Victoria Collado
Coordinator of Administrative Services
vicollad@fiu.edu
(305) 348-1734

Victoria Collado is currently serving as the Coordinator of Administrative Services in the Art and Art History department at Florida International University (FIU). She has been with the department since 2022. Collado is an alumna of FIU, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. Her academic background and customer service experience contribute to her effective administrative services within the department. Victoria’s commitment to the arts and her alma mater is evident through her ongoing dedication and service.

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

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

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, 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. From 2017 to 2020, he served as Interim Deputy Director of the Doral Contemporary Art Museum (DORCAM) and curated exhibitions at KER Art + Design Gallery and 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.

Sofia Valiente Noailles
Digital + Darkroom Photography Lab Manager | Adjunct Faculty
svalient@fiu.edu
305-348-2897

Sofia Valiente is an award-winning photographer and interdisciplinary artist with two published books “Miracle Village” (2014) and “Foreverglades” (2019). In 2015, she received the World Press Photo award for Miracle Village (1st prize, portraits, stories) and she is also a two-time recipient of the South Florida Cultural Consortium Artist Fellowship. In 2017, Sofia won the Knight Arts Challenge Grant for Foreverglades and in 2018 she received a State of Florida Individual Artist grant. Sofia’s work has been published in Time, the Guardian, Smithsonian, Vice, American Photo Magazine, and many other media outlets.

She is represented by Daniel Blau Gallery in Munich, Germany and her projects have been exhibited internationally with solo shows in London, Paris, Munich and NYC and in numerous other group shows in museums and photography festivals around the world. In 2024, Sofia made her directorial debut with “Ivy Ridge”. She holds a BFA in Art from Florida International University in Miami and an MFA in Visual Arts from the University of California, Riverside

Ana Rosado
Student Office Assistant

Ana Rosado is the Student Office Assistant for the Art + Art History Department.

She is an undergraduate student pursuing a BA in Art History at FIU. Ana has over 3 years of customer service experience and a lifelong passion for the world of art.