Panther Alumni Week (PAW)

Overview

Panther Alumni Week (PAW) is a time to celebrate the lifelong connection between FIU and its global community of Panthers. For the College of Communication, Architecture + the Arts (CARTA), PAW is especially meaningful—it’s a homecoming for the creatives, storytellers, designers, and innovators who help shape the world beyond our campus.

CARTA alumni play a vital role in advancing FIU’s mission by strengthening strategic partnerships, inspiring student success, and fueling real-world learning experiences. When alumni return to campus, they bring industry insight, mentorship, and collaboration that enrich the student experience and reinforce FIU’s commitment to social mobility, innovation, and community impact.

During Panther Alumni Week, CARTA proudly welcomes its alumni back to reconnect, share expertise, and invest in the next generation of Panthers—demonstrating the power of an engaged alumni network and the lasting impact of an FIU education. Together, we continue to build a future driven by creativity, excellence, and meaningful connection.

See the 2026 list of CARTA PAW events below: 

School of Architecture

LAEUD Lecture Series

Feb. 2 | 5:00 p.m. | PCA 135

  • Aurora Alcaide
  • Irene Cambeyro
  • Sophia Neves
  • Rose Gilson
  • Valeriia Tolkacheva
  • Camilo Olano
  • Mitzi Napoles
  • Rocio Martinez

Interior Architecture Lecture

Feb. 3 | 2:00 p.m. | PCA 135

  • Kelsie Saravia
  • Mauricio Gonzalez

Department of Theatre

Interior Architecture Lecture

Feb. 6 | 3:30 p.m. | Wertheim Main Stage

  • Victoria Collado
  • JC Gutierrez
  • Brandon Urrutia

School of Communication

  • Kurk Anton
  • Jennyfer Grundler
  • Cindy Chow
  • Raquel Batista
  • Sarah Hernandez Garcia
  • Tina Varjabedian
  • Roxana Torrente Cardenas

Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts

Class Visit: Guitar Ensemble

Feb. 4 | 1:00 p.m. | WPAC 157

  • Carlos Rafael Rivera

Class Visit: Jazz Forum

Feb. 6 | 12:00 p.m. | WPAC 157

  • Jean Caze

Lee Caplin School of Journalism and Media

Class Visit: Live Newscast Producing

Feb. 5 | 10:00 a.m. | BBC Campus

  • Belkys Nerey

Class Visit: Journalism + Media Internship

Feb. 6 | 12:30 p.m. | BBC Campus

  • Jamilka Gibson

Class Visit: Digital Journalism

Feb. 5 | 11:30 a.m. | MMC Campus

  • Michell Marchante

Class Visit: Introduction to Reporting & Writing

Feb. 4 | 1:30 p.m. | BBC Campus

  • Valentina Palm

Class Visit: Investigative Reporting Techniques

Feb. 2 | 7:00 p.m. | BBC Campus

  • Maria Mercedes Vigón

Department of Art + Art History

2026 Art Education Master’s Alumni Ehibition

Feb. 4 | 6:00 p.m. | Graham Center Art Gallery

  • Amy Kutell
  • Christopher Ventura
  • Donna Underwood
  • Eduardo Lacayo
  • Elena Capablanca
  • Gerald Obregon
  • Jacqueline roch
  • Jaime West
  • Jennifer Cespedes
  • Leslie McKinley
  • Lizzie Hunter
  • Lourdes Fuller
  • Lucia Morales
  • Mabel Morales
  • Maitejosune Urrechaga
  • Mirena Suarez
  • Monda Schaffel
  • Nino Liguori
  • Olivia Pickering
  • Patricia Rottino Cummins
  • Perri Cox
  • Sabine Bittel
  • Victoria Albert
  • Vera Pilnik Sanovicz
  • Wendy Ordonez
  • Zahra Farooq
Promotional poster for the FIU School of Architecture’s Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design (LAEUD) Lecture Series during Panther Alumni Week. The dark blue poster announces the LAEUD Lecture titled “Vision to Action: Practical Climate & Biodiversity Solutions for Every Landscape Architect,” presented by the ASLA Florida Climate and Biodiversity Action Committee. Circular headshots of alumni speakers appear on the right, each labeled with names and graduation years. Event details on the left read: February 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM, PCA 135. The poster notes the lecture is free and open to the public and part of the Spring 2026 lecture series.
Promotional poster for FIU Interior Architecture’s Paul L. Cejas Lecture Series. The design features black-and-white headshots of two speakers side by side: Kaelsie Saravia and Mauricio Gonzalez, identified as principals at Surface Workshop. Text on the right reads “Drawn to Wood,” with the date “02.03.2026,” and details “Tuesday – 2pm, PCA 135.” The FIU Interior Architecture logo appears at the top.
Promotional graphic for FIU Alumni Panther Alumni Week. A dark blue background features a glowing circular emblem at the center reading “FIU Alumni Panther Alumni Week.” Surrounding the center are eight circular headshots of alumni arranged in a ring, showing a diverse group of professionally dressed men and women. At the bottom, the FIU School of Communication logo appears with the text “College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts.”
Purple promotional flyer for the FIU Art + Art History program and FIU Alumni Association announcing the “2026 Art Education Master’s Alumni Exhibition” as part of Panther Alumni Week. The flyer lists participating FIU Master’s of Art Education alumni, with event details reading: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The exhibition continues through Friday, February 27, 2026. Location information at the bottom reads Graham Center Art Gallery, Florida International University, MMC Campus, Miami, Florida.
Promotional poster for an FIU Alumni Panther Alumni Week event titled “Theatre Makers: Producing in the Real World.” The blue poster explains a panel discussion about alumni creating their own theatre projects and opportunities. Three circular headshots appear across the middle, labeled: Victoria Collado, Director and Co-Founder of Abre Camino Collective; JC Gutierrez, Artistic Director of JCAT and Artistic Associate at Miami New Drama; and Brandon Urrutia, Artistic Director of LakehouseRanchDotPNG. Event details at the bottom read: Friday, February 6, 3:30 pm, at The Wertheim MainStage, open to all.
Promotional poster for an FIU Alumni Panther Alumni Week event titled “Theatre Makers: Producing in the Real World.” The blue poster explains a panel discussion about alumni creating their own theatre projects and opportunities. Three circular headshots appear across the middle, labeled: Victoria Collado, Director and Co-Founder of Abre Camino Collective; JC Gutierrez, Artistic Director of JCAT and Artistic Associate at Miami New Drama; and Brandon Urrutia, Artistic Director of LakehouseRanchDotPNG. Event details at the bottom read: Friday, February 6, 3:30 pm, at The Wertheim MainStage, open to all.
Promotional poster for an FIU Alumni Panther Alumni Week event titled “Theatre Makers: Producing in the Real World.” The blue poster explains a panel discussion about alumni creating their own theatre projects and opportunities. Three circular headshots appear across the middle, labeled: Victoria Collado, Director and Co-Founder of Abre Camino Collective; JC Gutierrez, Artistic Director of JCAT and Artistic Associate at Miami New Drama; and Brandon Urrutia, Artistic Director of LakehouseRanchDotPNG. Event details at the bottom read: Friday, February 6, 3:30 pm, at The Wertheim MainStage, open to all.