. He combines effective interviewing skills with results from standardized assessments, such as the Myers-Briggs and the Strong Campbell, to provide customized solutions for his clients. Brian started his career with Nestlé Foods in the Human Resources department where he managed employee engagement, executive relocation, staff service awards and employee child care programs. He transitioned to the Department of Labor where he interpreted standardized test results for workforce placement companies. Then through Fred Prior Resources, he began training public audiences in communication, presentation, budgeting and negotiation skills. More recently, Brian served as Vice President of the Principal Leadership Development Program with the NYC Leadership Academy. His team of facilitators and content designers utilized "action" and "adult learning" theories to increase the leadership capacity of 1,200 NYC public school principals. These concepts were cascaded throughout the entire Department of Education system. He spent 5 years with Comcast Cable in the Engineering department where he implemented Leadership Competencies for Technicians, Management Training for Supervisors and Succession Planning for titles above Sr. Director. While there, he introduced specialized programs such as Engineer Fellows, Technical Mentoring and High Potential Leaders. These programs recognized rising stars and afforded them with pathways to advancement. Brian maintains an active executive coaching calendar with clients in the US and abroad. He developed two software applications geared to helping his clients achieve more; PiVI and to have improved interpersonal conversations; Put Your Cards on the Table. Brian attended Manhattanville College where he received an M.A. in Psychology/Anthropology and a B.A. in Economics. He is certified in Executive Coaching, the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory, the Birkman Personality and DiSC assessments, as well as the MBTI and the Thomas Killman Conflict Modes Indicator. His experience with creating standardized tests, interpreting their results and extensive leadership experience, has allowed him to successfully work with a broad base of clients.

Carol Lempert

Carol Lempert started her career as a professional actress and now works with leaders and businesswomen helping them increase their executive presence by learning the skills actors use to have great stage and screen presence. Carol previously served as Vice President, Learning for a boutique consulting company in Toronto, Canada that provided feedback and coaching to the financial services sector. In this role, Carol implemented business plans, hired, trained and coached a staff of two hundred, created infrastructure and designed learning maps. A sought-after leadership expert, Carol has been quoted in: Forbes, Financial Post, National Post, The Reader's Digest and Speaker's Magazine. She has worked with clients and organizations, including AMEX, Beckman Coulter, Comcast Women on the Move, Danaher, Digitas, Kearney, JP Morgan, Medidata, SM Energy, Women in Telecommunications and the association for Women in Energy. Typically, companies bring her in to help them tell better stories, learn to improve their personal brand, and increase their emotional intelligence. Carol received her master's degree in communication and performance from York University. She lives with her husband in a cozy home near the Hackensack River and has been known to eat Häagen Dazs ice cream for breakfast.

Chris Altizer

Job Titles:
  • FACILITATOR and CO - LEAD of INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP / CENTER for LEADERSHIP
With over 30 years in the field, including previous roles as Senior Vice President Human Resources and head of Leadership at Pfizer and Aetna, Chris Altizer is currently coaching and consulting to chief executives, leadership teams, and boards in professional and personal performance. Chris is also Adjunct Faculty in the Masters of Science in Human Resources (MSHRM) and Executive MBA (EMBA) programs at the FIU College of Business and is a qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher from UC San Diego's Center for Mindfulness. He has written and presented globally on a variety of topics, including leadership, personality, mindfulness, and inclusion. Chris earned his MBA with Beta Gamma Sigma Honors from Columbia University in New York, holds an MA-HRD from Northeastern Illinois University, and a BA in History from Hampden-Sydney College. He has guest-lectured at universities in the U.S. and abroad and has presented at several national conferences. He has been published in journals including peer-reviewed research published in Consulting Psychology Journal and articles in Strategic HR Review and HR Florida Review. His work has received media attention from outlets including Forbes. Chris co-authored a chapter in Dave Ulrichs's HR Transformation (2009), and co-authored three books, Growing the Elephant - increasing earned advantage for all (Practical Inspiration Publishing; 2022), Mindfully Mobile (Amazon Publishing; 2017) and The Way of the Road Warrior (Bookboon Publishing; 2017). Chris is a Registered Yoga Teacher and practicing 5th-degree black belt martial artist. He incorporates lessons from mindfulness, yoga, and martial arts into his consulting, teaching, and coaching. He blends his professional experiences in leadership, teams, and organizational change with his experiences in awareness and mindfulness to help others discern and dedicate their paths to personal and professional growth and performance.

