W100 Representative
Anthony RiondaAssociate Vice President for Strategic Communications, Government and External Affairs
Anthony Rionda serves as FIU’s Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications, Government and External Affairs, where he works to support the University’s agenda at the local, state and federal level. In his role, he has helped develop innovative advocacy strategies and campaigns, advocacy communications initiatives, and innovative academic and student initiatives. In 2015 Professor Rionda was appointed a Fellow of the FIU Honors College where he teaches two courses on government and leadership. He is actively engaged in the South Florida community and serves as a member of the Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Board. Rionda is a Miami native and a three-time FIU graduate, holding a B.A. in Political Science, an M.P.A. from the Green School of International and Public Affairs, and a J.D. from the College of Law.
FIU is Miami’s public research university. Offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, both on campus and fully online. FIU is worlds ahead in its service to the academic and local community.
Designated a Preeminent State Research University, FIU emphasizes research as a major component in the university’s mission. The Robert Stempel School of Public Health and Social Work and the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences’ Discovery Lab are just two of many colleges, schools and setting new standards through research initiatives.
For more than 50 years, FIU has positioned itself as one of South Florida’s anchor institutions by solving some of the greatest challenges of our time. We are dedicated to enriching the lives of the local and global community. With a student body of more than 56,000, we are among the largest universities in the nation and have collectively graduated more than 300,000 alumni, 165,000 of whom live and work in South Florida.
The Latest from Florida International University
Downbursts are winds that can rival tornadoes and hurricanes, but behave differently. @FIU_CEC and @FIUExtremeEvent researchers use #WallofWind to recreate these bursts and test how infrastructure holds up, as featured in @ConversationUS. Learn more: https://go.fiu.edu/downbursts
Can coastal defenses do more than just block water? @FIUCarta and @FIUEnvironment researchers discuss in @ConversationUS how a new textured seawall aims to protect Miami from sea level rise and support marine life. Learn more: https://go.fiu.edu/ecoblox
We’re proud to officially launch a transformative academic partnership with @Nicklaus4Kids — to elevate pediatric medicine in South Florida and beyond.
Read more:https://ow.ly/OfZM50VVkij
They lead, innovate, and inspire. Meet the 2025 FIU Torch Award honorees, alums changing the world, one bold move at a time. Panthers from every decade gathered to celebrate their impact. 💙💛 Read more:
Panther Pantheon of Greatness: Meet the 2025 Torch Award honorees
Five distinguished alumni have earned recognition for leading by example, scaling corporate peaks on their own terms ...
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Congratulations to the @FIULaw Class of 2025! 🎉🎓⚖️
Through hard work and determination, you’ve earned this achievement. As you take the next step in your legal journey, we’re confident you’ll rise as leaders, uphold the highest standards, and inspire those around you.
Open forums with Interim President Nuñez will take place on Wednesday, May 21 at FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus. This is an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and the community to engage, ask questions, and share feedback.
Read more:
Update on FIU presidential search: community sessions schedule
The search committee announces four separate forums on May 21 at MMC at which the sole presidential candidate will...
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Located in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is emerging as a key regional partner for Iran. @fiu_sipa expert Eric Lob explains why Iran’s new security pact with Ethiopia marks a significant step in strengthening ties, via @ConversationUS. @PIR_FIU For more:
Iran and Ethiopia have a security deal – here’s why they signed it
The two countries sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen ties amid shifting alliances and shared regional interests.
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Seagrasses cover just 2% of the seafloor—but store nearly 50% of ocean sediment carbon. A global FIU-led study reveals how protecting the right meadows could prevent $200B in climate damages. It's time to invest in nature’s carbon sink. Read more:
Protecting seagrasses could prevent billions of dollars in damages, research finds
They possess a remarkable ability to capture and store vast amounts of carbon, according to a global study publish...
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Fast, scalable, and quantum-safe: @FIU_CEC new encryption algorithm protects video data from traditional and quantum cyber threats — outperforming top methods by 10–15%. Read more:
Computer scientists create algorithm to protect videos from quantum hacking
The findings, published in IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, present a way to protect sensitive videos from ...
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FIU’s core values encompass teamwork, excellence, innovation, and service.
“Half sprawling city, half tropical wilderness, all progress. We’re proud to call Miami our home. It’s a dynamic hotspot for innovation and creation. This multilingual, multinational city puts the “I” in FIU.
Where others see challenges, we see opportunity. Our research and service efforts take aim at the unique issues Miami faces in climate change, globalizing economy, major population shifts and more.”
Mission and vision
- Mission FIU's mission is to provide high-quality teaching, research, and creative activities while engaging with both local and global communities. FIU also seeks to create pathways for underrepresented students to access higher education.
- Vision FIU’s vision focuses on student-centred learning, economic mobility, research, creative activities, and transformative innovations. The university also aims to be recognised as a top 50 public university.
FIU is classified as a Carnegie Very High Research institution.
Florida International University (FIU) aspires to be recognised as a top 50 public university by excelling in student-centred learning and promoting upward economic mobility. The university is committed to producing socially impactful research and fostering creativity while driving transformative innovations on both local and global scales. FIU’s Next Horizon 2025 strategic plan builds on the achievements of previous initiatives, continuing the dedication to exceptional learner success and maintaining the highest standards of university research and innovation.
As South Florida’s only public R1: Doctoral University—Highest Research Activity, FIU is proud of its strong record of service to the community and its students. The university’s research agenda enriches both the intellectual and material aspects of life for students, their families, and the wider community. Building on its BeyondPossible2020 strategic plan, FIU’s Next Horizon 2025 offers a clear path to amplify its research impact, providing solutions to real-world challenges.
FIU’s research is geared towards addressing scientific, social, and economic challenges both in Florida and across the nation. The research conducted by FIU’s faculty directly contributes to local economic development and problem-solving, while also creating high-skill, high-wage jobs for the community. As an urban research university, FIU is committed to investing in the next generation of scientists and innovators, which is seen as essential for global competitiveness, job creation, economic resilience, and achieving key national goals.
Become a Member
The World 100 Reputation Network is a group of the best universities in the world, delivering research that enhances reputation and offering leaders the chance to develop their own careers on a global stage. Members benefit from events and study tours, training, monthly media monitoring, and unique reputation research to provide institutional advantage.