Kopenhaver Center

08/27/2026

We’re proud to spotlight the inaugural Women Faculty Moving Forward Fellowship cohort, presented by the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication in partnership with AEJMC.

Five exceptional women leaders were selected for this new initiative designed to recruit, mentor, train and empower early-career women in journalism and mass communication education.

Launched Aug. 4 during the AEJMC conference in New Orleans, the fellowship brought together inspiring women ready to grow, lead and take the next step in their academic careers.

Visit our Instagram to meet the inaugural cohort and see highlights from this milestone event. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dci4W0AhDHZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Here’s to moving women faculty forward!

08/26/2026

On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was certified, securing voting rights for women in the United States. In 1971, Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day to recognize the generations-long fight for women’s suffrage.

More than a century later, disparities remain. Women make up 40% of journalists worldwide but hold only 27% of top editorial positions.

The Kopenhaver Center works to help close that gap by preparing and connecting the next generation of women leaders in communication. Its programs have generated 48,000 points of engagement through training, professional development and networking opportunities.

Women’s Equality Day recognizes how far women have come while underscoring the continued need for greater access, opportunity and leadership.

Photo credit: Women’s National Press Club/Washington Press Club

08/25/2026

We’re continuing our Leadership Council Spotlight by introducing three more accomplished leaders advancing the Kopenhaver Center’s mission. 💫

Marisabel Muñoz, Senior Vice President of Communications for Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing, brings extensive experience in strategic communications, media relations and international outreach. Her leadership helps strengthen industry connections and expand the influence of women in communication.

Ana Chammas, Director of Innovation for Miami-Dade County, has spent more than two decades advancing technology, digital transformation and community engagement. A longtime member of the Kopenhaver Center Leadership Council, she also supports student mentorship and the development of future talent in digital media and communications.

Caroline Porter is a journalist and media strategist whose work focuses on sustainable business and civic models for journalism. A former Wall Street Journal reporter and Fulbright Scholar, she has also worked with media organizations, academic institutions and nonprofits on audience engagement, partnerships and the future of local news.

Swipe to meet more of the leaders helping shape the vision of the Kopenhaver Center.

Read more here: https://carta.fiu.edu/kopenhavercenter/about/kopenhaver-center-leadership-council/

08/25/2026

Congratulations to Dorothy Bland, Ph.D., member of the Kopenhaver Center Leadership Council, on being named 2026 NABJ Educator of the Year and receiving the 2025 DJNF Richard J. Levine Journalism Champion Award! 🎉
We're proud to have Dorothy's leadership and expertise as part of our Council. These honors reflect years of dedication to journalism education and to lifting the next generation of Black journalists and communication professionals. Congratulations on these well-deserved recognitions!

08/25/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Tatiana Andrienko-Genin, Research Associate and LEAD Research Consortium Chair at the Kopenhaver Center on her latest publication!

Co-authored with Professor Marianela Cabral, the article examines how virtual exchanges shape disciplinary learning for and education students and contributes to a deeper understanding of how cross-cultural communication builds more inclusive attitudes in education and the workplace.

We're proud to have Dr. Andrienko-Genin on the Kopenhaver Center team and leading our LEAD Research Consortium, and we congratulate her on this milestone.
The article is available here: https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-032-10711-4_46-1

Grounded in Mezirow’s transformative learning theory and the social model of disability, the study analyzes how participation in the intercultural arts-based dialogue within virtual exchange triggered transformative shifts reshaping undergraduate...

08/21/2026

Meet Melissa Medina, a distinguished member of the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center Leadership Council. 💫

As President, CEO and Co-founder of eMerge Americas, Medina is helping strengthen South Florida’s presence as a global technology and innovation hub while connecting leaders and ideas across industries.

Her experience in technology, entrepreneurship and community leadership brings a valuable perspective to the Kopenhaver Center’s mission of advancing women in communication.

Read more here:

https://carta.fiu.edu/kopenhavercenter/programs/leadership-fellows-program/kopenhaver-center-fellows-2017-llk-center-2/melissa-medina/

08/20/2026

Meet Bert Medina, a distinguished member of the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center Leadership Council. 💫

As President of WPLG, Inc., the ABC affiliate serving the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market, Medina brings extensive experience in media leadership, broadcasting and executive management to the Council.

His industry expertise and commitment to leadership make him an important voice in supporting the Kopenhaver Center’s mission and the next generation of communication professionals.

Learn more about Bert Medina and his work with the Leadership Council here:
https://carta.fiu.edu/kopenhavercenter/about/kopenhaver-center-leadership-council/bert-medina/

08/19/2026

Meet Dr. Dianne Lynch, a distinguished member of the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center Leadership Council and a recent Kopenhaver Center Woman of Distinction Awardee. 💫

Dr. Lynch served as president of Stephens College from 2009 to 2025, leading the institution through a period of renewed financial stability, campus investment, academic growth and a strengthened commitment to its historic mission as a women’s college.

Her leadership experience and dedication to advancing women make her an important voice within the Kopenhaver Center’s mission to support, develop and elevate women in communication.

Read more here:

https://carta.fiu.edu/kopenhavercenter/about/kopenhaver-center-leadership-council/dianne-lynch/

08/18/2026

Honoring the remarkable women who make up the 2026 Women Faculty Moving Forward Fellowship cohort. 💫

From institutions across the country, this year’s Fellows gathered in New Orleans during AEJMC 2026 to share knowledge, build meaningful connections and strengthen their paths as scholars, educators, researchers, mentors and leaders.

Through their work, leadership and commitment to advancing others, these women are helping shape what’s next for academia and the field of communication.

Moving forward, making an impact and opening doors for the women who follow. 🎓✨

08/18/2026

Celebrating the scholars, educators, researchers, mentors and leaders who make up the 2026 Women Faculty Moving Forward Fellowship cohort. 💫

Representing institutions from across the country, this year’s Fellows brought their experiences, expertise and perspectives to New Orleans for the Kopenhaver Center’s fellowship workshop during AEJMC 2026.

Their work is helping shape the future of academia, communication and the next generation of women leaders.