Craig Faller

Craig Faller is a retired four star United States Navy Admiral with nearly four decades of global leadership experience. Faller most recently led United States Southern Command where he was responsible for U.S. military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean with the primary objective of forging strong security partnerships. He has served in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions both on large staffs and in Command of a United States Navy Carrier Strike Group and two warships. He has extensive Washington, DC experience in the Pentagon and with Congress as the Department of the Navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs (lead representative to Congress on behalf of the leadership of the Navy). In the Pentagon he served as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Faller earned a bachelor's degree in systems engineering and a master's in national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Dr. Angela Love

Job Titles:
  • Founder and Principal of the Daymark Group
  • Founding Fellow of the Institute for Coaching Professional Association
Dr. Angela Love is the Founder and Principal of the Daymark Group, a South Florida-based firm specializing in leadership consulting and coaching. Angela supports senior and C-suite executives from Fortune 100 companies, healthcare entities, private equity firms, and public sectors, providing support with individual and high-performance team leadership, multinational leadership, and complex change. Angela's partial client roster includes Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, FedEx, Sony, Trinity Healthcare, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, Broward Health, Carnival Corp, Louis Vuitton, Moet, Hennesy, KPMG, Nordstrom, and Burger King. Angela is a Founding Fellow of the Institute for Coaching Professional Association at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, where her focus is on effective healthcare leadership. Her doctoral research on mindfulness and its application with Microsoft executives is highlighted in the NeuroLeadership Handbook, and she has contributed to the Business Journals, TechCrunch, and the Wall Street Journal.

Dr. Brooke Buckman

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Professor
  • ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT
Dr. Brooke Buckman is an assistant professor in the Department of Global Leadership and Management at the Florida International University College of Business. Dr. Buckman earned her Ph.D. from Arizona State University in 2014. Her published research has examined the various ways leaders enhance their followers' levels of engagement, as well as how different types of leader behaviors influence their followers' perceptions of fairness in the face of stressful job demands. She also has published a review of the research regarding how the personalities within a team influence teamwork and team effectiveness, and a book chapter that describes the various implications (both good and bad) of having strong positive relationships among team members. In conducting this research, she has worked with a wide variety of organizations and industries, including the U.S. military, numerous automobile and pharmaceutical organizations in Eastern China, a U.S. based insurance company, a debt collection agency, a nation-wide fast-food chain, and a system of hospitals. She often draws upon her own five years of work experience, both as an external auditor at KPMG and as a senior financial analyst at Kraft Foods, both in her research and when teaching about human resource related concepts in the classroom.

Dr. Eric Cartaya

Job Titles:
  • INSTRUCTOR / DEPARTMENT
Dr. Eric Cartaya received his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Florida International University. Professor Cartaya's areas of expertise include Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior. His thesis topic is "Mental Model Formation Assessment: An empirical look at the validity of differing assessment methods and the antecedents leading to mental model formation." He has researched and is writing on the impact of "openness to experience" and "extraversion" on the relationship between frame of reference training and rater accuracy. His professional experience includes working as a consultant for Organizational Performance Dimensions in Coral Gables, Florida. He developed and presented lectures and workshops on a wide range of employment issues including: discrimination, workplace safety, conflict resolution and leadership. He also developed and implemented complete compensation programs including: job analysis and descriptions and pay grade structures. He is a student affiliate member of the Academy of Management.

Dr. Hock-Peng Sin

Job Titles:
  • Associate Professor
Dr. Hock-Peng Sin is an associate professor and Alvah Chapman Eminent Scholar Endowment Chair at Florida International University in the Department of Global Leadership and Management. He also serves as the faculty director of the International MBA program and the Ph.D. program for the department of GLAM. Dr. Sin received his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Pablo G. Ortiz

Job Titles:
  • Leader
  • INTERIM SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT for ADVANCEMENT and CEO
  • SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT for ADVANCEMENT and CEO of FIU FOUNDATION
Dr. Pablo G. Ortiz is an accomplished leader with over three decades of experience in education. Currently, he serves as the Interim Senior Vice President for Advancement and CEO of the FIU Foundation, playing a pivotal role in driving the university's philanthropic success. Dr. Ortiz employs data-driven strategies and talent development initiatives to ensure continued growth and success in fundraising at FIU. Previously, Dr. Ortiz held dual roles as the Vice President of Regional and World Locations and Vice Provost of the Biscayne Bay Campus, overseeing various aspects of university operations. He collaboratively set performance goals for nine regional locations, focusing on enrollment, financial efficiency, engagement, and research. In his recent appointment to lead the university's global portfolio and engagement, Dr. Ortiz has crafted a bold strategy to position FIU as a global leader in higher education, aligning with the Next Horizon 2025 Strategic Plan. His journey in education began as a teacher in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where he later excelled as a principal, earning numerous awards and accolades. Dr. Ortiz's educational journey spans from Miami-Dade College to Nova Southeastern University, where he earned his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Stephen J. Zaccaro

Job Titles:
  • Professor of Psychology at George Mason University
Dr. Stephen J. Zaccaro is a professor of psychology at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. He is also an experienced leadership development consultant and executive coach. He has written over 150 journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports on leadership, group dynamics, and team performance. He has authored a book titled, The Nature of Executive Leadership: A Conceptual and Empirical Analysis of Success, and has co-edited five other books on the topics of organizational leadership, leader development, multiteam systems, cyber-security and occupational stress. He has worked with executives and managers from private industry as well as from the educational, nonprofit, government, and military sectors. He has served as a principal investigator, co-principal investigator or consultant on multiple projects in the areas of leadership and executive assessment, leadership and team training, leader adaptability, executive coaching, multiteam systems, and cyber security team performance. Dr. Zaccaro serves on the editorial board of The Leadership Quarterly, and is an associate editor for the Journal of Business and Psychology and for Military Psychology. He is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and of the American Psychological Association, Divisions 14 (Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology) and 19 (Military Psychology.)

