Staff and Administrators

Sarah Anderson
Sarah Anderson, senior secretary in the office of student services, has more than 20 years experience as a secretary/administrative assistant working for such institutions as Harvard University, the Boston Public School Department, the Children’s Defense Fund, and Bridge Upward Bound. Prior to joining SJMC in fall 1995, she managed her family’s company for seven years.

Karen Baer
Karen Baer, coordinator of administrative services, holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Born and raised in North Miami, Karen has worked in the field of education for 15 years.

David Berry
David Berry, marketing coordinator, graduated from FIU with a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communication. He also holds an associates degree in mass communication from Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY. Prior to coming to the SJMC, he had professional experience in both advertising and public relations. In 2006, he received the prestigious Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Chapter Endowment Fund award.

Kate Caylor
Kate Caylor, senior secretary for the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, has been with FIU for 12 years. Kate loves people and plants, and tends them both..

Erika Glenn
Erika Glenn, coordinator in the Office of Student Services, graduated from FIU with a master of science degree in higher education administration, with an emphasis in student affairs administration. She received her bachelor of arts degree in organizational and interpersonal communication studies with a minor in Spanish from Kent State University. Erika comes to the SJMC with five years of experience in Student Services and Housing and Residential Life. She currently serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Department of Speech Communication.

Meira Langsam
Meira Langsam, program assistant for the dean’s office, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and raised in Central Florida. She has a B.B.A. in management from Florida Atlantic University. She joined FIU from Miami-Dade Community College, where she worked for seven years with students with disabilities in the Access Services Department. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening and crocheting. She and her husband reside in Miami Beach.

Francisco Marrero
Francisco Marrero, coordinator of student services, graduated from the University of Havana with a Bachelors of Science in economics. Francisco comes to SJMC with three years experience working at FIU’s registrar office. He has a strong familiarity with academic records, Panthersoft, SASS, and FIU policies.

Jose Rodriguez
Jose Rodriguez, director of student services, graduated from the University of Miami with a Master of Science degree in education, with an emphasis in higher education/enrollment management. He also received his Bachelor of Science in communication from the University of Miami. Jose comes to SJMC with seven years experience in academic advising and administration. While at UM, he worked in the department of psychology; in 2005 he came to FIU’s College of Business Administration. In 2006, he received a professional award for best presentation by NACADA.

Rod Stumhofer
Rod Stumhofer, director of technology operations, joined SJMC in August 2002, bringing more than 40 years experience in the broadcast arena. His last position was at WLRN as the director of engineering. He has built hundreds of TV, radio and multimedia facilities during his career, including those for Jose Feliciano, Glen Glen Sound, KTLA, SBS, MCA, TeleVisa, Univision, MTV, Boeing, Sinclair, GTE and AT&T.

Merci Topley
Merci Topley, administrative assistant to the dean for the past 16 years, was a legal secretary for more than 15 years in the Dade County State Attorney`s Office and in the Legal Department of the State of Florida Comptroller, in the regional office in Miami, Florida, prior to her employment with SJMC. In her spare time, Merci is an avid grower and collector of orchids and rare tropical plants.

Carmen Tucker
Carmen Tucker, senior secretary for the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting, has been with SJMC since June 1995. She has more than 25 years of secretarial and administrative experience, having worked in New York City for RCA Records, the Metropolitan Opera House and Royal Crown Cola.

Veronica Van Derdys-Sztam
Verónica Van Derdys-Sztam, assistant director of student services, graduated from FIU with a Master of Science degree in mass communication, with an emphasis in investigative journalism. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in public communication from the University of Puerto Rico. Verónica comes to the SJMC with five years prior experience as coordinator of testing and advising for FIU’s Undergraduate Studies office. She was recently awarded the High Achievers Award for Outstanding Service and Commitment from Student Government.

John Virtue
John Virtue, B.J., director of the SJMC’s International Media Center, has given workshops in 16 Latin American countries. A native of Canada, he has spent most of his professional career in the tropics and subtropics. He was a foreign correspondent and news agency executive for 17 years with United Press International, based in Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico. Before joining FIU, he was executive editor of the daily newspaper El Mundo in San Juan, Puerto Rico. More...