FIUstrong: Providing emergency relief for students during the pandemic

The university is raising funds for students suffering financially during the health crisis. –For FIU Magazine When FIU student Gabriella Llaña lost her job during the pandemic, she feared she might lose her apartment, too. Living alone, she wasn’t sure how she would afford rent. With support from the FIUstrong disaster relief initiative, the university […]

Professors receive NSF grant to develop app to mitigate impact of COVID-19

–By Diana Hernandez-Alende for FIU News The health care system has been impacted significantly due to the rapidly growing number of COVID-19 cases. A shortage of basic medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical technology has been a major challenge for health care professionals around the world.  Researchers from the College of Engineering & Computing […]

Doctoral student is Miami-Dade’s new Principal of the Year

–By Chrystian Tejedor for FIU News Rafael Villalobos was determined to make a difference. He thought he could do that by pursuing a career in law enforcement, so he earned a degree in criminal justice. Then Villalobos noticed how warm and kind teachers and staff were to his younger brother, who was blind and on […]

Science of memory could improve COVID-19 contact tracing

–By Ayleen Barbel Fattal for FIU News FIU researchers are studying how to improve contact tracing by tapping into people’s memory. Psychologists Deborah Goldfarb, Jacqueline Evans and Ronald Fisher are leading a new study funded by an NSF Rapid Response grant to identify a more effective way to conduct contact tracing. The FIU team will test whether memory for contacts can be […]

Computing professor creates dashboard for COVID-19 prediction, visualization

–By Diana Hernandez-Alende for FIU News Organizations around the world have created coronavirus-tracking tools to monitor COVID-19 cases through real-time analytics. An FIU professor, who specializes in theoretical optimization and learning algorithms, and his research team at FIU, have created a dashboard that can predict the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 using data analytics. The tool, created […]

STAR Center recruited by Florida National Guard to train medical personnel for COVID-19 field hospital

–For FIU News Hurricane preparedness. Earthquake response. Airlift evacuations. The FIU Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences and STAR Center can now add COVID-19 field training to its repertoire of emergency and disaster management support. Earlier this month, the Florida National Guard tapped educators from the College and Center to prepare medical personnel to man the 450-bed […]

NeighborhoodHELP: The job of helping our community goes on despite COVID-19

–By Ileana Varela for FIU News When she opened the door and saw the two women standing there looking like a hazmat crew—face mask, face shield, gown, gloves—Nelly Iturregui couldn’t help but laugh. “She said, doctora? Then she put her hand to her mouth and started giggling. We all laughed,” said Jessica Oliveira, a physician assistant […]

Hospitality employees give thanks for financial help during pandemic

–By Ivonne Amor for FIU News Alex Kuk couldn’t stop smiling when the mailman dropped off his mail. In the stack of letters and bills addressed to his restaurant, Temple Street Eatery in Fort Lauderdale, was a ray of hope in the form of a check from FIU. “Literally, I think we were just jumping […]

FIU expands 3D-printed PPE initiative to local fire-rescue departments with gift from alumnus, President’s Council member

FIU’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts has expanded its initiative to produce 3D-printed personal protective equipment (PPE) for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Supported by a gift from FIU President’s Council member Angela Martinez and FIU alumnus Raul Chavez ’80, the college 3D-printed 1,000 protective face shields for local fire-rescue departments. […]

Richard Brilliant MS ’93: Helping Students Chart a Course for Success

–By Clara-Meretan Kiah for FIU News As part of the Next Horizon “crew,” Richard Brilliant MS ’93 plays an integral role in the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaign. He and his employer, Carnival Corporation, have for years helped pilot the ship at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, where they have contributed expertise and […]