New vice president of advancement ready for success at Florida Polytechnic University
When Kathleen “Kathy” Bowman became chief development officer of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, the school’s development team was bringing in an average of $4 million per year over a five-year period. When she left the position of five years last month to become Florida Polytechnic University’s new […]
Florida Polytechnic University president named one of Floridas most influential business leaders
Dr. Randy Avent, president of Florida Polytechnic University, is one of Florida’s most influential business leaders, according to Florida Trend’s Florida 500 list. The magazine just released its annual list recognizing the most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. “It is an honor to receive this acknowledgement as Florida Poly forges its […]
Big research on tiny technology takes Florida Polytechnic University crew to global symposium
In the cutting-edge field of nanotechnology, there is an ever-present need for the next generation of energy-efficient, high-performance components to advance the limits of possibility. Two Florida Polytechnic University faculty members and their student research assistant focused their study on this area and presented it at a global symposium of the Institute of Electrical and […]
Building businesses through international partnerships
A stop at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, Florida, capped off a week of intense business education for a group of executives from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Uruguay. The nearly 50 business leaders were participants in Experiencia Set, an educational initiative that partnered with The Walt Disney Company to provide a close-up look at […]
Students urged to embrace innovation at speaker series
Technology is changing so dramatically and so rapidly that students need to be prepared to shift with it or risk getting left behind. That was the message Joe Viscuso, senior vice president and director of strategic growth at engineering and construction services firm Pennoni, delivered to a roomful of Florida Polytechnic University students at the […]
Orientation welcomes new Phoenixes to Florida Polytechnic University
Freshmen and new transfer students began getting to know the Florida Polytechnic University way of life during new student orientation held August 19-20. The two-day event introduced new students to the many resources available to them during their time at the University. It included a welcome from Dr. Randy Avent, Florida Poly’s president, as well […]
Purple Fire Week to heat up the fall semester
The Florida Polytechnic University campus will be awash in tie-dye, casino-style games, and fun competition when Purple Fire Week welcomes students back to the fall semester on Wednesday, Aug. 21. “It’s a fun time to come out and experience something different,” said Tonya Chestnut, director of student development at Florida Poly. Chestnut said the welcome-back […]
Freshmen start on right foot with tips from experienced Phoenixes
The first day of the fall semester is just around the corner. The start of a new academic year can be a time of uncertainty for new students. That is why those who have been around Florida Polytechnic University for a few years provide some help to ease the transition. Florida Poly juniors, seniors, and […]
Fulbright Scholar aims to improve Iraqi agriculture
Zubaidah Sabah is beginning a journey at Florida Polytechnic University that she hopes will one day transform the agricultural future of her home country of Iraq. “I just want people in my country to see how automation and using technology – robotics, aerial vehicles and drones in agriculture – will change our situation,” said Sabah, […]
Internship with global company opens door to promising career

Natalie Brum has found a career she’d like to stick with. The Florida Polytechnic University senior is completing her second summer internship in Maplewood, Minnesota, as a project engineer at 3M, a company known for its innovation in products used around the world, including Command hooks, Post-it Notes, and thousands of other items.