FIU celebrated the graduation of nearly 5,000 students during summer commencement ceremonies from August 4–7. This season’s graduates are driving innovation, breaking barriers, and turning challenges into opportunities, making their mark across science, technology, medicine, and beyond.
This summer’s graduates represented every college across the university, including standout stories from the College of Engineering & Computing — such as a computer engineer helping the visually impaired “see” and an environmental innovator using AI to predict floods and improve global weather forecasting.
“Our FIU graduates are innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers,” said FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez. “They carry the spirit of FIU into every field –science, health, technology, and beyond. Their education has prepared them to think boldly, act with integrity, and create meaningful change. We are proud of their accomplishments and confident they will make a lasting impact on the world.”
All commencement ceremonies were held at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, located at FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus at 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, 33199.
Gabriel Habech, 22, is on a mission to redefine accessibility through technology. As the founder of Fovionics, he is developing smart glasses designed to empower individuals with visual impairments. These glasses can read text, provide navigational guidance, and offer immersive haptic feedback for real-time object detection. With support from StartUP FIU, Habech has combined his expertise in electrical engineering with cutting-edge AI to bring this innovative solution to market. A participant in Techstars, one of the world’s leading tech accelerators, he has raised investment to build a product that merges AI with haptic technology, enhancing spatial awareness and independence for the visually impaired. Habech received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the College of Engineering and Computing on Thursday, August 7, at 10 a.m.
Driven by a belief that technology should serve humanity's greatest needs, Jimeng Shi, 32, represents the next generation of researchers using cutting-edge AI to protect communities and the environment. Shi has dedicated his research to developing artificial intelligence tools that tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges. Working under the guidance of Professor Giri Narasimhan and supported by National Science Foundation funding, he has focused on creating AI systems that can predict and help manage natural disasters. His work has particular relevance for South Florida, where he developed an AI model to better predict flooding in the region's complex canal system during storms. Beyond flood prediction, Shi also has created advanced weather forecasting models that could improve global weather prediction capabilities. His groundbreaking research has been published in prestigious academic journals and will be presented at the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence in a track dedicated to "AI for Social Good." Shi, a student in the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences, graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from the College of Engineering & Computing on Thursday, August 7, at 10 a.m.
Read more at FIU News .