Meet The Team
Dr. Andres Tremante
Senior Director
Dr. Andres Tremante has been the deputy director of the CELL-MET and PATHS-UP Thrust Areas. Dr. Tremante also serves as the Principal Investigator on the NSF FGLSAMP, NACME, The Children’s Trust funded FIU ENLACE project, and FLAME.
After receiving his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad Simon Bolivar and his Doctorate from École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers in Energy Conversion and Transportation, he joined FIU in 2008, bringing 25 years of experience from Europe and Latin America in academia and the oil industry. With 37 years of academic experience overall, Dr. Tremante has founded and chaired multiple international conferences on Education and Information Systems, Engineering Innovation, and Energy Informatics. His expertise spans Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Energy Systems, and Sustainability. Previously, he served as Vice-President for Research & Development at Universidad Simon Bolivar, facilitating international collaborations while overseeing technical support for industry partners. His strong leadership credentials and scholarly research record continue to benefit both the MME Department and CDSSEC.
Mais Kayyali
Associate Director
Mais Kayyali is the Associate Director for the Center for Development, Support, and Success in Engineering and Computing (CDSSEC) at Florida International University’s (FIU) College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). Mais holds a Bachelor’s in Finance, a Master’s in Hospitality Management, and is pursuing a doctorate in Engineering and Computing Education at FIU. Her research focuses on mentorship, support systems, student transitions, and the experiences of part-time graduate students.
Previously, Mais led the Graduate Education, Admissions, and Recruitment (GEAR) team at CEC and provided administrative support to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. She also served as Program Coordinator/Coordinator of Administrative Services in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and as Program Assistant in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE).
Kristian Cosculluela
Program Director
Kristian Cosculluela is the director of FIU-ENLACE, a Children’s Trust Grant, and Engineers on Wheels at CDSSEC.
With a strong commitment to education and community, he excels as a collaborative leader, creating positive and motivating spaces. With two decades devoted to K-12 Pre-College Educational programs, his hands-on participation to both FIU-ENLACE & Engineers on Wheels highlights his dedication. Kristian plays a key role in driving outreach throughout the college’s K-12 programs and Pre-College STEAM activities. His experience and passion contribute to program growth and student development.
Rodrigo Barboza Prado
Graduate Assistant
Rodrigo Barboza Prado is the Graduate Assistant for the Center for Development, Support, and Success in Engineering and Computing (CDSSEC) and the School of Universal Computing, Construction & Engineering Education (SUCCEED) at Florida International University (FIU). Rodrigo holds a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and is pursuing a doctorate in Engineering and Computing Education at FIU. His research focuses on community-based relationships in engineering outreach, supporting initiatives such as the NSF-funded CREED2 project, which promotes culturally responsive engineering experiences.
As the Graduate Assistant in charge of Engineers on Wheels (EoW), he oversees administrative operations and team coordination of the program. With a strong interest in Construction Management, he is passionate about bridging the gap between engineering education and real-world application throughout the college’s various outreach programs and STEAM activities.