Dylan A. Egleston

Job Titles:
  • PROGRAM COORDINATOR
  • Program Coordinator at the Center for Leadership
Dylan A. Egleston is a Sr. Program Coordinator at the Center for Leadership at Florida International University (The Center). In this role, Dylan is responsible for the management and operational oversight of The Center's open-enrollment and custom programs and engagement events, which includes faculty support, logistics coordination, fiscal management, and evaluating program objectives. Prior to joining the Center, Dylan served as a paralegal in a personal injury law firm where he demonstrated his aptitude for meticulous research, case management, and legal support. Before becoming a paralegal, he served as a manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car for their largest operation in South Florida. Focusing on team development, sales, and customer service Dylan quickly rose through the ranks and realized the importance on how good management not only influences a team but also drives results with their personal and overall goals. Dylan received his bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Business Management from the University of Florida.

Ebony Smith

Job Titles:
  • FACILITATOR and EXECUTIVE COACH
For 20 years, Ebony Smith worked in the Fortune 100 for Ryder, Sunoco Logistics, BP Integrated Supply and Trading, and World Fuel Services. As an executive coach who has spent her entire career in risk management, Ebony views leadership development through a full spectrum lens. Ebony started in operational risk management as a Health & Safety advisor. She pivoted into financial risk management working on a derivatives trading desk. Today, Ebony works in transformational risk management partnering with clients to develop leadership resilience and to design foresight strategies for deployment. After 13 years on the oil trading floor, Ebony brings a straightforward and honest approach to transformational leadership development for leaders. Ebony understands the needs of left-brain-leaders and created an equation to uncover and highlight their unique leadership style and acumen. Leaders research ideas, thoughts, and processes to acquire knowledge on the topics, but rarely integrate the information into everyday action. Ebony's goal is to get her audience to build better relationships because when people are engaged the profits, processes, and productivity flow easily. Ebony has a BS in Chemistry from Jefferson in Philadelphia and a MS Environmental Protection and Safety Management from St. Joseph's University of Philadelphia. Ebony is designated a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coach Federation (ICF). She founded the ICF certified Ebenum Leadership Academy to train leaders to become coaches. She is also a faculty at Florida International University's Center for Leadership.

Elisa Hernandez

Job Titles:
  • Assistant With the Center for Leadership
  • STUDENT ASSISTANT
Elisa Hernandez is a student assistant with The Center for Leadership at Florida International University. She joined The Center in May 2023 to assist with the day-to-day operations, social media and marketing efforts and provide logistical support for The Center's programs and events. In addition, Elisa currently works with the American Marketing Association at FIU as a Digital Media committee member. She assists in creating content for the associations social media and for its nonprofit clients. She also completed and won in weekly marketing competitions within the committee. Born and raised in Miami, Elisa is currently a junior at Florida International University. She is majoring in marketing working towards her Bachelor of Business Administration.

Elizabeth D. Cramer

Job Titles:
  • Leader
  • DIRECTOR, GRADUATE PROGRAM / PROFESSOR, SPECIAL EDUCATION
  • Professor of Special Education
Dr. Elizabeth Cramer is Professor of Special Education and Graduate Program Director of Teaching and Learning. Her research is focused on the education of high-need children in inclusive urban settings. Her work explores opportunity and achievement gaps; the intersection of race, culture, language, poverty, and ability; collaboration with diverse family and faculty; data-based decision making; and placement issues and educational outcomes for diverse learners. Her research has led scholarly publications, national consultancies, and 16 federal grants totaling approximately $26 million in support of preparing diverse educators to work in urban settings with high-need students. Dr. Cramer has served as an educational leader at local, state, and national/international levels. She serves on the Miami-Dade County Public School's Superintendent's Advisory Panel for Students with Disabilities. She is past president of both the Division of Diverse Learners of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Florida Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Cramer received her PhD in Special Education and Reading, her MSEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Early Childhood Special Education, and her BA in Special Education and Psychology all from University of Miami. Previously, she taught special education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Gino Coca-Mir

Job Titles:
  • Co - Owner of Project Challenge, Inc
Gino Coca-Mir is co-owner of Project Challenge, Inc. an Experience-Based Training and Development group based out of Miami, Florida with offices in North Carolina as well. His expertise is in providing team training solutions that are custom developed for a varied client base in the public and private sector. Prior to Project Challenge, Gino was co-founder of Accord Productions, a film and video production house specializing in offering video training solutions and services to corporations. As Producer for Accord, he worked with clients such as Miami Children's Hospital, Easterseals of Dade-County and several of Miami's top ad agencies. In 1988 he won the Angel Award for non-broadcast production for a fundraising documentary produced for Tinsley Advertising. Additionally, his experience extends to being Marketing Director for Elexis Corporation in the early 80's for which he produced advertising, both print and TV, for all their consumer electronics products and was in charge of all media buying and catalog production for their sporting goods apparel lines. Over the last 17 years, Gino has worked with clients such as Booz-Allen-Hamilton, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, American Express, Parker Hannefin, Microsoft, MTV, City of Miami Attorney's Office, JM Family Enterprises, Burger King, Miami-Dade College and many others. Gino is also utilized as an adjunct professor for both the University of Miami and Florida International University and regularly consults, designs, and delivers cutting edge experiential training programs on behalf of both universities for their clients. Since 2015 Gino has worked as Consultant/Facilitator for Impact International, one of the top organizational change and development firms in the world. Through the development of customized adventure activities, games and simulations that specifically address client expectations, Gino and his team facilitate changes in areas such as genuine dialogue, teamwork, decision making, developing shared values and vision as well as building more authentic relationships. To meet these needs Project Challenge draws from the fields of Integral Philosophy, Organizational Development and Psychology and uses activities as varied as portable indoor simulations, sailing, challenge adventure courses, kayaking and drumming/percussion ensembles.

