Dr. Karen S. F. Veloz is an accomplished educator, concert producer, arts administrator and artist manager. At the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts, she has served as coordinator of the Music Business Program and as the undergraduate program coordinator. She served a pivotal role in her position as the Associate Dean of Advancement for the FIU’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts. She has also worked for Pace Theatrical Group/National Broadway Touring Circuit and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts producing touring shows and educational outreach productions. She has achieved academic recognition for her scholarly contributions at national and international conferences.

After violin studies with Kenneth Sarch, Sarah Scriven, and Roman Totenberg, Joel Galand matriculated at Yale University, where he earned the B.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D. degrees. He is Associate Professor of Music Theory and Graduate Program Director, at the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts at Florida International University.

Patricia “Patty” Amado is the Manager of Academic Services for the School of Music.  She holds a bachelor’s in Psychology and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from FIU. She is responsible for overseeing and managing the daily operations, work processes, administrative procedures, and policies for the Wertheim School of Music.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida. David received his education from FIU, where he earned a Masters in Jazz Performance in 2003. He has 30 years experience as a performer and an educator. As Coordinator of Academic Support Services, he strives to provide guidance and services for current and potential students locally, nationally, and internationally by connecting and meeting their individual goals and academic needs.

Jessica Amores Diaz serves as the academic advisor for the School of Music and Department of Theatre.  She holds a bachelors and a masters degree in Music Education from FIU and was a band, orchestra, and musical director in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for seven years prior to advising.

Yusimay Lorenzo Gonzalez currently serves as the program manager. Originally from Habana, Cuba, she started her FIU career as a fiscal assistant at FIU Facilities Management and as an Accounting Specialist at the Office of Business Services before moving into her current position.

Michelle Vires serves as the account manager for the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts. She is tasked with communicating the university’s vision through targeted campaigns and programs, establishing a consistent and recognizable brand to ensure continuity of communication and increased recognition, creating print and digital materials to promote the university’s activities, and creating content and programming for a variety of media platforms.

Nathalie Brenner is serving as the senior special events manager at the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center. She is responsible for managing all concerts and events as well as serving as the logistical planner and on-site lead for external clients.

Since starting his career in show business more than 30 years ago as a classical music stage manager, Paul Steinsland has worked as an audio engineer and technical director in his native Canada and abroad in the cruise industry. In 2012, after settling in Miami, he earned his BA in Department of Theatre at FIU where he served as the sound engineer. Paul’s theatrical work in Miami has included sound designs for New Theatre, Main Street Players, and What If Works.

Enrique (Ricky) Caboverde serves as a library liaison to the School of Music. His duties as Music and Cataloging Librarian at the Steven and Dorothea Green Library mainly include managing the general music collection and supporting research via reference assistance and resource description. Ricky holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State University and earned his B.M. and M.M. degrees in instrumental performance (guitar studio) at Florida International University.

Shelly’s family moved to the Homestead Air Force Base from Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1974. Before her current position, she worked for the University of Miami College of Engineering’s Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Biomedical Engineering as the senior staff assistant for 16 years. As the Program Assistant for the Director of Bands at FIU, she assists with matters concerning budget, purchasing, travel, scholarships, and the hiring and supervising of student staff.