Monica Smith

UHealth Collective • 21st May 2024

Alumnus Owes his Life to the University - UHealth Collective

About three years ago, Chris Cunningham ’97 bought a brick on the Love Bridge near the wellness center on campus. It was a Valentine’s Day surprise for his wife of 26 years, whom he met as an undergraduate in 1994. She was a nursing student. He was an English major. The brick is a public remembrance that will stand the test of time.

“That’s going to be there forever because that’s where we met — that’s where we fell in love, and here I am, just a few yards away from there, getting life-saving m...

22nd February 2023

Florida International University Online Website

With 25 years’ experience in online education, FIU Online provides you with the opportunity to earn more than a degree. It’s your future. Discover how online learning helped our grads achieve their goals. With a student body of nearly 54,000, we are among the top 10 largest universities in the nation and have collectively graduated more than 200,000 alumni in 33 countries. FIU is a South Florida anchor institution and a solutions center for the world’s toughest challenges. Our teaching is delive

FIU News • 2nd February 2023

Professor uses high-tech tools to teach students how to conserve Florida's natural habitat

Rodolfo Rego, an associate professor at the Department of Earth and Environment, is passionate about geology — and about helping students learn how they can preserve the beauty of Florida's natural habitats. Raised in South Florida, Rego grew up in the Keys and he’s constantly looking for ways to help the state of Florida and the nation with the things he teaches in his courses, which are used to fulfill the university core curricula undergrad requirement. “South Florida is something that I’ve a

FIU News • 1st December 2022

Alumnus improves systems and inventory as non-stop building in Florida has many manufacturers depleted of capacity

Where Ruben Terrazas sits at his computer, the job is clear—make sure all the stops are removed, clear the pathways to ensure inventory goes to where it’s needed and keep supply channels coming in with resources to keep the business going.

As vice president of the integrated supply chain at Titan America, Terrazas is concerned with logistics. He manages the flow of products to clients up and down Florida; the explosive residential development in the last year, he says, has provided a backlog of

FIU News • 27th October 2022

Alumna broadcaster survived breast cancer, spreads awareness and is living her dream

Priscilla Ferreyra both beat cancer and graduated from FIU in 2020. This was her second degree from FIU as Ferreyra completed her bachelor’s degree in communication arts in 2018. It wasn’t an easy journey, she said, but despite the diagnosis, she earned her bachelor’s degree and was even more determined to complete her master’s in journalism and mass media. Now she’s finally living her dream as a multimedia journalist for Telemundo in Chicago.

“Being a news reporter was always a dream of mine.

FIU News • 19th October 2022

Alumnus, founder of top-notch tech company shares journey, tips

When Jason Dettbarn completed his FIU bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2002, he worked in the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences and co-created a campus wide platform called AIRS (automated IP registration system). The platform managed the connectivity of every computer and phone across all FIU campuses. The system was used for about 15 years and was the backbone for technology on campus.

After earning his master’s degree in computer science in 2013 and worki

FIU News • 13th September 2022

FIU Online commissions alumna for 'Beautifully Miami’ artwork

The FIU Online Born of the 305 campaign was first conceived in 2019 as a celebration of the university’s ties to its community, diversity and the people of South Florida—all of which give DiBartolomeo great pride as she builds on a metaphor for her Beautifully Miami piece.

The metaphor goes deep, DiBartolomeo feels. Cafecitos bring people together—we all know that time of day, whether at home or at work, when the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air and cups are passed around—most every

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Reimagining a comeback: How hospitality is forging a sustainable future

There’s a certain clarity that comes with every crisis.

As the world emerges from the dizzying changes and tests of leadership that came with COVID-19, it’s clear that organizations must remain agile in response to an ever-evolving world while at the same time minding their revenues. What’s also certain—while the environmental impact from business-as-usual continues to dominate headlines, the consumer whisper for a more sustainable and equitable future has grown to a full yell.

In the wake of

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Digital attacks fuel the need for network security experts

Cyberattacks are surging in all categories of the digital sphere and are likely to become more frequent and damaging, says Alexander Perez-Pons, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

With high profile attacks on network management company SolarWinds; the Colonial Pipeline; meat processing company JBS; and software firm Kaseya the urgency for professionals who can counteract, contain and even prevent network breaches has moved to the forefront, highlightin

FIU News • 13th September 2022

New degree trains English instructors to teach in challenging areas of the world

English is the language of global communication and commerce. It’s also, more and more, the language of education and allows people, regardless of where they are in the world, to have access to opportunities, says Eric Dwyer, associate professor of Teaching and Learning with the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education.

Dwyer has traveled all over the world. He was a Fulbright scholar to Rwanda in 2010 and traveled to Afghanistan in 2014 as a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TES

FIU News • 13th September 2022

New online bachelor’s degree feeds the food industry with well-steeped graduates

Professor Imran Ahmad says nothing beats a great steak. He constantly thinks about food. It’s his passion, his canvas and his expertise. As a food researcher, he’s studied all things edible down to their minute particles. From nutrition, packaging, safety and innovation, Ahmad’s decades of “marinating” in the science of food provided him with the drive to create a new online degree for the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management: the B.S. in Hospitality Management: Food Innovation a

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Master’s degree is redefining the future of education through curriculum and instruction

As much as education has evolved, there is still much to be done to address persistent disparities in learning among students in the K-6 arena.

