FIU College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts

Today, we celebrated FIU’s School of Architecture’s incredible achievement—ranking #22 among the Top 25 in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject (Architecture & Built Environment – U.S. Public Universities) with a celebratory toast in the PCA Courtyard! This milestone marks the start of an exciting new chapter as we continue striving for excellence and greater academic success. Cheers to the future! “Throughout our 27-year history, the FIU School of Architecture has consistently proven to be among the nation's best - receiving praise for our innovative curriculum, impactful work in the built and natural environments, technology and robotics, and environmental and coastal resiliency.”?Said Dean Brian Schriner #CARTACreativeForcesAtWork #CARTALeads #FIUSOA?#FIUArchitecture?#FIULAEUD #FIUINTERIORS

This week AIGA MIA visited my Graphic Design 1 class at FIU College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts. They talked about AIGA Design local plans for the future, shared their professional paths, and gave insights on how to make it. My students were super duper excited?? Thank you ?? Belen Stanicio Dan Onufrishyn Yasmine M. Nur Denise S.

An incredible week in CARTA! ?? In partnership with Tom Dolan and Dolan Family Foundation, we announced The Digital Research Entertainment Arts Media Sciences (D.R.E.A.M.S.) Program! Focused on location-based entertainment - D.R.E.A.M.S. will provide hands-on learning, new opportunities, and industry partnerships to prepare students for careers in immersive digital and live entertainment experiences. We cannot wait to see what our students will create! Earlier in the week, the School of Architecture received their ranking of earning a stop in the Top 25 in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject. Congratulations to all of our students, faculty, and staff for their hard work and determination. You deserve this!??? ? A major announcement for our FIU Music students this week! Rolling Stone spotlighted our Symphony Orchestra performance with Latin Grammy-winning sensation Yandel and shared that we inspired his tour, SINFóNICO USA Tour 2025! FIU Students will join Yandel live on stage for his two shows in Miami on May 30th and Orlando on June 1st! In the Fall Semester of 2024, our students had the opportunity to share the stage with Yandel at The Wertheim Theatre.?Now, they have earned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Yandel on Tour. We are so proud of them and cannot wait to see them on stage!?? ? On Tuesday, we held our third and final CARTA Generative AI Lecture Series Powered by Reekolect. This lecture was a special one as it was our first lecture with a group of panelists. Thank you to Lorena Knezevic, John Stuart, Lars Lerup, Bolojan Daniel, Joseph Choma, and Smaro Katsangelou for being a part of the lecture and sharing your insights on"Architecture Education In The Age Of AI" with us! ? #StudentSpolights Congratulations to Marcson Tanis, Alexandra Lacayo, and Tania Powers for being selected for the?Gensler Miami?University Connect Mentorship program. Your hard work and persistence have earned you this spot! ?? ? Let's see what else the rest of the semester has in store for us here at CARTA! Make sure to visit our page every Friday to see what happened throughout the week! ?? ?? ? #FIUCARTA #CARTALeads #CARTACreativeForcesAtWork

?? Exciting Announcement! ?? I am honored and grateful to join the Advisory Board of D.R.E.A.M.S. (Digital Research Entertainment Arts Media Science) at Florida International University, my alma mater! This visionary program is redefining the future of Location-Based Entertainment (LBE), immersive media, and experiential storytelling, and I couldn’t be more excited to contribute to this groundbreaking initiative. Why is this program so important? The LBE industry is projected to surpass $20 billion by 2032, fueled by innovations in themed entertainment, immersive attractions, and next-generation storytelling. As the demand for skilled talent continues to rise, D.R.E.A.M.S. @ FIU is bridging the gap between education and industry, equipping students with hands-on experience, cutting-edge knowledge, and direct mentorship from top professionals in the field. D.R.E.A.M.S. @ FIU is more than just a curriculum—it’s a hub for innovation, where students, faculty, and industry pioneers collaborate to push the boundaries of experiential entertainment. I’m deeply grateful to Program Director Travis Cloyd for selecting me to be part of this mission and for his leadership in shaping such a transformative initiative. As part of the Advisory Board, I’m privileged to join: ? Tom Dolan – Visionary entrepreneur, investor, and leader in digital transformation ?? Cathy Hackl – Leading authority in the Metaverse, AI, and Web3 strategy ?? Wesley Snipes – Hollywood icon, producer, writer, martial artist, entrepreneur, and futurist As well as other esteemed advisors from Universal, Paramount, Sony, Broadway, and Global Tech Enterprises, to help shape the future of experiential entertainment. What excites me the most? ? Mentoring the next generation of creatives and industry innovators ? Collaborating with world-class thought leaders to push the boundaries of immersive experiences ? Giving back to FIU, the university that laid the foundation for my career in international business, with a focus on entertainment and emerging technology I’m incredibly excited to be part of this mission and look forward to making a lasting impact on this industry and the students who will lead it forward. ?? Learn more about D.R.E.A.M.S. @ FIU: Press Release https://lnkd.in/eSxnAqry ?? Meet the incredible group of Advisors: Faculty & Industry Advisors https://lnkd.in/e-abABvu Let’s dream big and build the future of entertainment together! ??? #ImmersiveTech #EntertainmentInnovation #LBE #FIU #Mentorship #NextGenStorytelling #HolisticHost #XR #VR? #AR #AI #ExtendedReality #AugmentedReality #VirtualReality #ArtificialIntelligence #ImmersiveMedia #FloridaInternationalUniversity #Futurist

