
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
Electric rays fend off sharks with up to 50 volts, @Dr_Yannis and @FIUEnvironment researchers found, first time documented in the wild. A bold survival strategy powered by biology. Learn more:

Rays deliver shock to sharks with powerful defense
While more traditional defense methods like camouflage, venom and spines appear ineffective against large sharks and m...
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🦈💙💛@MikeHeithaus @FIUCASE
Happy Fourth of July, Panthers! 🇺🇸 ✨
Complete your hurricane plan and supply kit, know your evacuation zone, and stay informed. Sign up for FIU Alert: https://dem.fiu.edu/fiu-alert/
FIU Emergency Management Hurricane Information: https://dem.fiu.edu/emergencies/hazardous-weather/hurricanes/index.html
Watch FIU's Roary Get Prepared: https://youtu.be/lS8EJXttWhY?si=o37rfsZAvZekYfi5
@FIU
Alicia Verdier, a senior biology major at FIU, found her passion in optometry after learning how vision connects to overall health. With a new scholarship, she’s now focused on helping others see clearly. Learn more:

New scholarship recognizes students committed to giving back
A philanthropist who made his mark as both a chemist and an executive in the cosmetics industry now looks to s...
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Eight FIU students recently attended the Florida International Leadership Conference, where they explored global leadership, career readiness, and cross-cultural communication alongside peers from across the state. Learn more: https://ow.ly/X8wW50WjJoh
FIU researcher Marcelo Bigliassi is studying how brief stress, like intense exercise or cold exposure, can boost mental resilience. His research shows building tolerance may start in the brain, not the body. Learn more:

Yes, you can train your brain to like exercise
The science behind mental strength and resilience: How pushing through a little physical discomfort gives the brain ...
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A glimpse into life at FIU 🐾🌴💙
Join us for the Presidential Speaker Series featuring Robert P. George and Cornel West, moderated by President Nuñez.
300+Academic associations, honour and professional societies, cultural organisations and interest groups
3 Art and history museums
142 Countries represented in our student body
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.