Meet Dr. Agatha Caraballo | Associate Teaching Professor and Founding Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Agatha Caraballo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Agatha, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Asuncion, Paraguay to a Brazilian mother while my American father served in the Peace Corps. We relocated to the United States when I was an infant and I grew up in California with two sisters. My childhood was chaotic at times but as a bookworm, I coped and thrived through my love of reading. Being the middle child of divorced parents, I felt compelled to serve as a frequent mediator and problem solver, and that need to serve and help is deeply seated. I moved to Miami in 1999 as a transfer student and enrolled at Florida International University. After starting a family, I returned to FIU and earned my Ph.D. in Public Affairs, and then joined my department’s faculty 11 years ago. In my various roles as a matriarch, professor, director, and civic leader, I try to offer solutions and bring people together.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my career in academia as a Federal Work Study while I was an undergraduate student and later worked as a Financial Aid Officer and Career Services Advisor. After earning my Ph.D. in Public Affairs at FIU in 2012, I joined the faculty of the Department of Public Policy and Administration as a Digital Instructor, teaching fully online courses. When I became the Founding Director of the new Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership at FIU in 2021, I was able to incorporate my extracurricular activities in terms of professional development, community engagement, and collaborative partnerships. I think what sets me apart from others is my ingenuity, drive, compassion, and love for my community. My willingness to go above and beyond and volunteer to do the work that others may avoid has propelled my career. I genuinely care about people and the relationships that I build and most proud of the students that I have mentored who have excelled in their careers and are now paying it forward. My journey has not been easy and I have had to overcome many challenges including being underestimated, denigrated, and disrespected by those who questioned my capabilities and credentials. However, I’m fortunate to have a strong village of supporters to help me juggle my personal and professional responsibilities and ambitions. Over the years, I’ve learned that you can change the world by changing one person’s life. My life’s mission is to help others and do what I can to make this world a better place.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would start with a tour of downtown Miami on the PeopleMover showing them Brickell and Bayside and then take them to visit the Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown and eat at the Red Rooster or the Lil Greenhouse Grill. A visit to the Frost Science Museum or the Perez Art Museum Miami and then to Wynwood to check out the murals and a tour of the Design District. We’d go to Miami Beach and drive down Ocean Drive and perhaps walk on the Boardwalk, with a stop at Joe’s Stone Crabs for takeout to eat at South Pointe Park. Next, I would take them for a tour of both FIU campuses, the Modesto Maidique Campus down south and the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami. I live in Miami Shores and some of my favorite nearby restaurants are Fiorito’s in Little Haiti and Manjays in The Citadel. Also, visit Key Biscayne and Crandon Park and brunch at The Rusty Pelican for the views of downtown. Perhaps also visits to Vizcaya and Fairchild Tropical Gardens.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have been very fortunate to have many amazing mentors, supporters, and sponsors. My first person to shoutout would be my amazing husband of 21 years, Leonel F. Caraballo, and father of my two wonderful children. Professionally, I want to recognize some of my FIU colleagues Drs. Meredith Newman, Sukumar Ganapati, Howard Frank, Valerie Patterson, Nicki Fraster, and the late Dr. John F, Stack Jr. Thank you for believing in me and for your support. The American Society for Public Administration has been my professional home and I feel fortunate to work in the public sector and with people like Roslyn Alic-Batson who truly care about making the world a better place.

Website: https://sipa.fiu.edu/people/faculty/public-policy-and-administration/caraballo.agatha.html

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