Darren Dupriest is proud to be a Cane. His campus legacy includes serving as the Ibis yearbook’s editor-in-chief (twice), getting tapped into the Iron Arrow Honor Society and the Order of Omega, and, most recently, naming the Dupriest Family Residential Lobby in Lakeside Village.
Originally from Kansas, Dupriest graduated with a degree in finance in 1991 and went on to found his own company, Validity Screening Solutions, delivering technology in background screening and occupational health services.
A longtime member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Dupriest has stepped into his role as president with a clear mission: to strengthen alumni engagement, create more connections, and champion the next generation of Canes.
Can you tell us about your journey with the University of Miami and how you came to lead the Alumni Association?
Absolutely. My University of Miami journey started in January 1987 with a single campus tour—I canceled all my other college visits after that. The University felt so welcoming and so opportunity-laden. I got deeply involved in the student yearbook staff and Greek life as an undergraduate.
I met so many people, which really opened me up to the world. My first-year suitemate was from the Bahamas. It blew my mind. And it was a two-way street. He said when he found out he had a suitemate from the Midwest, he just thought that was the craziest thing. He said he had to look up Kansas on a map.
I became so involved that I just never left the fold. I went to Homecomings, football games, and fraternity events. About a decade ago, I joined the alumni association, and now I’m honored to serve as its president.
How has the Alumni Association deepened your relationship with the University?
I used to just attend events; now I help create them. That shift has given me a whole new appreciation for the University and our alumni network. This role, outside of my family and my business, is one of the things I’m most proud of.
What’s the Alumni Association’s core mission?
Engagement—plain and simple. But that can take many forms. Whether it's through mentoring, regional events, or national events like Pancakes with Pat and game watches, we want to connect alumni with each other and with the University in meaningful, lasting ways. We want to help alumni find that connection no matter where they are in life or where their interests have taken them.
Our Canes Communities work to develop events specific to their location. Chicago did a cleanup on the shores of Lake Michigan earlier this year. The Los Angeles Canes Community hosted an event to celebrate Canes in a film festival. Our goal is to make every alum feel welcome, valued, and involved in ways that feel meaningful to them.
What exciting initiatives are underway right now?
We’re expanding our regional Canes Communities in cities like Charlotte, Dallas, Tampa, and Philadelphia, moving beyond game watches into career networking events, speaker series, and community-specific programming.
What is it like to share your love for the U with your family—especially since your son is a fellow alum?
It’s incredibly rewarding. My wife went to the University of Kansas, but she’s been a trooper through decades of orange and green. We have four boys, and I started bringing them to games and Homecomings when they were toddlers. Our oldest, Reagan, knew from his early teens that he wanted to study marine biology at the Rosenstiel School—which turned into geology degree—and he became president of the Scuba Club. Today, he’s at Miami Herbert pursuing his master's in leadership.
And our youngest is already preparing his application. Watching each of them chart their own path at the University of Miami fills me with pride. Same school, totally different stories.
How is the Alumni Association engaging with current students?
We’re meeting students from day one, not just at graduation. Last year, we participated in orientation events like “Canes Take Flight” to introduce ourselves to incoming students. We’re there to show them that they’re part of a lifelong community. We also connect them to alumni for mentorships, internships, and career advice. And we talk to their parents, too, to let them know we’re here to help and that their investment in their child’s education is going to pay off.
How can alumni get involved right now?
Start by visiting alumni.miami.edu, which has a full list of Canes Communities and their events. Find your local Canes Community and keep up with us on social media. We also encourage alumni to join affinity groups—like the Black Alumni Society, Veteran Canes, LGBTQ Canes, and Former Student Leaders—and plug into the broader alumni network. Whether you give your time, your talent, or just your story, you’re making the community stronger.
Any final words for your fellow alumni as you begin your presidency?
Yes—remember, the Alumni Association isn’t coming to ask for money. We’re asking for your story, your energy, and your engagement. We want to know: What did the U give you, and how can you pay it forward? Whether it’s mentoring a student, hiring a fellow Cane, or reconnecting with your campus roots—we all have a part to play. Let’s keep building this legacy together.
