Administration and Staff Directory

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

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.

Enrique (Ricky) Caboverde serves as a library liaison to the Wertheim 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.

As the Bands Program Specialist, she assists with matters concerning budget, purchasing, travel, scholarships, and the hiring and supervising of student staff. 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. 

Yusimay Lorenzo Gonzalez is the Program Manager for The Wertheim. In her role, she supports strategic planning, budgeting, and program development, while overseeing contracts, payments, and compliance to ensure alignment with university, state, and federal guidelines. She also contributes to grant administration and scholarship management in support of the School’s academic and artistic mission. Originally from Habana, Cuba, she has been with FIU for over 10 years and brings experience in financial and administrative operations.

Cristina Lujan serves as Senior Account Manager for the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts, where she oversees marketing, communications, public relations, social media, and recruitment marketing initiatives. An FIU alumna, she brings more than 20 years of experience in media, storytelling, and entertainment, including work on ABC’s flagship The Bachelor franchise, as well as producing on the Emmy Award winning series Undercover Boss, and contributing to the Imagen Award winning MTV Tr3s reality series, Quiero Mi Boda. She is passionate about connecting audiences with the arts and supporting opportunities for the next generation of artists and performers.

Valeria Osuna Yrízar holds an M.A.  in Live Entertainment Management from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, along with a Graduate Certificate in Legal Aspects of the Music Business. She holds a B.M. with a concentration in Music Education from the University of North Texas. A Mexican-American and Texas native, she is a violist and vocalist with twenth-three years of experience as a performing musician and eight years of experience as an arts administration professional. She supports academic advising, recruitment, undergraduate admissions, and student affairs at Florida International University. She is passionate about fostering academic excellence, elevating the standards of music education in Florida, and advancing an academic culture in the arts grounded in the free exchange of ideas, tolerance, integrity, and a deep appreciation for conservatory traditions.

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.

Gerry Suarez serves as advisor for undergraduate students in the Wertheim School of Music and can assist with general advising for all of the undergraduate programs.  You can schedule an appointment with him by logging into MyFIU and using the Panther Success Network.

Michelle Vires is the Account Manager for the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts. With more than 10 years of experience in higher education, she leads strategic marketing, branding, digital communications, and graphic design initiatives that support the School’s performances, academic programs, recruitment efforts, and community engagement while strengthening its institutional identity and public visibility.