Student Spotlight
Sophya Diaz is a 21-year-old Graphic Design major and Digital Marketing minor with a strong passion for visual creativity. Born in Cuba and raised in Boca Raton for the past 13 years, Sophya grew up surrounded by art and began drawing at a young age. Her interest in design sparked in middle school after taking an introductory Photoshop class, where she discovered the exciting fusion of creativity, technology, and communication that graphic design offers.
Now in her first official semester within FAU’s Graphic Design program, Sophya is eager to continue expanding her skills and refining her artistic voice. She is dedicated, enthusiastic, and inspired by the endless possibilities of design.
Accomplishments:
Sophya graduated from the Honors Program as Valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA and currently serves as Vice President of the student organization Remarque.
Over the past three years, Sofia has made a remarkable impact on campus as a journalist, leader, and student ambassador. She was a core part of the University Press team, where she wrote and produced over 20 stories, served as News Editor for one year, and later as Editor-in-Chief, leading the publication through impactful, student-driven coverage. She also proudly represented FAU and the University Press on the national stage, presenting at the 2025 College Media Association convention. Sofia’s commitment to service extended beyond the newsroom: she served as a Student Ambassador for two years, helping represent the student body at high-profile university events. Most recently, Sofia received First Place in Column Writing at the prestigious Green Eyeshades Awards — a historic journalism competition recognizing excellence in the southeastern United States — for her piece No democracy without journalism — a lesson from Woodward and Bernstein. This column dives into the legacy of journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who exposed the Watergate break-in of 1972. She wrote this following their talk at FAU on Feb. 8, 2024, where they discussed the role of journalism in today’s democracy.
Sofia, a double major in Multimedia Journalism and History, is graduating this August with magna cum laude honors — a distinction that reflects her academic excellence and dedication throughout her time at FAU.
Miranda Miller, a Master’s student in English, has been awarded the prestigious David G. Hartwell Emerging Scholar Award at ICFA 2025. This annual award, presented by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts (IAFA), recognizes the most outstanding paper submitted by a graduate student at the conference. Miranda’s paper, titled "Parasitism, Coexistence, and Colonialism in Animorphs," stood out among submissions, earning her this distinguished honor. Winning this award is a remarkable achievement for any graduate student, but it is especially noteworthy for a first-year MA student, as the award is typically given to PhD candidates. To qualify, Miranda submitted a written version of her paper months in advance, demonstrating her dedication and scholarly excellence. Congratulations to Miranda on this outstanding accomplishment!
Florida Atlantic University senior, Alvaro Sopo Salazar recently accepted a D.C.-based internship with Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar. This spring, he will reside in the nation's capital, having secured housing through The Washington Center, to gain hands-on experience at the heart of American government. Alvaro attributes his initial government internship experience with the FAU Florida Legislative Intenship Program (FFLIP) as a pivotal step in launching his career in public service. He hopes that this position will further his goals, potentially opening doors for full-time employment on Capitol Hill or enhancing his preparation for a master's degree in Political Science at Florida Atlantic University. His experience is marked by a strong commitment to government service. In May 2024, Alvaro interned in the office of Representative Chip LaMarca, which led to a subsequent internship in Senator Marco Rubio’s Miami district office during the summer. Alvaro is on track to graduate from FAU in May 2025, well-prepared to pursue a dynamic career in public policy and governance.
Maisha has been part of the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholar Program, Cohort 5, and she is graduating this spring in less than four (4) years with a major in Political Science and a minor in Sociology, with a career goal of becoming an attorney.The program provides academically talented first-generation, low-income students with financial resources, academic support, and mentorship to give them an opportunity to graduate debt-free from Florida Atlantic University in four years or less. By graduating debt-free from Florida Atlantic University within the targeted timeframe, Maisha exemplifies the transformative impact of the program.
Kaila Palmer is a senior at FAU double-majoring in Communication Studies and Political Science. Kaila is poised to embark on the next chapter of her academic journey, as she sets her sights on pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in Communication with a specialized focus on Digital Media starting this fall. Throughout her time at FAU, Kaila's involvement on campus has been nothing short of impressive. Her passion for extracurricular activities has not only enriched her college experience but also earned her well-deserved recognition. In Spring 2023, Kaila's outstanding contributions to Student Government were honored with the prestigious Senatorial Excellence Award, a testament to her leadership and dedication to making a difference in her community.
Daejah Pierre Jules is currently a senior at Florida Atlantic University, pursuing a degree in Linguistics and aiming to become a Speech Language Pathologist. Before graduating in the Fall of 2023, Daejah is taking a summer internship where she plans to shadow Karina Lee, a speech pathologist. During her time at FAU, Daejah has taken on leadership roles in Tau Sigma and Black Writers Collective and has become an ambassador for the College of Arts and Letters. She also works part-time as a Program Development Student Assistant at the Career Center. Additionally, she has showcased her own poetry at various events on campus and received the TAP program scholarship in the Spring of 2023
Ameion Hamlet is a senior student at Florida Atlantic University with a major in Sociology. Through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy, research, and educational institute, Ameion landed her internship with Tyson Foods, a modern, multi-national, protein-focused food company producing approximately 20% of the beef, pork, and chicken in the United States. Ameion serves as a Governmental Relations Intern in Tyson's Washington D.C. office. In the last year, Tyson Foods and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation became partners to invest in future leaders by giving internship opportunities to students like Ameion."Working with Tyson Foods has allowed me to see government relations from a different perspective and gain knowledge on different topics, like food insecurity or animal welfare. I am more in tune with the agriculture space now," said Amaion during her interview with Tyson Foods.
Natalia Gutierrez is a 24-year-old Senior student at Florida Atlantic University with a major in Language, Linguistics, and Comparative Studies, and a minor in English. She has recently interned in the House Republican Conference which led to two full-time job offers on Capitol Hill.
Read the full article from the Wall Street Journal here.
Kali Jobs is a junior at FAU with a major in Communication Studies and a Minor in Film and Video. Kiley is interning with UFC in Las Vegas this semester as a Production Intern. She is working in the Originals Production Department with the UFC located in Las Vegas, NV. Creating content, assisting with shoots, and helping out at the live events have been a blast for her.