The Beach Speaks

From Sandy Puerto Rican Shores to the "Swamps" of Central Florida: An Engineer’s Life Shaped by the Land and Sea with Sindia M. Rivera-Jiménez, Ph.D.

• Paige Friend

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In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Sindia M. Rivera-Jiménez, Ph.D., a native of Puerto Rico who was born and raised near the ocean. With a deep love for the beach, Sindia built a beautiful life in Puerto Rico, earning a degree in engineering, meeting her husband, and starting a family. The ocean was always a central part of her life.

However, a unique opportunity to advance her career took her away from her beloved beaches to the "swamps" of Central Florida, where she became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education and an Affiliate Faculty of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Facing the challenge of teaching Chemistry in English—a language she learned later in life—Sindia's story is one of resilience, adaptation, and maintaining her beach-loving spirit.

In this episode, Sindia shares her experience of transitioning from the shores of Puerto Rico to landlocked Central Florida, coping with the distance from family and the ocean, and finding ways to stay connected to her roots.

For all the beach lovers out there who find themselves far from the coast, Sindia offers hope, inspiration, and practical tips for keeping the spirit of the sea alive, no matter where you are.

What do you do when you're landlocked and need  to "reach the beach?"
Click the "Send Us a Text Message" at the top of the Summary and let me know!

About my Guest:
Sindia M. Rivera-Jiménez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Department of Engineering Education
Affiliate Faculty of Chemical Engineering Department
Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida




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