Had a great time speaking with my friend and colleague Jessica Kizorek students at FIU. They're smart, engaged, and ready to take on digital media. Our collaboration has been a blast and I'm looking forward to coming back soon. Big thanks to Susan Jacobson for being instrumental in making this happen. #FloridaInternationalUniversity

In partnership with Tom Dolan and Dolan Family Foundation, we are proud to announce The Digital Research Entertainment Arts Media Sciences (D.R.E.A.M.S.) Program. Focused on location-based entertainment - D.R.E.A.M.S. will provide hands-on learning, new opportunities, and industry partnerships to prepare students for careers in immersive digital and live entertainment experiences.?It will be a part of our Global Strategic Communication program, housed in our FIU School of Communication.? ? “We are deeply grateful to the Dolan Family Foundation for their generous gift, which will empower FIU students to lead in the rapidly evolving field of location-based entertainment,” said Brian Schriner, dean of CARTA. “This investment in our Global Strategic Communication master’s program underscores our commitment to innovation, hands-on experience, and career readiness. By equipping our students with cutting-edge skills and industry connections, we are ensuring that FIU graduates remain at the forefront of their disciplines, ready to shape the future of immersive entertainment experiences.” ? This new addition to FIU CARTA will connect academic research with the innovative media, digital storytelling, and design industry. ?? Learn more at dreams.fiu.edu

We are thrilled to announce that FIU’s School of Architecture has ranked among the Top 25 in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject- U.S. Public! This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication and talent of our students, faculty, alumni, and the entire CARTA community. To our Department Chairs and College Dean, Brian Schriner - thank you for your leadership in this recognition. Congratulations! Read here to learn more about our accomplishment: https://lnkd.in/e-p94RQ4] #CARTACreativeForcesAtWork #CARTALeads

Thank you to the FIU Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator for hosting me and Paolo last week. It was a pleasure meeting the faculty, engaging with talented students, and exploring their creativity—pushing the boundaries of innovation and design. Our conversation touched on the purpose of design and the key skills that shape a designer’s impact: the ability to listen, to teamwork, to promote ideas, and to tell compelling stories. It was an inspiring exchange, and I look forward to seeing where their creative journeys take them. #PininfarinaOfAmerica #Design #Innovation #Creativity #Art #Storytelling #FIU #Incubator #Pininfarina #WeMoveDreams

It looks like we had a fun week; let's recap! ?? Our students from the Department of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design took a trip to the Everglades National Park for Professor Linda Chamorro's South Florida Landscapes course. The trip entailed a hands-on experience that enhanced their studies on South Florida's natural and cultural Landscapes. Professor Jacek J. Kolasinski, PhD, MFA, Director of Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator (RA+DI), shared the dynamic work that has been created in our FIU RA+DI incubator at the Faculty of Design, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland! This is an amazing opportunity for us to showcase what we do here at the School of Architecture at FIU! The 3rd Annual Kimley-Horn x FIU Design Charette was filled with creativity and innovation. Our Department of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design partnered with Kimley-Horn to host the event to provide students with valuable information and the ability to collaborate with their peers on projects that can help in future designs. Cristina Arcay, President of AM16 Agency and Partner of NEON16, came to speak at a weekly meeting for BOLD Agency at FIU School of Communication. She was able to provide her insights and experience in the music industry promoting artists and the creative process behind the scenes. Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication held their Women's History Month Webniar: Are We Getting the Whole Story? Guest speakers Kelley French, Narrative Accountability Editor at The Washington Post, and Erika Gonzalez, Anchor/Reporter at CBS News Miami, discussed how to navigate media literacy in order to uncover the whole story. The Department of Theatre shared a first look inside their most recent production, Intimate Apparel. The first show will be on Friday, April 4th. Be sure to purchase your tickets with the link below! https://lnkd.in/eAHTBsZK We are so grateful for all the opportunities our students, faculty, and staff have here at FIU CARTA. Looking forward to what the rest of the semester has in store! ?? #FIUCARTA #CARTACreativeForcesAtWork #FIUSOA #FIUTheatre #FIUCommunication #KopenhaverCenter #FIULandscape

Big news! FIU’s hospitality program is ranked No. 4 among U.S. public universities by QS World University Rankings! ?? Several other FIU programs also made the top 50. FIU continues to excel in education, innovation, and student success. #FIU #QSWorldRankings #QSWUR Read more: https://ow.ly/Ho3u50VifFr