Cathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming exec, futurist, & speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, & gaming platforms strategy. She’s the co-CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company & a top tech voice on LinkedIn. Hackl has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has worked with companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, & Clinique on their emerging tech & gaming journeys. As a sought-after keynote speaker, she’s spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF, CES, MWC, & more. She’s one of Ad Age’s Leading Women of 2023, was featured on the cover of Forbes Latam’s 100 Most Powerful Women 2023 issue, and is on the Vogue Business 100 Innovators inaugural list. She hosts Adweek’s highly successful TechMagic podcast and is popularly known in tech circles as the Godmother of the Metaverse. Cathy has been a fixture in the world of immersive technology for almost a decade with many media appearances in CNBC’s Squawk Box, 60 Minutes, CNN, Good Morning America, GQ, Time, The Economist, Bloomberg, and is a guest editor for Vogue Singapore. In 2022, she became the first human to ring NASDAQ’s opening bell and open the financial markets both in physical and avatar form while doing so on live television.
Robert Grillo leads a culturally diverse division of over 300 IT professionals. His passion for leading FIU’s Division of IT is fueled by a commitment to delivering the most innovative technological advancements to the university community. Under his leadership over the last 13 years, FIU has grown its technological infrastructure to support the growing needs of over 65,000 students, faculty, researchers, and staff. Prior to FlU, Robert led the consulting division for Oracle/PeopleSoft Latin America and Caribbean. Robert also worked for Andersen Consulting LLP (currently known as Accenture) as a senior consultant for Fortune 500 companies.
Matt Hagood is a technology professional who is a consensus builder and leads multiple university initiatives to optimize and improve classroom technology, ed-tech and event support at FIU. Matt began his career in sports marketing and entertainment with the Florida Marlins overseeing game presentation. He then served as the Associate Director of Instructional Technology at Florida Atlantic University, before joining FIU in 2012.
Matt is currently also the Co-Chair of the Technology Evaluation Group and oversees the FIU EdIT Conference.
Aaron Robles is an Instructional Design Consultant at FIU Online. With 3+ years' experience, he crafts engaging ed-tech solutions, focusing on active learning and social mobility, aiming to revolutionize education and inspire learners.
Dr. Amanda Thomas is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Clinical Assistant Professor for the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences-Physical Therapy Department. She worked as a physical therapist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital as a pediatric specialist in neurorehabilitation. The courses she teaches in the physical therapy program include neurological sequences, pediatrics, research projects, and clinical internships. Her research focuses on educational success, innovative educational implementation, physical literacy, and 3D printing in physical therapy. Her recent article, published in 2023, was the first study worldwide that implemented a rehabilitation protocol utilizing a 3D-printed hand in pediatrics. She was recently awarded the RETI- Rewarding Excellence in Teaching Incentive from FIU and featured in the NWCNHS Annual Report for her innovative solutions to academia and personalized rehabilitation approaches.
Matamoros is a Program Manager for the Graduate Certificate in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
Dr. Arijit Sengupta (Jit) is Professor and Associate Dean at the College of Business at FIU. He is passionate about teaching about technology use in business applications. His teaching and research areas primary include Information Systems.
Brian Chico is an innovative Instructional Design Assoc. at FIU Online, blending visual design & storytelling to make engaging online courses.
Prof. Granados-Cifuentes is an associate teaching professor of biology at FIU. She teaches core and elective classes with small (18-50) and large enrollments (240+), like Genetics, Evolution, and Human Genetics. She loves to innovate using technology.
Dr. Jan-Martijn Meij, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), teaches sociology courses. He incorporates technology tools into his pedagogy and has designed a course called "Sociology in the Digital Age", which critically engages with recent developments in AI.
Dr. Jeannette Tejeda, with over 30 years of experience, specializes in AI and the masterful integration of instructional technology. Through the AI Institute at M-DCPS, she champions the ethical use of AI, transforming educational practices.
Jeni is an Instructional Design Consultant with over 9 years of experience working in Higher Ed. Her passion for game-based learning, psychology, & equitable education makes her the resident game designer and theory guru on the FIU Online LDI team.
Juan Matos is a Clinical IT Field Analyst II at FIU's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, whose goal is to help facilitate higher learning opportunities with the best integrated technology FIU has to offer at the College of Medicine.
In her position as an Instructional Technology Facilitator with Broward County Public Schools, Karen Kaya channels her enthusiasm for technology to elevate the educational journey of teachers and students alike, utilizing innovative digital tools.
Kieron Williams, an Instructional Design Consultant at FIU Online, has over 4 years of experience creating award-winning online courses. Passionate about storytelling, he researches game-based learning, narrative psychology, and emerging edtech.
Maikel Right, Associate Director of Instructional Learning Technology at FIU Online and faculty fellow at FIU’s Honors College, is also the CDO of a digital consulting firm and board member of VirtueCo, providing art programs for underserved youth.
Margarita Malpica is an Instructional Technology Facilitator with Broward County Public Schools. She has a Bachelor's in Electronic Engineering, a Master's in Education, 11 years of elementary experience, and a passion for innovation and technology.
Nashira Moore is an Instructional Technology Facilitator with Broward County. Her role involves training educators on different technology platforms that enhance student achievement. For 22 years she has supported education and digital learning.
Dr. Weiler is a professor in the Dept of Medical Education at FIU HWCOM. She is the Academic Program Director of the Graduate Certificate in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, where she teaches genetics and molecular biology.
