Biography
Ms. Mais Kayyali serves as the Associate Director of the Center for Development, Support, and Success in Engineering and Computing (CDSSEC) at Florida International University’s College of Engineering & Computing. As a higher education administrator and post-traditional doctoral candidate, she drives advancements in STEM education, student success, and workforce development through strategic, data-informed leadership and collaborative cross-functional partnerships.
In her role, Ms. Kayyali offers senior leadership across CDSSEC initiatives spanning K–12 to graduate education, integrating scholarly research with large-scale program administration to enhance support systems and pathways in engineering and computing. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Engineering and Computing Education, focusing her dissertation on how institutional agents support the thriving of post-traditional doctoral students in engineering and computing education programs.
Her administrative portfolio encompasses oversight of CDSSEC’s student-led initiatives (EoW, SPARK, and GEAR-UP), school-partnered programs (FLAME, ENLACE), and student support resources (OURS, GROW, peer tutoring, and scholarships). With an interdisciplinary background—including a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, a Master’s degree in Hospitality Management, and doctoral training in Engineering and Computing Education—she offers a distinctive blend of strategic program management, academic leadership, and research expertise.