FIU College of Arts, Sciences & Education alumnus Leonel Garcia ’17 is one proud panther. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, his connection to FIU runs deep and it’s a family affair — his older and younger brother also graduated from FIU. As first-generation college students, FIU was the place they all chose to lay the groundwork for their future success.
The Path from High School to FIU
During his time at Southwest Senior High School in Miami, Garcia was a dedicated student-athlete. He competed on the swimming and water polo teams and served as captain of both during his junior and senior years. Sports played a key role in his high school journey and taught him many valuable life lessons he still carries with him today. He credits his athletic coaches with instilling the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance — qualities that continue to shape him personally and professionally.
Academically, Garcia’s interest in psychology began in his junior year of high school after taking an Honors Psychology class. Eager to learn more, he went on to enroll in a college-level Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology class in his senior year. This college-level course deepened his passion for the field and set him on the path towards immediately declaring psychology as his major of choice once he arrived at FIU. The stage was set for a bright future ahead.
The Power of Mentorship
As a freshman at FIU, Garcia shared his first year on campus with his older brother, then a senior, who became an important source of guidance and support during these key formative years.
“When I received my acceptance letter to FIU, we were all excited, and he immediately invited me to tour the Maidique Campus with him,” Garcia said. “He took me around the whole campus and showed me the ropes.”
Throughout his time at FIU, Garcia also came across some great professors that guided and mentored him while in pursuit of his psychology degree. One in particular stands out for him — Professor Adam Ventura.
Professor Ventura is an FIU alumnus and adjunct professor in FIU’s psychology department, specializing in applied behavior analysis (ABA). He is also a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA).
“Professor Ventura is the one who led me towards my career in applied behavioral analysis. During my sophomore year at FIU, I took his “Intro to Applied Behavioral Analysis” course and I loved it. He was great at explaining ABA principles and relating them to real-world scenarios,” said Garcia.
The Applied Behavior Analysis Track at FIU is great for students interested in applying the principles of behavior analysis to a wide range of socially significant behaviors, including working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Students who complete the ABA track meet the degree and coursework requirements to sit for the Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) exam — creating an immediate link from degree to career upon graduation.
Life-changing Upward Social Mobility Powered by FIU
Additionally, Professor Ventura mentored Garcia beyond the classroom and served as the catalyst for his upward mobility as a first-generation college student.
“Professor Ventura also gave me the opportunity to work in his private practice as a registered behavior technician (RBT) — the first critical steppingstone in a career in the ABA field. It was also my first time working with children with autism. From there, my career took off,” said Garcia.
FIU is ranked #1 in upward economic mobility by U.S. News & World Report. This top ranking is a testament to the life-changing power of an FIU education. Garcia is the perfect example of a first-generation college student who has experienced upward mobility powered by FIU.
After graduating from FIU in 2017, Garcia secured his Board Certified Assistant Behavioral Analyst certification and continued his graduate studies at Florida Institute of Technology where he pursued a master’s degree in professional behavioral analysis. He then became a Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst.
Today, Garcia finds himself immersed in a rewarding career. He is the Clinical Director for Prism Early Learning Center in Miami, Florida — a specialized treatment facility providing ABA therapy and early autism intervention services. In addition, he also launched his own ABA therapy practice, Behavior Brand, dedicated to helping children diagnosed with autism and a variety of behavioral disorders. The sky is the limit for this proud, first-generation panther.
To learn more about how to support first-generation college students at FIU visit the first-generation initiatives website.