Christopher Rodriguez Barake
Sr. Coordinator of Academic Support Services | Adjunct Faculty Research + Development
crodri@fiu.edu
305-348-6648

Christopher R. Barake oversees Art + Art History Student Success Pathways, facilitates exhibition opportunities for students, and strengthens community and alumni relationships. He manages internships, accreditation, data input, collection, and analysis.

Previously, he coordinated an artist-in-residence program and led community-based collaborative art projects for the FIU College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts. His career at FIU began in 2007 within the Division of Student Affairs, where he managed the Graham Center Art Gallery. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Curatorial Practice (thesis: Alternative Spaces and Cultural Production), a Bachelor of Arts (Sculpture), and a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies.

As an independent curator, his research has centered on Latin American and Caribbean contemporary art, with a particular emphasis on Brazil. He co-founded the Art Industry Movement in Doral, contributing to the establishment of the Downtown Doral Art District. He was Interim Deputy Director of the Doral Contemporary Art Museum (DORCAM), Director of KER Art+ Design Gallery, and Curator at ConcreteSpace in Doral, FL.

Theodore “Theo” Rivero
Temporary Office Specialist
thrivero@fiu.edu
305-348-7819

Theodore Rivero is a multi-media artist with experience in digital illustration, 2D animation, and film. After years of being self-taught, he attended Florida International University and earned a Bachelor of Arts and an Art History minor in 2022. Since then, he has been a freelance artist specializing in digital art since 2018 and is currently focusing on concept art and tattoo work.

He is currently working as an Office Specialist in the Art + Art History Department.

Maida Purdy
Academic Advisor III
maida.purdy@fiu.edu
305-348-7500
Office: PCA 274

Maida has a true passion to change students’ lives through education and has devoted herself to teaching and advising. She joined FIU in May 2011 as an academic advisor for the College of Undergraduate Education and became part of the CARTA family in the year 2013. She currently advises Art + Art History students.

Prior to FIU, Maida worked at Miami Dade College for three years where she began her advising career in Advisement and Career Services. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Havana: A Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a Master’s degree in Tourism and Marketing.

Lauren Gentile
Academic Advisor II
lgentile@fiu.edu
305-348-7500
Office: PCA 274

Lauren began her career at FIU in 2018 as an academic advisor for Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Previously, she was employed at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami for seven years as an academic support advisor.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida and her Master’s of Education Degree in School Counseling from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Victoria Carballo
Lab Manager – Ceramics & Sculpture | Adjunct Faculty
vcarball@fiu.edu

Victoria Carballo, a Miami-born artist of Cuban heritage, is renowned for her innovative exploration of ceramics, porcelain, crochet, and found objects. As a professor at Florida International University, where she teaches ceramics and serves as the lab manager for the ceramics and sculpture studio, Victoria brings her passion for artistic expression and education to the forefront.

Drawing inspiration from her cultural roots and personal experiences, Victoria’s work delves into themes of identity, memory, and tradition versus modernity. Through her mastery of unconventional materials, she creates evocative pieces that challenge perceptions and invite contemplation.

Victoria’s art has been showcased in galleries and exhibitions throughout Miami and beyond, captivating audiences with her innovative approach and meticulous craftsmanship. Her commitment to artistic exploration and community engagement is evident in her collaborative projects and involvement in local arts initiatives.

In addition to her academic and artistic pursuits, Victoria is dedicated to fostering dialogue and creativity both inside and outside the studio. Her work as an educator and mentor inspires the next generation of artists to embrace their unique voices. As she continues to push the boundaries of her practice, Victoria remains committed to exploring new avenues of expression and sharing her vision with the world.

Alexander Pantin
Digital Arts Lab Manager
apantin@fiu.edu
305-348-6730

Alexander Pantin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from University of Miami in Miami, FL. He is currently pursuing a second Bachelor of Arts in Animation at Lynn University. He has over 8 years of experience in customer service. Prior to joining the Art + Art History Department, he worked at West Dade Community Services, a social service non-profit.

He is currently working as the Digital Art Lab Manager and is responsible for the management of the lab and 3D Printing Room. The lab is capable of digital fabrication, 3d printing, laser cutting, 3d scanning, digital imaging, and video.

Ana Vergara
Graduate Assistant
www.anavergara.art
Instagram: @anasvergara

Ana Vergara’s work builds on the relationship between space and place and its consequences on collective culture, memory, and identity. Using found construction materials and images, both derived from the domestic and the mundane, she comments on rapid urban-environmental change (such as migration, redevelopment, and displacement). Through the use of these materials, she takes an observational approach to piecing together narratives that reflect broader collective experiences.

Vergara’s work has been exhibited in group shows in museums and galleries in the United States, including the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona, the Koubek Center, the Martin & Pat Fine Center for the Arts, the Miami Design District Gallery, the MIFA Gallery, and the New World Gallery. She earned her BFA from the New World School of the Arts, where she graduated as Valedictorian in 2023, and attended the Yale Norfolk School of Art in 2022. She joins FIU as a Graduate Assistant and RA+DI Fellow and is supported by the Berkowitz scholarship, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival Visual Arts Scholarship, and the CARRERA x FIU Scholarship.

Eduardo “Eddie” Gomez
Student Office Assistant

Eduardo Gomez or better known by his peers as “Eddie” is an animation student in Art + Art History. He is a self taught artist and started at FIU in 2022, and is expected to finish in the Fall of 2026. His passion for animation hopes to see him working in professional animation studios as a storyboard artist or as a character designer.