Harve A. Mogul - President

Job Titles:
  • President
  • PRESIDENT EMERITUS
  • PRESIDENT EMERITUS, UNITED WAY of MIAMI - DADE
Harve A. Mogul assumed the role of president emeritus in August 2017 following a 27-year career as president and CEO of United Way of Miami-Dade. As president emeritus, Mogul is focusing his energies in helping build the United Way Endowment, managing key donor relationships and providing advice and counsel on other strategic issues. As the community's largest, private funder of health and human services with a mission of "building community by helping people care for one another," United Way brings people and organizations together from across the community to fight for the education, financial stability and health of every person. During his years as president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade earned national recognition as one of the leading United Ways and non-profits in the country. United Way of Miami-Dade is frequently cited for excellence in its major gift and fundraising programs, diversity efforts, emergency responsiveness, financial stewardship and governance and community building initiatives. In January 2007, United Way of Miami-Dade opened a national best practices teaching and learning center on its campus. Called the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education, it is dedicated to elevating the quality of early childhood education in Miami-Dade and beyond. In 2009, United Way opened the Center for Financial Stability to address economic hardships facing individuals and families. Mogul has been a United Way professional since 1973. In addition to Miami-Dade County which he joined in 1991, he has worked for the United Ways in Baltimore, MD; Cleveland, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and, Winston-Salem, NC. As a campaign director for Ketchum, Inc., Mogul helped plan the national campaign to raise $100 million for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum in Washington D.C. Prior to that, Mogul served in the United States Peace Corps from 1964-66, taught fifth grade in Baltimore, and worked with community planning and advocacy organizations. Mogul is a member of the United Way Worldwide Professional Council and the United Way of Florida Board. He was tapped to lead a national, United Way system response focused on the long-term rebuilding needs of the individuals and communities following disasters like Hurricane Katrina. In Miami, he serves as a trustee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Orange Bowl Committee, the Miami-Dade County Public School Superintendent's Business Advisory Council and Florida International University's Center for Leadership Advisory Council. He is a past board member of the Zoological Society of Florida, the Early Learning Coalition and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Labor, Education and Health Advisory Council. Mogul earned his B.A. degree in 1964 and a Master's in Social Work and Community Planning in 1971, both from the University of Maryland. In 2006, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Johnson & Wales in business administration. Most recently, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce honored Mogul with its 2015 Sand in My Shoes Award. Among his other honors, Mogul is a recipient of United Teachers of Dade Champions of Public Education, Temple Israel's first Joseph Narot Award for Community Service, the Miami Coalition of Christian and Jews Humanitarian Award, Mercy Hospital's Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh Humanitarian Award, South Florida Business Journal's Ultimate CEO award and United Home Care's Claude Pepper Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also named Big Brother's Big Sister's Miracle Maker, Family Resource Center's Children's Hero, and American Diabetes Association's Father of the Year. In 2003, the Mogul family received Family Counseling Services' Family of the Year Award. He resides in Coral Gables, FL. Mogul has two sons - Elliott, who is an attorney in Washington DC, and Maxwell, who is a student at Our Pride Academy and a Special Olympics medalist at the national level and in Florida.

Holly J. Prince - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, PALM MEDICAL CENTERS
Holly J. Prince is the Chief Financial Officer of Palm Medical Centers in Coral Gables, Florida. Ms. Prince has extensive experience in leadership positions in Medicaid and Medicare managed care organizations operating in multiple states. Prior to joining Palm Medical Centers, she was President, Simply Healthcare Plans Medicaid, and previously Regional Vice President for Anthem, Inc. and Chief Operating Officer for Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc. She joined Anthem, Inc. as part of the acquisition of Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc., where she was the first CFO and an integral member of the executive management team. Previously, Ms. Prince was the Corporate Controller and Interim CFO for DentaQuest, a dental benefits management company based in Boston, which at that time served over 14 million members primarily in government sponsored programs in 26 states. She led the due diligence team on the seller's side as CFO of Atlantic Dental, Inc., a Medicaid dental managed care organization, when that company was purchased by DentaQuest in 2008. Ms. Prince began her professional career in public accounting, first with BDO Chartered Accountants and later with Moore Stephens Lovelace, a Florida regional boutique firm focused on the serving the healthcare industry. Ms. Prince is a graduate of Erskine College in South Carolina and a licensed certified public accountant. She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer.

