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:
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
2024 Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
- Staff Royal: Joaklin Raphael, Director, University Foundation and Advancement
- Faculty Royal: Mariana Viera-Navarro, Assistant Professor and Assistant Director, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
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!
FIU Retiree Reunion
On Homecoming Game Day, FIU retirees are invited home for a celebration in their 
honor, the FIU Homecoming 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.
Retiree Event Photo Gallery
Spirit Decorating Competition
For the 2024 Spirit Decorating Competition, the university community was encouraged to celebrate in 305 style by decorating their work areas to show off their Panther pride.
There are three (3) categories that are judged and recognized separately:
- 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.)
- Blue Spirit – Individual departments or offices (e.g. Payroll, Custodial Services, etc.)
- Panther Spirit– This category will focus entirely on the best decorated door around our campuses.
2024 Winning Teams
- Gold Spirit: College of Arts, Sciences & Education
- Blue Spirit: Student Success Operations and Strategy
- Panther Spirit: Patient Client Access
Spirit Decorating Former Winning Teams
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
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
Former Homecoming Faculty & Staff Royalty
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
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