Pentera Webinar - Pathway to Philanthropist Program: How Florida International University Is Redefining Charitable Giving

Laura Padron: As associate vice president at the Florida International University Foundation, Laura Padron's innovative approach leads FIU's $750M Next Horizon Campaign with major gift officers across the academic colleges and schools, athletics, and student affairs, including the newly created Development Office for Student Success and the Estate and Planned Giving and Research and Prospect Management areas. Laura returned to FIU in 2012 after five years at the University of Miami's School of Business, where she served as assistant dean for development—spearheading the School's role in the university's $1.6B campaign.

Laura's previous roles at FIU included senior director for donor relations and stewardship and establishing the institution's first Donor Relations and Stewardship Office of programs and services for engaging donor giving experiences, including the 2005 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Gold Award-winning Torch Society and its philanthropic commencement recognition program. She has since received multiple awards for leadership, speaking engagements, and fundraising programs from various professional affiliated organizations—including a 2021 Global Forum for Education and Learning (GFEL) Top 100 Visionaries in Education Award.

Before academia Laura directed national programs, including the prestigious Presidential Scholars in the Arts and YoungArts programs at the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Laura is a graduate of Florida State University and a former president-elect and board member of Miami's Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Livia Souza: Livia Souza joined the Florida International University Foundation development team as associate director of estate & planned giving in April 2019. She leads major gift officers through FIU's Office of Estate & Planned Giving in its Next Horizon Campaign and is co-team lead for women's initiatives under FIU's Office of Inclusive Philanthropy. She received a Top 100 Visionaries in Education Award at the 2021 Global Forum for Education and Learning (GFEL) and the 2020 Rookie of the Year Award for largest impact in the first year of service at the FIU Foundation. Livia has been invited to speak at multiple professional conferences including the 2021 CASE All Districts Conference.

Previously, Livia worked as a fiduciary financial advisor at the Gabor Agency managing a book of business of more than 350 clients and providing financial planning services for university employees in South Florida. She holds Series 65 and Series 6 security licenses and degrees in finance and economics from Florida State University.