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From a top executive overseeing some of the busiest roadways in the nation to a pair of computer engineers that are being labeled as “game changers” at a global tech giant and a mechanical engineer who is working to enhance the continued exploration of the final frontier, Panthers are making a difference in the world we live in and beyond.

New executive director of Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX)

Darlene Fernandez '06 is applying her engineering prowess and leadership skills to improve transportation through innovation in Miami-Dade County, Florida. She was hired as head of MDX in March, making her the first female to hold the position. Fernandez holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and transportation/traffic engineering from FIU.

Darlene FIU alum

From Colombia to FIU to NASA

With an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, Sara Rengifo '13 moved to the United States from Medellin, Colombia, hoping to start her career. Although she did not speak English and was told repeatedly that her degree was inconsequential here, she never gave up. Her determination led her to FIU to pursue a master's degree in materials science. Her degree catapulted her to a career with NASA, where today she is an aerospace engineer working in tribology and metrology.

FIU class project leads to a career at Texas Instruments

Felipe Diaz-Cruz '13, MS '14, and his classmates shrank a Texas Instrument (TI) system from the size of an older PC to that of a home phone. His work caught the attention of TI recruiters. Today, Diaz-Cruz is a rising star at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas. He received a bachelor's degree in 2013 and a master's degree in 2014 in electrical engineering from FIU.

Shalisha and Shonda Witherspoon FIU alumni

FIU twins win most promising engineer award

Identical twins Shalisha and Shonda Witherspoon '16 and MS '18 are dual recipients of one of the computer engineering industries' most notable honors for young professionals, the Most Promising Engineer award. While at FIU, the two shared the Best Undergraduate Student of the Year award when they graduated with their bachelor's degrees in 2016. They went on to receive their master's from FIU in 2018. The Witherspoons are software engineers at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center in New York, working on distributed artificial intelligence and machine learning projects. They credit FIU for the education and opportunities afforded them.

Industry Partnerships

Industry partners are critical to the College of Engineering and Computing’s efforts to graduate professionals who are prepared for the world that awaits them.

  • Construction program helps underserved community

    FIU construction student using saw

    The Certificate Program on Construction Trades at FIU’s Moss Department of Construction Management has helped change many lives. The free program, funded by the Lennar Foundation, is designed to provide underserved community members with the skills needed to succeed in the construction industry—offering food, transportation and the opportunity to speak to employers.

  • Innovation presented at Senior Design Showcase

    FIU Senior Design Showcase

    In Spring 2022, an estimated 400 engineering and computing students, consisting of 135 teams, participated in a Senior Design Showcase hosted by the College of Engineering and Computing. Students presented their projects to professors, recruiters, peers, the community and industry giants such as MITRE, Mastec, Blue Origin, and Skanska. The projects covered several engineering and computing disciplines and are a highlight of all engineering students’ senior year.

  • Kaseya helps build Miami's techforce

    Kaseya partnership

    Kaseya, one of the hottest tech companies to work for right now, has partnered with FIU to create a workforce pipeline and ensure graduates are entering the job market with the skills needed to succeed. Kaseya participated in the College of Engineering and Computing's Senior Capstone and mentored four student teams, assigning them four real-world challenges to see how they’d solve them. The students even received the opportunity to have their ideas implemented within the company.

Growing Miami's tech ecosystem

FIU is a driver of the new South Florida tech boom. With a history of turning out highly qualified graduates who have laid a foundation for the growing industry, the university is redoubling efforts to meet the demands of an exciting, unprecedented era.

FIU alumni invigorated by growing tech talent in Miami

Though Miami’s major industries continue to be tourism and finance, the city is emerging as an international tech hub. Talent cultivated locally sees this as an opportunity to spotlight the long-established successes of FIU students and alumni. A recent $10 million gift from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to FIU’s School of Computing and Information Sciences further acknowledges the tech expertise at FIU ready to take the tech movement in Miami to the next level.