Jacqueline N. Correa

Job Titles:
  • PROGRAM COORDINATOR
  • Program Coordinator at the Center for Leadership
Jacqueline N. Correa is a Sr. Program Coordinator at the Center for Leadership at Florida International University (The Center). In this role, Jacqueline is responsible for the management and operational oversight of The Center's open-enrollment and custom programs and engagement events, which includes faculty support, logistics coordination, fiscal management, and evaluating program objectives. Prior to joining the Center, Jacqueline served as a Sr. Coordinator at FIU's Community-Based Research Institute (CBRI) where she worked closely with research faculty to ensure the synergistic implementation of essential research activities as part of the FIU-Research Center in a Minority Institution (RCMI) Administrative Core. Jacqueline has also worked under Enrollment Management and Services for Transfer and Transition Services / Connect4Success as well as the Dean's Office of Undergraduate Education at FIU. Jacqueline received her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from Florida International University and has over 10 years of administrative experience working in Higher Education.

Jane Park

Job Titles:
  • Research Assistant
  • GRADUATE ASSISTANT

Janá Sigars-Malina

Job Titles:
  • President and CEO of Malina Industrial Properties, Inc
Janá Sigars-Malina is President and CEO of Malina Industrial Properties, Inc. a real estate investment company. She is Of Counsel to Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. an international law firm. Over the past 15 years, Ms. Sigars-Malina has lead the growth of her real estate investment company. Her legal practice has involved representing national and multinational corporations in international commercial transactions, acting as their domestic and international trademark counsel, and advising them regarding the protection of their intellectual property rights through various legal vehicles including licensing, merchandising, and distribution agreements, technology transfer, and joint ventures. Ms. Sigars-Malina has lectured extensively and authored numerous articles on topics such as U.S. and international intellectual property rights, product development, protection, distribution, and licensing in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia.  Ms. Sigars-Malina has always been very active in the business, legal, and cultural life of Miami-Dade County. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Baptist Health of South Florida and serves as Assistant Secretary of the organization. She is involved with its corporate-wide Long Range Planning, Finance and Risk Management, and its International Advisory Board, which have been strategically important during the pandemic, recent health care changes, and the development of the Miami Cancer Institute. She has served on the Board of the Children's Bereavement Center, has assisted its marketing, and Co-Chaired its fundraising event. She also sits on the Board of Trustees of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden where she co-chaired and helped develop the rare plant auction, which in its first year raised three times its goal. After serving for several years as a member of the Board of the Miami City Ballet, Ms. Sigars-Malina served as its President for three years. Under her hands-on leadership, the ballet raised 15 million dollars to build its permanent home on Miami Beach. She was instrumental in strategically positioning the ballet to the business community and corporate sponsors as a valuable economic development asset for Miami-Dade County and Southern Florida. During her tenure, she was closely involved in the business aspects of running this major cultural organization. Ms. Sigars-Malina, who has been a member of the Screen Actor's Guild since her appearance in the movie Caddyshack, co-produced the popular musical comedy/satire "Flamingo Follies." in Key West, Florida. She is also a member Emeritus of the Board of Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, now a part of the interdisciplinary arts program of Nova Southeastern University.  Ms. Sigars-Malina has served on the Cultural Affairs Council, as its First Vice-Chair as well as the Chair of its Green Task Force which helped launch the Arts Resilient 305 Initiative. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Jay Malina International Trade Consortium. She has served on the Board of Governors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, where she was Chair of the Chamber's Southern Cone Committee as well as Chair of its Miami-Brazil Committee, its Export Development Committee, and Editor of The Exporter, Miami's Guide to Export Resources. Former Florida Governor, Lawton Chiles, appointed her to the Florida/São Paulo Sister State Cooperation Committee. Ms. Sigars-Malina has served as Chair of the International Law Section of the Florida Bar Association. She has also served as President of the Florida Chapter of the International Women's Forum, an invitational organization of over 7,000 diverse and preeminent women from 33 nations. She has been a member of the International Trademark Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the American Bar Association.   Ms. Sigars-Malina grew up in San Diego, California, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a BA in Anthropology. She received her law degree from Cleveland Marshall School of Law, and after two years of practicing international law in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, she settled in Miami. She joined Fowler White as a partner and then merged her practice with Holtzman, Krinzman, Equels, Sigars & Furia before becoming Of Counsel and Head of the International Intellectual Property Department of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg in 1998. While on the Beacon's Council's first international trade mission to Asia in 1987, Ms. Sigars-Malina met Jay Malina in Singapore and the two were married in 1990. Their twin daughters Brezlan and Makenna were born in 2001. Janá has traveled and worked extensively abroad and is conversant in Spanish and Portuguese.

Jessica M. Sotomayor

Job Titles:
  • PROJECT MANAGER
  • Project Manager for the Center for Leadership
Jessica M. Sotomayor is the Sr. Project Manager for the Center for Leadership at Florida International University (The Center). Jessica joined The Center in September 2017 and her primary role is to provide strategic guidance and direction on new and ongoing projects. She also manages the development and execution of the Center's Micro-Credentials for FIU students, the Emerging Leader Award and Outstanding Dissertation Award, and various short- and long-term projects. Prior to joining The Center, Jessica was a Senior Program Manager at the Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York where she provided faculty support, event logistics, fiscal management, and academic guidance for the undergraduate Sustainable Development program. While at Columbia, she also managed the Earth Institute's student programs, which entailed recruiting and appointing teaching assistants, interns, research assistants and travel grant recipients. She previously worked at FIU's College of Business from 2002-2011 holding various positions, the latest being Program Manager in the Executive and Professional MBA program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Science in Human Resource Management, both from Florida International University.

