Developing The Next Generation of Leaders

The Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication hosted its Leadership Boot Camp on January 23, 2026. This prestigious program brings together a select group of students from CARTA at FIU, Rowan University, and Stephens College—each nominated by their department chair and faculty for their leadership potential.

The Boot Camp is an intensive training course for graduating seniors to prepare them for their first jobs in the field. The four consecutive virtual workshops of two-hour sessions were led by industry professionals who shared their expertise on achieving key leadership competencies.

Participants

Join us in congratulating our 2026 graduating class of the Kopenhaver Leadership Boot Camp

Click on the pictures for the graduates’ and speakers’ biographies

Sarah Agoston
Radio, Television, Film-Photography
Rowan University

Christy Bala
Health & Science Communication
Rowan University

Valeria De Souza 
Journalism
Florida International University

Alyssa DeStefano
Digital Journalism
Rowan University

Valentina Gaspari
Digital Broadcasting
Florida International University

Vanessa Lasso Altamirano
Landscape Architecture
Florida International University

Melissa Matias
Communication Studies
Rowan University

Sarah Mayorca
Journalism
Florida International University

Paulina Ochoa Ochoa
Digital Arts
Florida International University

Delaney Philp
Communication Studies
Rowan University

Katie Thorn
Journalism
Rowan University

Jazmyn Walton 
Writing Arts
Rowan University

Speakers                                         

Mayra E. Beers, Ph. D.
John S. and James L. Knight Research Fellow | Education Programs Chair
Center for Leadership – FIU

Michelle Marchante
Reporter
Miami Herald

Deanne Butchey, Ph.D.
Professor FIU Business and Vice-Chair
FIU’s Faculty Senate

Marian Chia-Ming Liu, MBA
Entrepreneurial digital strategist and Pulitzer-winning journalist