Kopenhaver Center

09/09/2026

It’s Winning Wednesday! 💫 We’re celebrating three more accomplished leaders in our Leadership Council Spotlight who continue to advance the Kopenhaver Center’s mission.

Janet Rivera-Hernandez, Senior Vice President of Communications for Mastercard Latin America and the Caribbean, has been with Mastercard since 2002 and has played a key role in transformative communications programs for more than two decades. Her work has supported major company milestones, including the expansion of communications across Latin America and brand identity changes. Read more here: https://carta.fiu.edu/kopenhavercenter/about/kopenhaver-center-leadership-council/janet-rivera-hernandez/

Marybel Rodriguez, co-anchor of CBS News This Morning in Miami, is an Emmy-nominated journalist recognized for her professionalism and dedication to news. An FIU Outstanding Alumna of the Year, she was also inducted into the Miami-Dade College Foundation Alumni Hall of Fame in the journalism category. Read more here: https://carta.fiu.edu/kopenhavercenter/about/kopenhaver-center-leadership-council/marybel/

Nelly Rubio, former Director of Community Relations at CBS Miami TV Stations, retired in 2018 after nearly three decades overseeing station sponsorships, public service announcements and community relations. Following Hurricane Andrew, she founded Neighbors Helping Neighbors in 1992, connecting people in need with those willing to help. Read more here: https://carta.fiu.edu/kopenhavercenter/about/kopenhaver-center-leadership-council/nelly-rubio/

Meet more of the accomplished leaders helping shape the vision and mission of the Kopenhaver Center. ✨

09/03/2026

Leadership. Resilience. Representation. 💫

FIU Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Béjar, Ph.D., joins Women on the Mic: The Power of Giving Voice for a conversation on “Leadership in a Changing World.”

Dr. Béjar shares her perspective on leading through change, the power of mentorship and representation, and the importance of creating opportunities for women and the next generation of leaders. Her journey and leadership reflect the impact women can have when they use their voices, embrace new challenges and help open doors for others.

🎧 New Podcast Episode Available Now!
https://lnkd.in/e6HMdG29

09/01/2026

Congratulations to Mindy Marques Gonzalez, Chair of the Kopenhaver Center Leadership Council, on her exciting new role as Senior Vice President of the Startup Studio at the American Journalism Project (AJP)!

In this new position, Mindy will lead a team advancing AJP’s groundbreaking work to launch and support local news startups across the country, helping strengthen communities through innovative, sustainable journalism.

Mindy’s continued leadership and commitment to the future of journalism reflect the kind of vision needed as the news industry continues to evolve. Her work will help create new opportunities for local news organizations to grow, innovate and better serve the communities that depend on them.

The Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication is proud to celebrate Mindy as she begins this next chapter. We are delighted to see her continuing this vital work in local news innovation and look forward to seeing the impact of her leadership nationwide.

Congratulations, Mindy! We can’t wait to see what’s ahead!👏📰✨

08/31/2026

Congratulations to Zipporah Hayes , part of the Kopenhaver Center team, on being selected for the FIURatcliffe Art + Design Incubator (RA+DI) Fellowship Cohort 10, Fall 2026! 🎉

RA+DI's mission of mentorship, innovation, and visibility reflects so much of what we champion here at the Kopenhaver Center. We're proud to see Zipporah's creativity and drive recognized in this way.

08/31/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Jose Zamora, a member of the Kopenhaver Center's Leadership Council, on receiving the 2026 Rich Jaroslovsky Founder Award from the Online News Association!



https://www.journalists.org/news/jos-zamora-to-receive-onas-2026-rich-jaroslovsky-founder-award
Read more about this well-deserved recognition: https://lnkd.in/eaubw9kt

08/27/2026

We’re proud to spotlight the inaugural Women Faculty Moving Forward Fellowship cohort, presented by the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication in partnership with AEJMC.

Five exceptional women leaders were selected for this new initiative designed to recruit, mentor, train and empower early-career women in journalism and mass communication education.

Launched Aug. 4 during the AEJMC conference in New Orleans, the fellowship brought together inspiring women ready to grow, lead and take the next step in their academic careers.

Visit our Instagram to meet the inaugural cohort and see highlights from this milestone event. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dci4W0AhDHZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Here’s to moving women faculty forward!

08/26/2026

On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was certified, securing voting rights for women in the United States. In 1971, Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day to recognize the generations-long fight for women’s suffrage.

More than a century later, disparities remain. Women make up 40% of journalists worldwide but hold only 27% of top editorial positions.

The Kopenhaver Center works to help close that gap by preparing and connecting the next generation of women leaders in communication. Its programs have generated 48,000 points of engagement through training, professional development and networking opportunities.

Women’s Equality Day recognizes how far women have come while underscoring the continued need for greater access, opportunity and leadership.

Photo credit: Women’s National Press Club/Washington Press Club

08/25/2026

We’re continuing our Leadership Council Spotlight by introducing three more accomplished leaders advancing the Kopenhaver Center’s mission. 💫

Marisabel Muñoz, Senior Vice President of Communications for Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing, brings extensive experience in strategic communications, media relations and international outreach. Her leadership helps strengthen industry connections and expand the influence of women in communication.

Ana Chammas, Director of Innovation for Miami-Dade County, has spent more than two decades advancing technology, digital transformation and community engagement. A longtime member of the Kopenhaver Center Leadership Council, she also supports student mentorship and the development of future talent in digital media and communications.

Caroline Porter is a journalist and media strategist whose work focuses on sustainable business and civic models for journalism. A former Wall Street Journal reporter and Fulbright Scholar, she has also worked with media organizations, academic institutions and nonprofits on audience engagement, partnerships and the future of local news.

Swipe to meet more of the leaders helping shape the vision of the Kopenhaver Center.

Read more here: https://carta.fiu.edu/kopenhavercenter/about/kopenhaver-center-leadership-council/

08/25/2026

Congratulations to Dorothy Bland, Ph.D., member of the Kopenhaver Center Leadership Council, on being named 2026 NABJ Educator of the Year and receiving the 2025 DJNF Richard J. Levine Journalism Champion Award! 🎉
We're proud to have Dorothy's leadership and expertise as part of our Council. These honors reflect years of dedication to journalism education and to lifting the next generation of Black journalists and communication professionals. Congratulations on these well-deserved recognitions!

08/25/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Tatiana Andrienko-Genin, Research Associate and LEAD Research Consortium Chair at the Kopenhaver Center on her latest publication!

Co-authored with Professor Marianela Cabral, the article examines how virtual exchanges shape disciplinary learning for and education students and contributes to a deeper understanding of how cross-cultural communication builds more inclusive attitudes in education and the workplace.

We're proud to have Dr. Andrienko-Genin on the Kopenhaver Center team and leading our LEAD Research Consortium, and we congratulate her on this milestone.
The article is available here: https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-032-10711-4_46-1

Grounded in Mezirow’s transformative learning theory and the social model of disability, the study analyzes how participation in the intercultural arts-based dialogue within virtual exchange triggered transformative shifts reshaping undergraduate...