There are new faces in the Department of Finance and Administration as well as familiar ones in new positions.
Sara Tippit is associate director.
Sara Tippit (MSF ’12, BBA ’05) is new to the position of associate director of finance in the College of Business’ Department of Finance and Administration, but she has a long relationship with FIU Business and Florida International University (FIU).
A student assistant in the Department of Finance (now the Department of Finance and Real Estate) from 2002-04, she got to know the finance professors and now is expanding her relationships to include all faculty and staff.
“I am meeting lots of people, and finding the job exciting because we are implementing many changes, which will be for the better,” she said. “We are trying to reach out to departments more effectively and improve the way we work as unit.”
For the six years prior to rejoining the college, she was employed in FIU’s Division of Research for six years and held an internship with Wachovia Securities.
Geninne del Oso now accounting coordinator.
Geninne del Oso (MBA ’12, BBA ’10), accounting coordinator, was a graduate assistant in the office beginning in 2010 and will carry on some of the same assignments in her new position. There are added areas of responsibility, including the Procard approval process for the business school’s 49 full-time employees who hold the cards.
“I really enjoy the team and I like dealing with people throughout the college,” said del Oso, who was a customer service representative at State Farm Insurance. “I wanted to build on that customer service experience, along with what I learned about budgets and numbers as an undergraduate at FIU. As I pursue work in finance, this job is great starting point.”
Not only does she have her own history with FIU, but also her mother came to the university for her associate’s degree.
Cynthia Perez holds title of accounting coordinator.
Accounting coordinator Cynthia Perez (BA ’09), who hopes to become a child therapist, has worked in the office since her sophomore year, and also was a full-time graduate assistant.
She handles expense reports, auditing and requisition processing, among many responsibilities.
“I love the environment, the people I work with and my team,” she said.
As a student—she has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and is pursuing her Master of Science degree in clinical mental health—she has appreciated the flexibility of working in the office.
“I work till 5:30, start classes at 7:40 and finish at 10:30,” she said. “I am able to accommodate this along with studying thanks to my work schedule.”
Fernando Rodriguez manages FIU Downtown on Brickell.
Fernando Rodriguez (MBA ’90), senior operations manager at FIU Downtown on Brickell, an engineer by training and a director of public works in a couple cities, has daily responsibility for a facility he describes as “beautiful.”
Beyond ensuring that the space is clean, safe and accessible for students, he also is the point person for construction as FIU doubles the size of the space it is leasing.
Working at the New World School of the Arts gave him a taste of the education environment, and he liked it.
“FIU is a place where I can grow and make a significant contribution,” he said.
An added benefit: “FIU Downtown on Brickell is close to where I live.”
In addition to his FIU MBA, he holds two bachelor’s degrees from Columbia University: a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts.
