FIU Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs

Cuba's government has approved 176 economic reforms aimed at opening banking, energy, and real estate to private and foreign investment. But will they lead to lasting change?

Daniel Pedreira, visiting assistant teaching professor in the Department of Politics & International Relations, says the reforms remain largely untested, since Cuba still lacks the legal framework needed to protect outside investment. He also sees the timing as tied to mounting pressure from Washington, suggesting the move may be a last-minute response to the Trump administration rather than a genuine shift in policy. Read and view the full story via CBS:

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/south-florida-legislator-maria-elvira-salazar-skeptical-of-cubas-economic-reforms/

Congratulations to Green School alumnus and U.S. Army veteran Gonzalo Suarez on his return to his role as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterproliferation Policy at the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation. In this position, Suarez oversees U.S. counterproliferation efforts spanning weapons of mass destruction, missiles and dual-use technologies, including sanctions, export controls and related diplomatic activities.

We are proud to see our alumni shaping U.S. national security policy at the highest levels of government.

Miami’s West Grove neighborhood and annual Goombay Festival participants continue to celebrate their heritage, despite the shrinking Black population of the neighborhood now called Little Bahamas. Aarti Mehta-Kroll, assistant director of the Public Humanities Lab, is encouraged by the event bridging the divide between the east and west Grove and the community keeping Bahamian Junkanoo traditions alive.

Read the full story in The Miami Times here: https://www.miamitimesonline.com/lifestyles/arts_culture/how-a-miami-family-is-passing-bahamian-junkanoo-traditions-to-the-next-generation/article_0b690b5f-25a5-4388-b263-76028fe81e93.html

Acompáñenos en el lanzamiento de la obra De Argentina al mundo, una fascinante mirada a cómo una de las instituciones más emblemáticas del fútbol logró reinventarse como una marca global. El autor y profesor de política y relaciones internacionales de la Green School, Eduardo Gamarra, analizará la transformación de la Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA), desde una situación de crisis financiera hasta convertirse en una potencia internacional, así como el papel de Lionel Messi como embajador global y las estrategias que permitieron convertir la gloria obtenida en la Copa del Mundo en un impacto comercial duradero.

Regístrate aqui: go.fiu.edu/afa

We are proud to congratulate Ana Quintana-Lovett, BA '11/MA '13, on her appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. A double alumna of the Green School, Ana earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and her Master of Arts in Global Affairs at FIU. She has built a distinguished career in foreign policy—just prior to her DAS position she served as a Senior Advisor in the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Office. Ana is a testament to the caliber of leaders the Green School cultivates.

When Spirit Airlines collapsed, South Florida's working-class communities felt it first and hardest. Hakan Yilmazkuday, professor of FIU Economics, spoke with the Miami Times about what he calls a "dual welfare cost" — the compounding blow of sudden job loss hitting at the same time as high inflation and a rising cost of living.

For displaced workers, the challenges go beyond their own paychecks. Lost wages ripple outward, affecting local businesses and neighborhood economies across the region. And with thousands of workers entering the job market at once, finding a new position that matches their previous pay and benefits becomes even harder.

Read more:

A month after Spirit's shutdown, South Florida workers search for what's next When Tiyahni woke up during a vacation overseas and checked her phone at 2:15 a.m., she expected to see the usual notifications.

The Green School congratulates alumna Maria Montserrat Alvarado '08 on her historic appointment by Pope Leo XIV as prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication. Alvarado’s promotion is the first time a woman who has not taken religious vows is appointed to lead a dicastery of the Holy See. A historic milestone and a proud moment for the Green School.

📸: Vatican Media

Stellar student Emilie Christiansen describes her experience at FIU as "transformative." She arrived from Denmark on an athletic scholarship, competed on the Women's cross-country and track teams, and is now finishing her Ph.D. in international crime and justice at the Green School. Along the way, she discovered a talent for GIS and crime mapping, publishing research alongside associate professor Stephen Pires.

Read Emilie's story via FIU News here: https://news.fiu.edu/2026/from-denmark-to-miami-a-reinvention

The Green School was proud to host the 21st Annual Government Statewide Conference last week. Students connected with local, state, and federal agencies to explore internships, part-time roles, and full-time career opportunities, meeting directly with hiring managers, recruiters and agency representatives to learn what it takes to launch a career in public service.

Politics & International Relations professor Eric Lob joined CBS News to offer expert analysis on the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire and the escalating tensions reshaping the Middle East. As Iran's leadership warns Gulf States against acting as shields for U.S. military operations, and exchanges between the U.S. and Iran intensify, the region faces a critical inflection point. With Iran also cautioning Israel to halt strikes on Lebanon, the diplomatic and security stakes could not be higher. Watch here:

Breaking down the wider situation in the Middle East as U.S. and Iran exchange fire Eric Lob, associate professor for politics and international relations at Florida International University, joins CBS News to discuss the latest developments between the U.S. and Iran.