Empower - Recognition and Worlds Ahead Ideas
At FIU our people are everything! Our faculty and staff go above and beyond to provide service excellence for our community – this is what makes us stand out as a Great College to Work For®.
As ambassadors of service excellence, we embrace “Empower” as our e-platform to exchange peer-to-peer recognition and appreciation for one another. This tool will provide our faculty and staff an opportunity to send FIU branded congratulatory messages to their co-workers for a job well done, personal and career milestones, and other custom messages. This is your chance to share gratitude and words of encouragement in real FIU style!
Log in to empower.fiu.edu and get started today.
Service & Recognition Awards
Each year, the FIU community comes together to celebrate and acknowledge esteemed staff and faculty members for their remarkable accomplishments and dedicated years of service at our FIU Service and Recognition Awards. For information regarding our next award ceremony, be sure to review the HR News & Updates biweekly newsletters.
Check out the video testimonial that highlights the FIU Experience.
Service & Recognition Awards Highlights
Service & Recognition Awards Programs
2024 Service & Recognition Awards
2023 Service & Recognition Awards
- 2023 Recognition Awards Recipients
- 2023 Recognition Awards Recipient Highlights
- 2023 Service and Recognition Awards Ceremony Video
- Service and Recognition Awards Ceremony Images
Archive of Service & Recognition Awards
2022 Service & Recognition Awards
- 2022 Recognition Awards Recipients
- 2022 Recognition Awards Ceremony – Recipient Highlights
- 2022 Virtual Recognition Awards Ceremony
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 5 Year Service Recipients
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 10 & 15 Year Service Recipients
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 20-50 Year Service Recipients
- Service and Recognition Awards Celebration Images
2021 Service & Recognition Awards
- 2021 Recognition Awards Ceremony – Recipient Highlights
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 5 Year Service Recipients
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 10 Year Service Recipients
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 15 Year Service Recipients
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 20 & 25 Year Service Recipients
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 30-45 Year Service Recipients
- 2021 Virtual Recognition Awards Ceremony
2020 Service & Recognition Awards
- 2020 Recognition Award Recipients
- 2020 Recognition Awards – Recipient Highlights
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 5-15 Year Service Recipients
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 20 & 25 Year Service Recipients
- Service Awards Celebration, Honoring 30-45 Year Service Recipients
- 2020 Virtual Recognition Award Ceremony – Highlight
- 2020 Virtual Recognition Awards Ceremony
2019 Service & Recognition Awards
2018 Service & Recognition Awards
2017 Service & Recognition Awards
2016 Service & Recognition Awards
2014 Service & Recognition Awards
HR Relations
Trudy Fernandez
Director, HR Relations
Director, FIU Retiree Association
Division of Human Resources
Modesto A. Maidique Campus | PC-224
11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199
Phone: (305) 348-0101
Email: hrrel@fiu.edu
Appreciation Events
At FIU, we embrace every chance to express gratitude to our exceptional faculty, staff, and retirees who make a remarkable difference. Your steadfast commitment to serving our students and community is what truly makes FIU a great place to work. For this, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to YOU!
What better way to applaud and acknowledge your efforts than through our signature appreciation events? We invite you to join us as we gather to celebrate in true Panther fashion! We look forward to seeing you there!
Trudy Fernandez
Director, HR Relations
Director, FIU Retiree Association
Division of Human Resources
Modesto A. Maidique Campus | PC-224
11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199
Phone: (305) 348-0101
Email: hrrel@fiu.edu
FIU Homecoming
Homecoming has been a long-standing tradition embraced by our FIU workforce and community. The weeklong event gives alumni an opportunity to reconnect with their alma mater and for students, faculty, staff and retirees to showcase their Panther spirit and pride.
Explore below to learn about our faculty, staff, and retiree traditions:
Spirit Decorating Competition
For the 2023 Spirit Decorating Competition, the university community was encouraged to “Fire Up Your Roar” by decorating their work areas to show off their Panther pride.
There are three (3) categories that are judged and recognized separately:
1) Gold Spirit – Entries comprised of more than one department, such as an entire college or division. (e.g. College of Arts, Sciences & Education, Division of Human Resources, etc.)
2) Blue Spirit – Individual departments or offices (e.g. Payroll, Custodial Services, etc.)
3) Panther Spirit– This category will focus entirely on the best decorated door around our campuses.
2023 Winning Teams
- Gold Spirit: College of Arts, Sciences & Education
- Blue Spirit: Student Health & Wellness Department
- Panther Spirit: Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences Student Services
Check out all of the 2023 entries
Former Winning Teams
2022 Winning Teams
- Gold Spirit: College of Arts, Sciences & Education
- Blue Spirit: Student Health & Wellness
- Panther Spirit: Center for Academic Success
2021 Winning Teams
- Gold Spirit: College of Arts, Sciences & Education
- Blue Spirit: Student Health & Wellness Department
- Blue Spirit Runner Up: FIU at I-75
Check out all of the 2021 entries
2020 Winning Teams
- Gold: Facilities Management Department Custodial Services
- Blue: Athletic Training Services
- Home Workspace: Ximena Cuadra, Program Specialist, Human Resources
Check out all of the 2020 entries.
