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FIU celebrated the achievements of more than 5,500 students in eight commencement ceremonies from Dec. 16-19. They include students who are shaping the future with their groundbreaking ideas, unwavering dedication, and cutting-edge research.
Graduates included a former student athlete-turned-NFL’s first director of health and innovation, a computer engineer helping the visually impaired “see,” and a marine scientist who found the Greenland shark in Caribbean waters – far from its Arctic home — and who researches how the shark meat trade impacts coastal communities.
“FIU graduates are trailblazers, combining determination and innovation to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell. “From advancing groundbreaking medical and assistive technologies to shaping the future of sports science and marine conservation, Panthers exemplify the excellence and impact that define our university. They make us proud.”
All commencement ceremonies were held at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, located at FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus at 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, 33199.
FIU’s outstanding graduates included:
Taylor Langon, 30, has turned a lifelong passion for sports – as an undergraduate she was a member of her school’s women’s rowing team – and an interest in science into an exciting, trailblazing career with the National Football League. As the organization’s first-ever director of health and innovation, she has responsibility for advancing research and policy around traumatic brain and musculoskeletal injuries. She oversees aggregation of data from the league’s 32 team doctors, consults with physicians and biomedical engineers, leads conferences at which she shares applicable research findings with representatives of other sports leagues, and organizes physical evaluations for the more than 300 athletes who participate annually in the NFL Scouting Combine. She previously managed concussion research and care at two universities with NCAA Division I sports teams. Langon graduated with a Doctor of Athletic Training degree from the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m.
Michael Romano, 23, has taken his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship to revolutionize accessibility. He is one of the two creators of BeyondSight, an assistive technology company that empowers the visually impaired with the security and freedom to go anywhere. With support from StartUp FIU, Romano merged his engineering background with his knowledge of tech and AI to devise a new solution for the challenge of visual impairment. Blending AI and haptic feedback (using touch and vibrations to communicate sensations or feelings), BeyondSight offers users a heightened sense of situational awareness, thus giving them the independence to explore new places without fear of getting hurt. Romano graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering & Computing on Monday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m.
Devanshi Kasana, 32, is making waves in marine conservation and public health through her groundbreaking research, which has taken her from tracking elusive Greenland sharks to studying shark fisheries and the global shark meat trade. Focused on Central America, she is building baselines for catch and consumption at national scales to uncover the supply chains connecting Belize and Guatemala, where demand for shark meat drives this complex trade. Her work highlights the critical role of shark meat in supporting food security and livelihoods for coastal communities worldwide. Kasana received a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences from the College of Arts, Sciences & Education on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m.
FIU Board of Trustees Chair Rogelio Tovar spoke at the 10 a.m. ceremony on Monday, Dec. 16, and at the 3 p.m. ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 19.
FIU Board of Trustees member T. Gene Prescott spoke at the 3 p.m. ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 19.
FIU alumna Diane Ramy Faulconer received an Honorary Doctor of Science, honoris causa, during the 3 p.m. ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 17. A passionate advocate for nursing and health professions education, Faulconer has consulted on healthcare initiatives in underserved countries, and championed innovation through simulation and certification programs. Her philanthropy has transformed FIU’s Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, funding facilities like the STAR and CARE Centers and providing over 150 scholarships for graduate and nursing health sciences students. Faulconer earned both her bachelor’s degree in health sciences and master’s degree in management from FIU in 1974.