Joseph L. Caruncho

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Advisors
  • CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GENUINE HEALTH GROUP, LLC
Joseph L. Caruncho, Sr. is the Chief Executive Officer of Genuine Health Group LLC. Genuine Health Group is a newly-formed company that is developing an analytics-powered health management platform that focuses on assisting health care providers and payers to transition to value-based payment models, including entering into risk agreements with Medicare Advantage health plans, and developing and managing Accountable Care Organizations. Mr. Caruncho's previous projects include being the co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Preferred Care Partners, a health care company that owns and operates Medicare Advantage and Florida Medicaid insurance plans in Florida. During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Caruncho led the company from a start-up to over $750 million in annual revenues, with over 600 employees. United Healthcare acquired the Company in June 2012, and he retired from the Company in August 2013. Mr. Caruncho is a licensed attorney and a member of the Florida Bar. For 13 years prior to founding Preferred Care, Mr. Caruncho practiced law as a corporate healthcare attorney, representing physicians, hospital systems, health care delivery networks, ancillary providers and health plans. Active in the South Florida community, he has received numerous recognitions, including induction into FIU's College of Business Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame, selection as the Ernst and Young Health Care Entrepreneur of the Year for the State on Florida, South Florida Business Journal's Healthcare CEO of the Year, and being listed in Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the U.S. Mr. Caruncho has served on the Florida Board of Governors, which governs all public state universities in Florida. Mr. Caruncho also served as the BOG's representative on Governor Scott's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Higher Education. He has also previously served on the Board of Trustees of Florida Polytechnic University and Florida International University, and is former chairman of the FIU Foundation Board of Directors.

Kaitlin Medina

Job Titles:
  • MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
  • Marketing & Communications Manager at the Center for Leadership
Kaitlin Medina is a Marketing & Communications Manager at the Center for Leadership at Florida International University (The Center). Kaitlin assists in the day-to-day tasks of developing and executing strategic communication plans for leadership success. She is responsible for managing digital channels, market research, and creating content to maximize brand visibility and resonate with target audiences. Prior to joining the Center, Kaitlin served as a Digital Marketing Specialist at For Eyes, where she provided support to the marketing team within the eyecare industry. In her previous roles Kaitlin held positions with a focus on graphic design, social media management, accounting and healthcare. Kaitlin holds a Bachelor's of Science in Advertising from Florida International University.

Kevin J. Bostick

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Advisors
  • DIRECTOR, EXERCISES and COALITION AFFAIRS, J7 / 9
Kevin J. Bostick is the J7/9 Exercises and Coalition Affairs directorate at U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) based in Doral, FL. USSOUTHCOM is 1 of 11 unified combatant commands in the US Department of Defense. Bostick oversees the whole-of-society partnerships, exercises, civil affairs operations, and humanitarian assistance activities to build USSOUTHCOM and partner nation capacity to rapidly respond to crises and defeat threat networks. He further establishes and enhances partnerships across the US Government, International Organizations, Non-Government Organizations, the business sector, academia, and all aspects of civil society to create a well-trained workforce focused on innovative and cooperative solutions. Bostick began his career as an enlisted Soldier, following the footsteps of his father, a retired sergeant major.

Kristyn Wilczek

Job Titles:
  • ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Kristyn Wilczek is the Assistant Director for the Center for Leadership (The Center) at Florida International University. Kristyn provides strategic management of key areas of The Center including general operations, marketing and outreach, new media, finance, and human resources management. In addition, along with The Center's directors, develops and oversees strategic operations for The Center. Prior to her current role, Kristyn served as the Senior Manager of Administrative Operations, where she provided managerial oversight for all Center operations including all HR and budget-related issues. Prior to serving as Senior Manager, she served as The Center's Senior Manager for Programs where she provided management and execution of all of The Center's core curriculum programs such as The Senior Executive Leaders Program, The Women Leaders Program and was instrumental in the launch of The High-Impact Leadership Program. She was also responsible for providing conceptual and logistical support for The Leadership Lecture Series. Kristyn joined The Center in August 2010 as the Program Coordinator for the Principals Leadership Development Program (PLDP) and was involved in numerous workshops and engagement opportunities associated with The Center. Prior to joining The Center, Kristyn was Program Coordinator for continuing and professional education programs at Rutgers University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University where she majored in both Journalism and Women and Gender studies. She received her Master of Business Administration from Florida International University in 2013.

Loren Blandon

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director
  • Member of the Board of Advisors
  • GLOBAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of LEARNING and EXPERIENCES, VML
Loren Blandon is the Global Executive Director of Learning and Experiences at advertising powerhouse, VML. She has more than 17 years of experience in human resources and talent management. Loren's fast-growing resume details vast international leadership experience at some of the globe's leading companies, across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and consumer goods. She joined VML in 2016 as the first Regional Chief People Officer for Latin America and was promoted to her current role in 2021. A true advocate of community engagement, Loren maintains a vibrant presence in her hometown of Miami. Her dedication to empowering women in the professional sphere is evident through her leadership in women's professional development organizations, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of female leaders. Loren obtained her Bachelor's degree from Florida State University and a Master's in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from FIU.

