Meet the Team

Maria G. Claverie holds a master’s degree in International Development Education from FIU. She has worked in higher education for more than 15 years and joined the CARTA team in 2011. Maria oversees the planning of alumni events, serves as the CARTA Alumni Liaison to the central Alumni Office, and engages alumni in the life of the College. She is also responsible for identifying prospective alumni donors and matching their philanthropic priorities with the College’s needs and their engagement with the Annual Fund. Maria also identifies, manages, and processes sponsorships for CARTA.

Mr. Ionita has more than 20 years of fundraising experience, working for prestigious organizations including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New York Philharmonic, Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Architecture, Design & the Arts.  He has also served as a panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

He holds a Bachelor in Music Performance from The Juilliard School and a Masters of Arts in Performing Arts Administration from New York University (NYU).
Mr. Ionita partners with Dean Schriner and CARTA faculty and staff to identify strategic priorities and generate philanthropic support for the College.

Administration and oversight of the Ratcliffe Arts + Design Incubator. Jacek J. Kolasinski is also a New-Media artist, Associate Professor of Visual Arts at the Art + Art History Department at Florida International University. He came to the United States from Poland where he studied history and philosophy at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations. Kolasinski received his MFA and BFA from Florida International University in Miami.

Shahin Vassigh has a Master of Architecture, Master of Urban Planning, and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University at Buffalo, the State University of New York. She has considerable professional experience through her work at various consulting engineering firms ranging from bridge design/analysis to large-scale building construction and design. She has built a nationally recognized body of research work focused on improving structures and technology education by developing alternative teaching pedagogies that utilize digital media.

Lillian Anne Abreu is currently the Research Associate and Program Officer at the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication at Florida International University (FIU). She is also pursuing a doctoral degree at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work at FIU. Ms. Abreu received a Master in Science in Fundraising Management and Nonprofit Administration from Columbia University, New York. She also holds a Master in Science in Social Work from Loyola University and a Bachelor in Science in Social Work from Florida State University. In her twenty-year career in the nonprofit field, Lillian has served as a clinician and community grass roots advocate, who has dedicated her career to empowering underserved communities in the states of Florida, Illinois, and New York.

Lissette Garcia, Executive Assistant, provides administrative support to the Dean, Assistant Dean and Office of the Dean Staff. Lissette has over 10 years of administrative and customer service experience. She joined FIU in 2016 where she worked as a Paralegal in a Bankruptcy Law Firm. She obtained a Master’s of Business Administration with a Specialization in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida International University, she also holds an Associate Degree in Mass Communications from Miami-Dade College.

Jessica Szmuler, Administrative Specialist, provides support to the Dean, Assistant Dean and Office of the Dean staff. She serves the Office of the Dean as Director of First Impressions by greeting students and guests; manages the day-to-day office operations, including support in scheduling meetings, travel arrangements, ordering of supplies and assisting with appointments for the Student Services group. Jessica joins FIU with over 25 years of administrative and customer service experience, including 16 years of working for non-profit organizations. Jessica is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Anna Sanchez, Administrative Assistant, provides support to the Associate Dean of Faculty + Program Development. Anna also provides administrative support to the Robotics Academy Team. Anna joins FIU with many years of customer service and administrative experience in the health industry.

Karen Baer, is the Assistant Director of Finance overseeing financial matters for CARTA programs at the Biscayne Bay Campus. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Adminsitration from FIU and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Karen has worked at FIU since 2004.

Evelyn Martinez is the financial analyst for the Art + Art History Department. Evelyn is the coordinator of the department budget and contracts. She received a Masters in Public Administration from FIU.

Madeleine Manzano-Barrera is an accomplished administrative professional with over twenty-five years of experience. Madeleine has provided high-level support in a variety of industries and across multiple functional areas, including the education system for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), before joining The College of Communication, Architecture + the Arts (CARTA) at Florida International University.

Paulette Rivera received her M.B.A with an emphasis in management from FIU and double majored in business administration and international business at FIU. She works closely with the chairperson in the areas of purchasing, accounts payable, and preparation of a variety of reports. Her work is primarily computer-based, using online record-keeping systems, word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications. Furthermore, Paulette has been an integrative component of the operations of a retail store for the past for years.