According to Maria Tsalikis, associate teaching professor for the College of Arts and Sciences & Education, to counteract the pandemic’s effects on grade-school children, the deficit in community involvement, and to help support children overcome achievement gaps, the fully online M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction: Elementary Education track teaches stud

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Specialized master’s degree prepares students for transformation of mega-events

From the Super Bowl to the Olympics and concerts to political conventions, mega-events are evolving faster than ever to satisfy the demand and need for safety. At the same time, the level of creativity and technology-infused has upped the ante for more creatively designed, immersive and emotive experiences that delight event-goers and keep drawing crowds.

“Mega-events are not going away,” says FIU hospitality management Professor Dan Cormany of the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Mana

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Transforming Coral Gables into model smart city

Raimundo Rodulfo '16 and his team are on the verge of helping the City of Coral Gables' administration roll out citywide electronic processes and a high-tech, new development service center off Biltmore Way, which will be a one-stop shop for all permitting, code enforcement, planning and zoning needs. It’s part of a broad campaign to modernize the city’s systems—a task that Rodulfo and the city’s leaders have been working toward for years.

The FIU graduate loves to find new ways to make life

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Computer engineers crucial to network security

With the Internet of Things, hand-held devices and remote work options — the future is going to be even more replete with technology than before. At the same time, the need for professionals who can provide seamless, secure experiences will be even greater, explains Alexander Perez-Pons, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

“It’s going to be wonderful, one day, when we have autonomous vehicles. They're going to be communicating with each other and with v

FIU News • 13th September 2022

FIU launches world’s first master’s track in cruise line operations

When he thought of creating the 12-month M.S. in Hospitality Management: Cruise Line Operations track, Joseph Cilli, department chair and director of distance learning for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, envisioned it as a “flag in the sand” to make the cruise line industry synonymous with FIU.

“We are leveraging the university’s deep connections within the cruise industry for this first-of-its-kind specialization, and we certainly have the embedded industry partners to

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Arg! FIU professor teaches American literature class on pirates

For College of Arts, Sciences & Education English Assistant Professor Mark Kelley, there’s nothing as exhilarating as being out on the water—the feeling of freedom, the vastness, the intrigue of the horizon—all of it does something to him that is hard to explain in words. He stokes this intrigue and love of early American history through his studies on the writings of some of our nation’s earliest sailors—pirates.

“Pirates are really fascinating because they are very fun and extremely frighteni

22nd February 2023

Florida International University Online Website

With 25 years’ experience in online education, FIU Online provides you with the opportunity to earn more than a degree. It’s your future. Discover how online learning helped our grads achieve their goals. With a student body of nearly 54,000, we are among the top 10 largest universities in the nation and have collectively graduated more than 200,000 alumni in 33 countries. FIU is a South Florida anchor institution and a solutions center for the world’s toughest challenges. Our teaching is delive

FIU News • 2nd February 2023

Professor uses high-tech tools to teach students how to conserve Florida's natural habitat

Rodolfo Rego, an associate professor at the Department of Earth and Environment, is passionate about geology — and about helping students learn how they can preserve the beauty of Florida's natural habitats. Raised in South Florida, Rego grew up in the Keys and he’s constantly looking for ways to help the state of Florida and the nation with the things he teaches in his courses, which are used to fulfill the university core curricula undergrad requirement. “South Florida is something that I’ve a

FIU News • 1st December 2022

Alumnus improves systems and inventory as non-stop building in Florida has many manufacturers depleted of capacity

Where Ruben Terrazas sits at his computer, the job is clear—make sure all the stops are removed, clear the pathways to ensure inventory goes to where it’s needed and keep supply channels coming in with resources to keep the business going.

As vice president of the integrated supply chain at Titan America, Terrazas is concerned with logistics. He manages the flow of products to clients up and down Florida; the explosive residential development in the last year, he says, has provided a backlog of

FIU News • 27th October 2022

Alumna broadcaster survived breast cancer, spreads awareness and is living her dream

Priscilla Ferreyra both beat cancer and graduated from FIU in 2020. This was her second degree from FIU as Ferreyra completed her bachelor’s degree in communication arts in 2018. It wasn’t an easy journey, she said, but despite the diagnosis, she earned her bachelor’s degree and was even more determined to complete her master’s in journalism and mass media. Now she’s finally living her dream as a multimedia journalist for Telemundo in Chicago.

“Being a news reporter was always a dream of mine.

FIU News • 19th October 2022

Alumnus, founder of top-notch tech company shares journey, tips

When Jason Dettbarn completed his FIU bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2002, he worked in the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences and co-created a campus wide platform called AIRS (automated IP registration system). The platform managed the connectivity of every computer and phone across all FIU campuses. The system was used for about 15 years and was the backbone for technology on campus.

