Stephanie van Romondt

While attending elementary school in her native Curaçao, Stephanie van Romondt struggled with a mild form of dyslexia.  It kept her from excelling academically and from feeling accepted. After a teacher told Stephanie’s parents that their daughter should not pursue higher education, Stephanie’s mission became to prove everyone wrong.

Stephanie came to FIU in 2012 to study hospitality management and immediately became involved in student leadership activities. In May 2013, Stephanie was the only freshman chosen for an eight-week summer internship program in the gaming capital of the world, Macau. She is now completing a second internship with an entertainment event management company in Miami.

Stephanie helped reinstate the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International – Collegiate Chapter, South Florida region, and served as chapter president for two years.  Stephanie also was invited to join the Hospitality Student Leadership Council managed by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Career Development Program at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Currently, Stephanie is co-chair of the council and serves as an FIU peer mentor.

Stephanie credits the Chaplin School’s faculty and staff for her success, especially Delio Morato, her academic advisor.

After graduation, Stephanie will move to Dubai for a year to work as a manager in training in Atlantis, The Palm Hotel & Resort. Stephanie dreams of one day becoming a CEO and, through her passion for the hospitality industry, making a difference in the lives of others.