The Audrey R. Finkelstein UM Experience lecture series returns during Alumni Weekend and Homecoming with three thought-provoking discussions exploring the evolution of the University of Miami to become an even greater force for good.
This year’s edition on October 27 features conversations with the University’s chief academic officer Guillermo “Willy” Prado, M.S. ’00, Ph.D. ’05, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; community trailblazer Erin Kobetz, vice provost for research and scholarship and tenured professor in medicine, public health sciences, and obstetrics and gynecology; as well as historian, designer, and author Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture.
Provost Prado will analyze the significance of the University’s recent invitation to join the Association of American Universities (AAU)—the pinnacle of higher education in this country and the world, comprised of only 71 comprehensive research universities—during his talk “The University of Miami: From Infancy to an Elite Comprehensive Research University.”
As provost, he oversees the deans of the 12 schools and colleges and senior administrators involved with research, undergraduate and graduate education, and other academic areas. Prado is a professor of nursing and health studies, public health sciences, and psychology at the University. His work has been featured in the Miami Herald, NBC, Univision, and CNN en Español.
Vice Provost Kobetz will spotlight the power of research and community through her talk “The Story of a Tar Heel Who Bleeds Orange and Green: How UM Became My Alma Mater By Choice.”
Kobetz is celebrated for her work in the South Florida community. She leads the Game Changer mobile clinics, which bring cancer screenings, health information, and research opportunities directly to patients. She founded Patnè en Aksyon (Partners in Action), Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s first-ever community-academic partnership in Little Haiti, to address the increased risk of cervical cancer among residents through community-based participatory research and intervention. She also oversees the Firefighter Cancer Initiative, a University-wide interdisciplinary program founded to better document and understand the excess burden of cancer among Florida firefighters and identify novel, evidence-based methods for reducing risk.
Dean el-Khoury will share his vision of a smarter, more connected, and healthier world through responsive homes and interconnected smart cities in his talk “Smart Cities; Responsive Homes.”
El-Khoury has been featured in national and international media outlets, including WIRED Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the Space Channel, and BBC World, for his work exploring climate resilience, sustainability in architecture, and enhanced responsiveness in buildings and smart cities. El-Khoury leads the Research and Development (RAD) Lab, a research unit dedicated to embedded technology and robotics aiming at enhancing responsiveness and resilience in buildings and smart cities. His current research in architecture focuses on applications for information technology, aiming for enhanced responsiveness and sustainability in buildings and smart cities. He is also working on the application of robotics and embedded technology in architecture in projects and prototypes for interactive and responsive environments, including immersive environments and multisensory architecture.
The UM Experience (UMX) was created through a generous endowment by the late Audrey R. Finkelstein, A.B. ’38, to offer alumni the opportunity to return to campus to hear discussions led by distinguished University of Miami faculty.
