On February 3, 2018, the FIU family lost a committed community leader, philanthropist, and advocate for the arts, Harry B. Smith. For 31 years, he was the husband of Joan Smith, a FIU Foundation BOD Emirata. Joan served on the FIU Foundation’s BOD for 14 years (1994-2008), and she is well known to many of […]
Trustee gets to know Panthers, campus life
Marc D. Sarnoff, a member of the FIU Board of Trustees, spent Feb. 12 in the Graham Center Pit getting to know Panthers on a more personal level. A partner at Shutts & Bowen practicing land use and government relations law and a former City of Miami commissioner, Sarnoff brings 30 years of experience representing the South Florida […]
FIU becomes Knight of the Rural Development Merit Order of Burkina Faso
The Grand Chancery Order of the Office of the President of Burkina Faso has recognized FIU as a Knight of the Rural Development Merit Order. The honor was recently presented to Lakhdar Boukerrou, a research associate professor in the Department of Earth and Environment who oversaw the USAID West Africa-Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (USAID WA-WASH) Program in […]
Celebrating first-generation students
If you meet a student from FIU, there’s a good chance that he or she is a first-generation student. Panthers come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and many of these students come from households where neither parent completed a four-year degree. These students face a unique set of challenges that can range from a lack […]
Major gift by late philanthropist caps 18-year legacy of Wolfsonian support
Palm Beach philanthropist Jean S. Sharf and her late husband, collector and scholar Frederic A. Sharf, have gifted more than 650 items to The Wolfsonian–FIU. A longtime trustee and benefactor of museums across the United States, Fred Sharf initiated the donation in early fall 2017, just a few months before his death in late November. His final […]
CEO of Gates Foundation says FIU health grads inspire her
During the recent winter commencement ceremonies, graduates of the College of Medicine, College of Nursing and College of Public Health & Social Work were inspired by Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Although some in the audience may have been expecting a typical commencement speech, Dr. Desmond-Hellmann flipped the […]
In gratitude: Hats off to those who support FIU in crisis and year-round
“Unprecedented destruction.” These two words have been spoken frequently by government officials, aide workers and news anchors during the past couple of months. Between hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as the earthquake in Mexico and wildfires on the Pacific Coast, natural disasters have created great need for aid in the United States and […]
Thousands of Panthers ‘invade the bay’ to support FIU football
Regardless of the game’s final outcome, a trip to the Gasparilla Bowl allowed Panther Nation to show its FIU pride on the road and revel in a great season. It also made for a great excuse to enjoy the company of other blue-and-gold groupies and reconnect with old friends. More than 2,000 Panthers — students, […]
New traditions set foundation for future football success
It has been a fun ride to the Gasparilla Bowl for the FIU football team. The Panthers exceeded expectations and tied a program record for wins in a season (8). They have a chance to set a benchmark for future FIU teams if they beat the Temple Owls in the Gasparilla Bowl in St. Petersburg on […]
Gasparilla Bowl a homecoming for several football players
Alex McGough was sleeping when the news came. A day after their regular season ended, the whole team waited to find out where they were going to play their bowl game. The wait took a little longer than expected, and the senior quarterback decided to take a nap late Sunday afternoon after a team meeting. […]