Five Facts About the FIU President’s Council

Florida International University has positioned itself as one of South Florida’s anchor institutions. As Miami’s only public research university, it offers renowned and groundbreaking programs in the fields of medicine and computer science.

With the help of the FIU President’s Council, the school has established a robust link with the local community and has provided students immense opportunities for involvement and success.

The Council’s Founding

Originally founded in 1991 as The Council of 100, it was reestablished as the President’s Council in 2008.

The council’s mission is to act as ambassadors for the school while fostering strong connections between FIU and the local business community.

The Purpose of the President’s Council

The FIU President’s Council is an advisory board that includes professionals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences as community and business leaders.

They act as a relations board for the school and have the role of community ambassadors for FIU. Their work contributes to extending the school’s outreach in South Florida, and their unique experiences are an asset the school can use to develop programs that prepare students for the modern workplace.

Members of the President’s Council support FIU by choosing the school for training and certification for their employees, offering internships to FIU students, and advocating for public policies that would have a positive impact on education.

The President’s Council is also a network focused on promoting the school and assisting with fundraising efforts.

World Ahead Faculty Award

One of the functions of the President’s Council is to designate the recipient of the World Ahead Faculty Award. Each autumn, the council recognizes the work of an FIU faculty member during the World Ahead Faculty Award ceremony.

The World Ahead Faculty Award is bestowed upon a faculty member who has made an outstanding contribution to their field, in either groundbreaking research or dedication to teaching and mentoring students.

In 2019, the President’s Council chose the Center for Children and Families Director Dr. William Pelham Jr. as the recipient of the award.

Dr. Pelham has dedicated his life to researching evidence-based treatments for children and teens with ADHD. He has completed extensive research on the topic, contributed to a significant number of peer-reviewed publications in his field, and has been influential in the clinical psychology field through his work as an advisor for several organizations and federal agencies.

President’s Council Members

The council benefits from the diverse experiences of members from different backgrounds. They have had careers spanning a wide range of industries and have become business and public service leaders. They are now united in their passion for promoting Florida International University and working to connect the school with the local business community.

Here are several notable members who comprise the President’s Council:

• Jeff Bartel is the chairman and managing director of investment firm Hamptons Group, LLC. Hamptons Group provides leadership managing financial assets and investments that support economic development in South Florida. Jeff Bartel’s unique background as an executive in the energy sector, as an experienced law practitioner, and as an advisor on several corporate and non-profit boards has established him as a versatile leader.
• Joseph Corradino is president of the Corradino Group, a firm that specializes in urban planning.
• Sandy Gonzalez-Levy is the senior VP for external relations, strategic communications, and marketing at FIU. She played a significant role in the school’s relief efforts during the Haiti earthquake, and her efforts have turned the school’s Alumni Association into an active network of students and professionals.
• Lisa McGill is president and CEO of Executive One Consulting Solutions. Her background as a public community board and business leader puts her in a unique position to support the university’s mission.
• Lincoln S. Mendez has served as Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables (1995–2010), South Miami Hospital (2010–2019), and is currently the President and CEO of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. He has also served on the United Way Healthcare Cabinet, the Board of the South Florida Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Board of the Big Brothers / Big Sisters.
• Eneida Roldan is the CEO of the FIU Health Care Network. She is also the associate dean for internal affairs for the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Her role includes developing new health care education programs, and her extensive background in the health care industry has been beneficial to the school’s renowned medicine program.
• William D. Talbert III has served as President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) for the past twenty years, and Chief Operating Officer the previous nine and has distinguished himself as a highly respected visitor industry and community leader.

Advocating for New Policies

Members of the FIU President’s Council and FIU Medical Students have traveled to Washington, D.C. annually since 2018. While FIU medical students met with health care leaders, members of the President’s Council advocated in favor of policies the school has been supporting.

These policies include federal investments to support STEM education and cybersecurity training, the development of the country’s infrastructure, and the establishment of finance programs that would support brain health research and the school’s Center for Children and Families, among other projects.

The FIU President’s Council has been making a difference for almost 30 years by strengthening the bond between Florida International University and the local business community.