2019 Winning Teams
- Gold: College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
- Blue: College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts , Office of the Dean
- Door: HR Relations
Check out all of the 2019 entries.
2018 Winning Teams
- Gold: College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
- Blue: FIU at I-75
- Door: Office of the Provost, Planning & Finance
Check out all of the 2018 entries.
2017 Winning Teams
- Gold: College of Communication, Architecture + the Arts
- Blue: Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs – Dean’s Office
- Door: Office of Auxiliary and Enterprise Development
Check out all of the 2017 entries.
2016 Winning Teams
- Gold: College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
- Blue: Office of Residential Life
- Door: Office of Regional Academic Locations & Institutional Development
Watch a video of all the 2016 entries.
2015 Winning Teams
- Gold: College of Education
- Blue: Children’s Creative Learning Center and Student Health Services
- Door: Office of Financial Planning
Watch a video of all the 2015 entries.
2014 Winning Teams
- First: College of Education
- Second: Student Health Services
- Third: External Relations & Housing
Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
To earn the title of Homecoming Faculty Royal and Homecoming Staff Royal, candidates who are nominated in the fun-spirited peer recognition competition, must exhibit the highest caliber of good citizenship as an ambassador of FIU. Our royal highnesses participate in special community events throughout the year
2023 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Staff Royal: Natalia R. Cordero | Admissions Recruiter I, Office of Admissions, Enrollment Services
Faculty Royal: James M. Sutton | Associate Professor, Department of English, College of Arts, Sciences and Education and Faculty Fellow, Honors College
Former Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
2022 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Faculty Royal: Anjana Mishra | Assistant Teaching Professor, Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Staff Royal: Jaime A. Weiser | Residential Life Coordinator, Department of Housing and Residential Life
2021 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Staff Royal: Felisha N. McKnight | Officer, University Police
Faculty Royal: Michael Cheng | Dean, Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
2020 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Melanie M. Rodriguez, Special Events Manager, Event Protocol & Community Relations, External Relations, Strategic Communications & Marketing
Luis A. Garibaldi, Academic Advisor for Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing
2019 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Margi Rentis, Multimedia Producer, Marketing and New Media, External Relations, Strategic Communications & Marketing
David Drucker, Staff Writer, Marketing and New Media, External Relations, Strategic Communications & Marketing
2018 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Valeria P. Espina, Executive Administrator and Associate Facilitator for the Strategic Plan, Office of the President
Jose M. Toscano, Director of Campus Life, Division of Student Affairs
2017 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Juliette S. Saint-Louis, Academic Advisor II, College of Communication, Architecture + the Arts
Brocdyl J. Porta, Director of Student Services, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
2016 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Cindy Lopez, Enrollment Processing Associate, Transfer and Transition Services
William Perez, Police Service Technician, Library Operations
2015 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
Eva Frank, Instructor, College of Education
Charlie Blackwell, HVAC Refrigeration Mechanic, Facilities Management
2014 Homecoming Founding Faculty & Staff Royalty
Brenezza DaParre Garcia, Assistant Vice President, Institutional Relations
Tim D. Birrittella, Senior Instructor, COB Department of Marketing and Logistics
Panthers Got Talent
FIU students, faculty, staff and retirees are invited to share their talents center-stage at our traditional Panther’s Got Talent. Check out images from last year’s show!
Roaring Spirit Bake-off
As a new Homecoming tradition, the Roaring Spirit Bake-off encourages our faculty and staff to get creative in the kitchen by whipping up something sweet.
With each passing year, we will add your tasty entries to our Roaring Spirit Bake-off Recipe Book. Check back each year for new additions!
2021 Roaring Spirit Bake-off Champion
Bridget Cram, Assistant Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs
FIU Retiree Reunion
During this reunion, guests have an opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues, participate in many of the exciting Homecoming festivities and enjoy a delectable lunch hosted by our president.
Event Photo Gallery
President's Holiday Celebration
During the holiday season, our president brings the university together to thank and celebrate our outstanding workforce for their many accomplishments and contributions. In conjunction with this event, the President’s Holiday Toy Drive generates a bountiful collection of toys to bring joy and good cheer to children in our local and neighboring communities.
Event Photo Gallery
Bring Your Child to Work Day
Each year faculty and staff are invited to participate in Bring Your Child to Work Day with their children, ages 8 to 18. Through a full day of enriching activities, this event exposes our future Panthers to a broad range of educational avenues at FIU, as well as an opportunity to provide children with insights on how your important role contributes to the overall success of our outstanding university. This event takes place every spring. Stay tuned to our HR News & Updates biweekly newsletter for more info!
FIU’s Bring Your Child to Work Day has proven to be an impactful event, sparking curiosity and igniting passions in many young participants, guiding them towards discovering their interests and potential career paths.
Meet Vanessa Berrios
During the 2023 Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences Pinning Ceremony, Vanessa reminisced on her memories from when she attended the 2014 Bring Your Child to Work Day event. In her remarks, she mentions how this event triggered her interest in nursing and inspired her to pursue her nursing degree at FIU.
Watch the video below to hear Vanessa’s inspiring journey and discover how a single event sparked the beginning of her passion for healthcare.
2024 Bring Your Child to Work Day
Journey through the activity gallery below for quick look into the 2024 event.
Event Photo Gallery