Manuel "Manny" Gonzalez

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Advisors
  • President and Founder of Both MGM Consulting
  • PRESIDENT, MGM CONSULTING and MGM CAPITAL
Mr. Gonzalez is President and Founder of both MGM Consulting and MGM Capital. Prior to starting his own companies, Mr. Gonzalez spent twenty-three years in various leadership positions in marketing, sales, operations, and innovation at Procter and Gamble (P&G) in the U.S. and Latin America, including as Corporate Vice President. He was the first Hispanic to reach the vice president level in a US commercial function in P&G's 170 year history. Active in the community, Mr. Gonzalez serves on the board for many organizations including the Board of Advisors for the Center for Leadership at Florida International University where he served as Chair from 2013-2021. He also sits on the Board of Directors for SofBoost, Inc., New America Alliance, and Alfalit International, Inc. In recognition of his dedication to the community, Mr. Gonzalez was awarded the Hispanic Health Leadership Award in 2014 by the National Hispanic Medical Association/National Hispanic Health Foundation at the New York Academy of Medicine in New York, NY. The Hispanic Health Leadership Award is presented to outstanding individuals who have served in significant leadership roles and have improved the health of Hispanics and other underserved populations. Mr. Gonzalez obtained his undergraduate degree from Cornell University where he received the prestigious Irving M. Ives award. He completed his Master's degree at Harvard University, graduating as a Kennedy Fellow and also was a visiting scholar at Pembroke College, Oxford University in England.

Mayra Beers

Job Titles:
  • Founding Member of the Center for Leadership
Dr. Beers previously served as Chief of Staff for FIU President Modesto A. Maidique and as Director of Operations and Founding Associate Corporate Secretary for the FIU Board of Trustees from 2001 until 2009. Prior to her work in the Office of the President, she was a Research Associate for the University President and Provost.

Modesto A. Maidique - President

Job Titles:
  • President

Nathan J. Hiller

Job Titles:
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
  • Professor
Nathan J. Hiller, Ph.D. is Executive Director of the Center for Leadership and Professor in the Department of Global Leadership and Management in the College of Business, where he holds the Ingersoll-Rand Professorship. He is passionate about the connection between the science of leadership and the practice of helping leaders and organizations make small adjustments to maximize leadership capacity. As an academic, Dr. Hiller's focus is on investigating how senior organizational leaders and leadership teams can operate more effectively, finding ways to enhance how leadership scholars investigate and understand leadership, and understanding the ins and outs of collective forms of leadership. His research publications have appeared in most of the top competitive journals in the field, including Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, Personnel Psychology, and The Leadership Quarterly. His work has been cited almost 4000 times by other scholars. He holds or has held editorial board positions at the Journal of Applied Psychology, The Leadership Quarterly, and the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies. He is the recipient of 8 teaching awards and has received several international research awards. In his role at the Center for Leadership at FIU, Dr. Hiller oversees all executive leadership development programs and is the Faculty lead for The Senior Executive Leaders Program, The High Impact Leadership Program, The Leadership Accelerator Program, and an internal FIU program for senior leaders (deans, vice presidents) of the university. As a leadership development practitioner, he has led projects, held grants, and coached and consulted with senior executive teams and leaders from dozens of organizations including: Boston Scientific, Hewlett Packard (HP), the US Secret Service, Bacardi USA, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Hiller has held visiting faculty appointments at Cornell University and the University of Washington (Seattle), and taught a graduate leadership course at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) in Rio de Janeiro. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Calgary and both his M.S. and Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University and has lived in four countries on three continents in ten cities.

Nelson L. Adams

Job Titles:
  • FOUNDING CHAIR ( 2009 - 2013 ), BOARD of ADVISORS, CENTER for LEADERSHIP
Nelson L. Adams, M.D. board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, is a medical leader passionately committed to eliminating racial and ethnic inequality in health. An exceptional achiever, earning high recognition both scholastically and among medical peers, Dr. Adams is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Honorary Doctor of Laws. An esteemed alumnus of Howard University, Dr. Adams earned his Medical Degree at Meharry Medical College in 1978 and completed his four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Emory University in 1982. He is an active member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He founded the Maternal Child Health Initiative (MCHI), an award-winning model for providing care to at-risk, low-income, pregnant women in 1992. Dr. Adams is a past president of the Dade County Medical Association (DCMA). After several years on the board of Trustees of the National Medical Association (NMA) he served as the 107th National President. Dr. Adams has served as the Chairman of the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jackson North Medical Center for several years. He also served as Clinical Professor in the Department of OB/GYN of the College of Medicine of Florida International University (2010-2018). Currently he serves as President of the Medical Staff (Chief of Staff) at Jackson North Medical Center. Additionally, he chairs the Board of Directors of the Sunshine State Health Plan and of Meharry Medical College in Nashville Tennessee.