Robert Brown is a Financial Analyst II within the Department of Communication. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Business and has worked with FIU since 2010. He uses accounting concepts, methods, and techniques to assist with the preparation of the annual budget for all departmental funding sources at both MMC & BBC campuses. Maintains and analyzes accounts, budget data, and prepares reports as needed. Provides assistance in the development, implementation and maintenance of internal fiscal systems and procedures.

Sunem Roque, is the Assistant Director of Human Resources for the Office of the Dean for College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA). In this capacity Sunem works with the Executive Director of Operations on the planning, implementation and coordination of human resources activities to maximize the strategic use of resources. Sunem has a Master’s of Science in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University. Sunem also facilitates FIU’s Service Excellence trainings with the purpose of training staff on FIU’s customer service standards. To this extent, Sunem aims to provide outstanding customer service, as well as to recruit and retain a diverse workforce. Her primary focus is on the day-to-day activities for issues related to Administrative and staff positions within CARTA.

Sharon Spallone, Human Resources Coordinator for the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts, served in the U.S Army for 10 years and has over 20 years of experience in Executive Administration and Office Management. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree from FIU in Business Administration.

Bernadette Chung serves as the Assistant Director, Academic Support Services for the School of Architecture, School of Music, Department of Art + Art History and Department of Theatre. Bernadette has been working at Florida International University for over 11 years with her career starting at the MOSS School of Construction for 8 years holding different capacities. She then joined FIU Online as a Senior Instructional Designer for four years and recently joined the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts in July 2018. She earned both her degrees at FIU, BS in Hospitality Management and MS in Higher Education Administration.

Linda Lara comes to CARTA with over 14 years of Academic Advising experience. She started career in advising at Miami Dade College. She then transitioned to FIU’s College of Arts & Sciences in 2008 as an Academic Advisor and was later promoted to Assistant Director of Advising Services at the Biscayne Bay Campus in 2010. She led the advising team and provided support services to the Dean’s Office. She earned two degrees from FIU: BA in Psychology, and MS in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Student Affairs in 2007. In 2016, she was recognized by her peers and received the Significant Impact on Advising Community and Advising Partner Award. She is an optimistic, well-rounded, compassionate, and versatile leader. She also enjoys mentoring, teaching and leading a group of like-minded individuals who are innovative, and proactive with achieving results. Linda now serves as Assistant Director, of Academic Support Services for the School of Communication + Journalism.

Ashley Rizzotto Ashley Rizzotto has worked full-time in the field of college career development since June 2017 across multiple colleges and currently works at Florida International University where she is the Career Specialist for Visual & Performing Arts in CARTA. Ashley is a native of Brooklyn, NY where she had the pleasure of attending Edward R. Murrow, an arts high school where she was selected and graduated from the theater student track. She has performed in musicals, served as an assistant director in multiple productions, and once as a stage manager. Ashley attended Stony Brook University and UNC Greensboro and traveled a winding road of career paths before finding her professional home in the world of career and talent development.

Ashley has been actively involved with the Southern Association for Colleges and Employers (SoACE) as the Marketing and Communications Chair for the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Social Media Committee, and Scholarship Committee. She is passionate about supporting students in understanding their strengths and finding creative strategies to discover their dream career.

John Sotham is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel with 30 years of active and reserve service who has commanded Air Force squadrons both Stateside and in Afghanistan, and who has an interest in furthering the communication skills of veterans entering the workforce. He is an alumni of and former leadership and research instructor at Air Command and Staff College, a graduate institution for mid-grade officers from all services and the militaries of 35 foreign countries. Mr. Sotham is currently a contributing editor and former associate editor of Air & Space Smithsonian magazine in Washington, D.C., where he reported nationally and internationally, served as the book reviews editor, and continues to author stories and blog on aviation and space flight. Prior to joining the communication department full-time, he was an adjunct instructor who taught a variety of courses including Intercultural Communication, Communication for Effective Leadership, Nonverbal Communication, and Business and Professional Communication, for which he serves as the faculty coordinator. He is teaching a new course in applied communication for specific professions whose students will publish a digital magazine each semester.

Regina Bailey, Senior Arts Manager of Arts @ FIU, works collaboratively across the university, and specifically with the Arts @ FIU Task Force, developing a plan for the ARTS; expanding opportunities for student success; increasing funded research and creative opportunities and establishing a focused, inclusive branding campaign that elevates the arts. She has been engaged in the arts at FIU for over 25 years as a staff member of The Wolfsonian – FIU and the Art Museum at FIU. In addition, she is a Senior Fellow in the Honors College. She holds an MFA from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York.