Michelle Lorenzo Palacio

As Vice President, Michelle is responsible for providing strategic leadership for all aspects of Governmental Relations. Michelle began her FIU career in November 2004, serving as Director of State Relations and then later as Assistant Vice President of Health Policy and Governmental Affairs for the Academic Health Center. She has been a key member of FIU’s governmental relations team, responsible for seeking state funding for the university, as well as seeking state approval and funding for the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, and leading an increasingly active state substantive agenda. Before coming to FIU, Michelle was a Governmental Relations Consultant for Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., a diverse commercial law firm with more than one hundred twenty five attorneys practicing in offices throughout Florida, in New York City, Nassau, Bahamas, and Prague, Czech Republic, plus affiliated offices in France and Israel. Prior to that, she worked as the Chief Legislative Aide for Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio when he served as Florida House Majority Leader in the Florida Legislature. Early on in her career, Michelle coordinated numerous political campaigns in South Florida. In 2008, Michelle was featured as an “up-and-comer” in South Florida New Establishment Magazine. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Florida International University. She is currently a board member of Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services.