In honor of September being National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we are spotlighting Nicole de Lara Puente (’00). Nicole earned her bachelor’s in Mass Communication – Public Relations at FIU and now leads the Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer Foundation as its CEO. We caught up with her to talk about her career path and her FIU experience. Here’s what she had to say:
What does your day-to-day look like in your current role?
“Every day as CEO of Live Like Bella brings a new opportunity to create meaningful change for children battling cancer and their families. I have the privilege of working alongside our incredible Live Like Bella team and meeting with donors, researchers, representatives from healthcare institutions, corporate partners, and government leaders. These conversations strengthen the relationships that make our work possible and help shape the strategic direction of our family support, research, advocacy, and awareness programs.
I am deeply honored to lead a team whose passion and commitment continue to advance our mission of becoming an internationally recognized leader in childhood cancer research and advocacy while providing critical financial and emotional support to families when they need it most.
Together, we develop transformative programs, partnerships, and events that respond to the real needs of families. Among these efforts is the Comprehensive Childhood Cancer Network, powered by Live Like Bella, a family-centered initiative designed to connect families, clinicians, researchers, hospitals, and universities so that children can gain greater access to resources and potentially life-changing opportunities.”
What’s a project or accomplishment you’re proud of since graduating?
“One of my proudest accomplishments has been helping to spearhead Live Like Bella’s groundbreaking partnership with the State of Florida to establish the nation’s first state-funded initiative dedicated specifically to childhood cancer research.
As of 2025, the Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative has allocated more than $40 million and funded 75 studies at 11 renowned institutions throughout Florida – including FIU! This historic investment has positioned Florida as a national leader in pediatric cancer research by advancing innovative studies and creating new possibilities for children who urgently need lifesaving treatment options. I am incredibly proud that Live Like Bella has helped make pediatric cancer research a statewide priority and has created a model for meaningful action across the nation.”
How did your time at the FIU School of Communication prepare you for what you’re doing now?
“FIU taught me that communication is much more than delivering a message; it is a tool for making an impact in people’s lives. My education strengthened my skills in strategic thinking, writing, storytelling, media relations, and understanding diverse audiences.
Those skills have served as the foundation of a career that has taken me from international television and government communications to healthcare philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. Today, they help me explain complex research, advocate for children and families, and communicate about extraordinarily sensitive issues with clarity, compassion, and purpose.”
Was there a class, professor, or experience at FIU that stuck with you?
“When I think about my time at the SJMC at FIU, the first person that immediately comes to mind: Professor Bill Adams. He was much more than a professor—he was a mentor who saw potential in his students and helped us believe in it ourselves. He taught me how to become a stronger writer, but more importantly, he taught me that the most powerful stories are told with authenticity and purpose.
Professor Adams encouraged me to pursue internships that opened doors I never imagined and ultimately changed the course of my career. He also recommended me for my very first job and made sure I had the opportunity to be recruited immediately after graduation. Those acts of generosity and his genuine belief in me came at a pivotal time in my life and they are gifts I have never forgotten.
What made him truly extraordinary was the way he was simply as a person. He and his wife used to host dinners at their home and invite students to join them always making us feel like family. He celebrated our successes and created a sense of belonging that extended far beyond the classroom. Although he passed away just two years after I graduated, his influence remains with me every single day. His legacy lives on and I will always be grateful to him—and to FIU—for providing not only an education but also mentors who help shape who we become both personally and professionally.”
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a current student in your field?
“One lesson I always share with my team is simple: “Tell them. Tell them again. Then tell them what you told them.” Never assume that communicating something just once is enough. Meaningful communication requires clarity and consistency. Even the most powerful message can only make an impact when people truly hear it, understand it, and remember it.
Do not be afraid to accept opportunities that fall outside the career path you originally imagined. My communications background allowed me to work in international television, public service, healthcare, and nonprofit leadership.”
Where you part of any clubs/orgs while you were in school? If so, which ones?
“Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)”
Anything else you’d like to share?
“Being inducted into the FIU School of Communication + Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame in 2022 was incredibly meaningful. FIU helped provide the foundation for my career, and today, I am also proud that my alma mater is contributing to advances in childhood cancer research through funding received from the Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative. My career has taken me through several industries, but communication has always been the connecting thread. It has allowed me to inform, build relationships, and ultimately serve others.”
