Bio
Rocio Benabentos Ph.D., serves as Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching. She brings over 15 years of experience supporting faculty implementing student-centered practices and conducting STEM education research. Most recently, she served as the Associate Director of FIU’s Preeminent STEM Transformation Institute, where she partnered with faculty, students, and institutional leaders to advance evidence-based teaching practices and promote student success. Prior to her time at FIU, she completed her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine, a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, and a Science and Technology AAAS fellowship at the National Science Foundation. Her research interests include faculty professional development, institutional change, and course reform. As Director, Rocio leads CAT's strategic efforts to support faculty development, foster teaching excellence, and expand opportunities for innovation in teaching and learning across the university.