ODGERS BERNDTSON

Job Titles:
  • PARTNER

Peter Montadas

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Advisors
  • Chairman, BOARD of ADVISORS, CENTER for LEADERSHIP / CO - MANAGING PARTNER, CGI METRO MIAMI ( FORMERLY MOMENTUM CONSULTING CORPORATION )
  • Chairman, BOARD of ADVISORS, CENTER for LEADERSHIP / CO - MANAGING PARTNER, CGI MIAMI METRO
  • Visionary Leader
Peter Montadas, a visionary leader in the tech industry, co-founded Momentum Consulting Corporation and served as its President and Co-CEO. With over 25 years of expertise, Peter has been at the forefront of Digital Transformation, Data Analytics, and Enterprise-Scaled Agile Project Delivery. His innovative approach and strategic leadership played a pivotal role in the evolution and success of Momentum Consulting. Following its significant merger with CGI, a global powerhouse in business and information technology consulting with a valuation of $14 billion, Peter has taken on the role of Co-Managing Partner at the newly established CGI Miami Metro. This position marks a new chapter in his illustrious career, where he continues to drive technological advancements and industry leadership. In recent years, Peter has channeled his expertise into the development of cutting-edge technology solutions, catering to corporate clientele across diverse sectors, including travel, hospitality, retail, and transportation. Beyond his strategic focus, Peter still finds time to play an active role as a client partner, managing key enterprise client accounts, and crafting high-level IT business solutions. His professional journey began as a management consultant for renowned consulting firms including Deloitte and Touche, and SCG, which later merged with Cambridge Technology Partners. An alumnus of The American University in Washington D.C., Peter holds an MBA, and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, majoring in Computer Engineering, from the University of Miami. Peter's career has seen him work with many of America's largest corporations such as Ryder, Burger King Corporation, Citrix, and HBO. He has led international consulting engagements and currently oversees nearshore IT development practices in Central and South America. Before his consultancy era, Peter had a tenure as a project manager for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in Washington D.C., giving him a diverse range of experience that has been invaluable in his leadership roles.

Shannon A. Hanson

Job Titles:
  • Director of Strategy and Implementation for the Center for Leadership
  • DIRECTOR, STRATEGY and IMPLEMENTATION
Shannon A. Hanson is the Director of Strategy and Implementation for the Center for Leadership at Florida International University (the Center). In this role, Dr. Hanson is responsible for overseeing the strategic planning initiatives and all program administration aspects for the Center. She provides leadership and management of the Center's K-12 education programs and partnerships, including overseeing program development and developing relationships with new districts and partners. Dr. Hanson is also responsible for identifying strategic partnerships and the development of new opportunities with public and private sector clients. Dr. Hanson received her Ph.D. in Public Affairs in 2023 from Florida International University. Her research focuses on leadership in the context of public education and more broadly public sector leadership, LMX, LLX, and adaptive leadership. She received a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management in 2011 and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business in 2007. Dr. Hanson has presented her work at the Southeastern Conference for Public Administration and the Carnegie Foundation Summit on the Improvement in Education. She has also served as a speaker and panelist for various education organizations, including The Wallace Foundation and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Before joining the Center in 2011, Dr. Hanson worked as a government contractor at the Department of Health and Human Services and in private sector industries including law, training and education, and government consulting.

Sheryl Velazquez

Job Titles:
  • PROGRAM MANAGER
  • Program Manager at the Center for Leadership
Sheryl Velazquez is the Program Manager at the Center for Leadership at Florida International University (The Center). In this role, Sheryl is responsible for the management and operational oversight of The Center's open-enrollment and custom programs, events, workshops and projects, which includes faculty support, logistics coordination, fiscal management, and evaluating program objectives. Prior to joining the Center, Sheryl served as an Enrollment Coordinator at Nova Southeastern University, where she provided support for the overall management of student enrollment for the institution. While at Nova Southeastern University, she built relationships with current and prospective students through strategic enrollment methods in order to support the University's enrollment goals. Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science and a Master of Science degree in Hospitality Management, both from Florida International University.

Sofia Solorzano

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
  • STUDENT ASSISTANT
Sofia Solorzano is a Student Assistant with The Center for Leadership at Florida International University. She joined The Center in 2021 to assist with the day-to-day operations and provide logistical support for The Center's programs and events. Sofia has prior experience in marketing and business analytics from virtual internships with Lululemon and TaTa enterprises. She developed a strategic plan to draw clients towards new products and calculated the effectiveness of these methods. Sofia is currently a junior at Florida International University. She is working on her degree in business administration with a major in marketing and finance.

Valentina Lujan

Job Titles:
  • COORDINATOR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
  • Coordinator, Administrative Services at the Center for Leadership
Valentina Lujan is a Coordinator, Administrative Services at the Center for Leadership at Florida International University (The Center). Valentina assists in the day-to-day operations and provides administrative support to the Center's directors. She is responsible for financial management support as well as program and event support for the Center's activities. Prior to joining the Center, Valentina served as a Human Resources Generalist at Palmetto General Hospital, where she provided support for the hospital Human Resources department in all functions. In her previous roles Valentina held positions with a focus on sales, customer service, relationship building, and administrative duties. Valentina holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration in International Business from Florida International University.