After earning his master’s degree in computer science in 2013 and worki

FIU News • 13th September 2022

FIU Online commissions alumna for 'Beautifully Miami’ artwork

The FIU Online Born of the 305 campaign was first conceived in 2019 as a celebration of the university’s ties to its community, diversity and the people of South Florida—all of which give DiBartolomeo great pride as she builds on a metaphor for her Beautifully Miami piece.

The metaphor goes deep, DiBartolomeo feels. Cafecitos bring people together—we all know that time of day, whether at home or at work, when the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air and cups are passed around—most every

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Reimagining a comeback: How hospitality is forging a sustainable future

There’s a certain clarity that comes with every crisis.

As the world emerges from the dizzying changes and tests of leadership that came with COVID-19, it’s clear that organizations must remain agile in response to an ever-evolving world while at the same time minding their revenues. What’s also certain—while the environmental impact from business-as-usual continues to dominate headlines, the consumer whisper for a more sustainable and equitable future has grown to a full yell.

In the wake of

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Digital attacks fuel the need for network security experts

Cyberattacks are surging in all categories of the digital sphere and are likely to become more frequent and damaging, says Alexander Perez-Pons, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

With high profile attacks on network management company SolarWinds; the Colonial Pipeline; meat processing company JBS; and software firm Kaseya the urgency for professionals who can counteract, contain and even prevent network breaches has moved to the forefront, highlightin

FIU News • 13th September 2022

New degree trains English instructors to teach in challenging areas of the world

English is the language of global communication and commerce. It’s also, more and more, the language of education and allows people, regardless of where they are in the world, to have access to opportunities, says Eric Dwyer, associate professor of Teaching and Learning with the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education.

Dwyer has traveled all over the world. He was a Fulbright scholar to Rwanda in 2010 and traveled to Afghanistan in 2014 as a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TES

FIU News • 13th September 2022

New online bachelor’s degree feeds the food industry with well-steeped graduates

Professor Imran Ahmad says nothing beats a great steak. He constantly thinks about food. It’s his passion, his canvas and his expertise. As a food researcher, he’s studied all things edible down to their minute particles. From nutrition, packaging, safety and innovation, Ahmad’s decades of “marinating” in the science of food provided him with the drive to create a new online degree for the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management: the B.S. in Hospitality Management: Food Innovation a

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Master’s degree is redefining the future of education through curriculum and instruction

As much as education has evolved, there is still much to be done to address persistent disparities in learning among students in the K-6 arena.

According to Maria Tsalikis, associate teaching professor for the College of Arts and Sciences & Education, to counteract the pandemic’s effects on grade-school children, the deficit in community involvement, and to help support children overcome achievement gaps, the fully online M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction: Elementary Education track teaches stud

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Specialized master’s degree prepares students for transformation of mega-events

From the Super Bowl to the Olympics and concerts to political conventions, mega-events are evolving faster than ever to satisfy the demand and need for safety. At the same time, the level of creativity and technology-infused has upped the ante for more creatively designed, immersive and emotive experiences that delight event-goers and keep drawing crowds.

“Mega-events are not going away,” says FIU hospitality management Professor Dan Cormany of the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Mana

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Transforming Coral Gables into model smart city

Raimundo Rodulfo '16 and his team are on the verge of helping the City of Coral Gables' administration roll out citywide electronic processes and a high-tech, new development service center off Biltmore Way, which will be a one-stop shop for all permitting, code enforcement, planning and zoning needs. It’s part of a broad campaign to modernize the city’s systems—a task that Rodulfo and the city’s leaders have been working toward for years.

The FIU graduate loves to find new ways to make life

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Computer engineers crucial to network security

With the Internet of Things, hand-held devices and remote work options — the future is going to be even more replete with technology than before. At the same time, the need for professionals who can provide seamless, secure experiences will be even greater, explains Alexander Perez-Pons, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

“It’s going to be wonderful, one day, when we have autonomous vehicles. They're going to be communicating with each other and with v

FIU News • 13th September 2022

FIU launches world’s first master’s track in cruise line operations

When he thought of creating the 12-month M.S. in Hospitality Management: Cruise Line Operations track, Joseph Cilli, department chair and director of distance learning for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, envisioned it as a “flag in the sand” to make the cruise line industry synonymous with FIU.

“We are leveraging the university’s deep connections within the cruise industry for this first-of-its-kind specialization, and we certainly have the embedded industry partners to

FIU News • 13th September 2022

Arg! FIU professor teaches American literature class on pirates

For College of Arts, Sciences & Education English Assistant Professor Mark Kelley, there’s nothing as exhilarating as being out on the water—the feeling of freedom, the vastness, the intrigue of the horizon—all of it does something to him that is hard to explain in words. He stokes this intrigue and love of early American history through his studies on the writings of some of our nation’s earliest sailors—pirates.

“Pirates are really fascinating because they are very fun and extremely frighteni

About Me

With three decades of professional writing and editing experience, Monica is the ghostwriter of three books. Her expertise includes integrated marketing communications, articles, digital content, press releases, campaigns, communication plans, branding, scriptwriting and public relations.

The author of hundreds of articles, Monica began her career as a newspaper and magazine journalist. She is a ghostwriter and consultant for companies and individuals who use her content writing expertise in the business, manufacturing, education, health, wellness and lifestyle fields.