As he welcomed the Class of 2025 into the University of Miami Alumni Association, Darren Dupriest, B.B.A. ’91, reminded new graduates of the benefits of being part of the Cane family.
Dupriest, the new president of the alumni association board of directors and a longtime supporter of the U, spoke from experience—and the heart.
“The alumni association is the [mechanism] that will help you stay connected to the U and each other. We have more than 210,000 alumni worldwide who are there to help you over the course of your life, whether professionally or personally,” Dupriest said.
“If you have already landed that first job, fantastic! If you are still looking for that next opportunity, there is a Cane who knows what you need to know,” he added. “I challenge you to look to those individuals who came before you and who can help you…and please remember that you are a Cane for life.”
Dupriest is the founder and CEO of Validity Screening Solutions, an enterprise technology company specializing in background screening, substance abuse testing, and occupational health services. He has also devoted his time, talent, and treasure to his alma mater, playing an active role in supporting a wide range of University initiatives.
Serving alongside Dupriest will be his fellow Canes on the executive committee and the 29-strong Alumni Board of Directors.
The Alumni Council is the representative body of the Alumni Association and includes representatives from nearly 30 Canes Communities, select University of Miami schools and colleges, and special interest groups such as the Black Alumni Society.
Each affiliate elects a president and president-elect, and each plays a vital role in helping the Alumni Board of Directors extend the board’s reach and increase the involvement of alumni across the country and around the world.
The Young Alumni Leaders Council supports the needs of recent graduates with tailored communications and events that foster relationships, facilitate networking activities, and create a strong culture of giving among young Canes alumni.
Advancing the University’s mission through focus on students
For Sandy Goldstein, B.B.A. ’81, M.B.A. ’84, achieving business success is intertwined with a mission to help develop future business leaders. He is the founder and CEO of Capsicum Group, LLC, which provides a wide array of services in the areas of digital forensics and investigations, electronic and paper discovery, data and tape recovery, cybersecurity, and compliance.
As the new chair of the University of Miami President’s Council, Goldstein is eager for the opportunity to continue advancing the University’s mission and supporting its students. “My goals as chair of the President’s Council are to build upon the great work conducted by the Council over the past few years to educate, engage, and lead,” Goldstein said. “We will continue to expand and implement mentoring, placement, and philanthropic programs to benefit students.”
Membership of the President’s Council is by invitation and includes some of the University’s most prominent alumni. They work to cultivate other volunteers and friends of the U, support the University’s strategic priorities, and promote the importance of philanthropic investment in our institution.
Goldstein is a committed supporter of his alma mater. In addition to his service on the President’s Council, he is a member of the Miami Herbert Business School Dean’s Advisory Committee and was instrumental in launching the school’s business plan competition. He is also past chair of Miami Herbert’s Entrepreneurship Advisory Council, on which his son, Sean, B.B.A. ’12, M.B.A. ’13, currently sits.
Building networks, engaging and activating supporters
As with the President’s Council, membership in the University of Miami Citizens Board is invitation-only, and like its counterpart, advancing the U is at the heart of its mission.
Established in 1946, the Citizens Board comprises more than 270 South Florida business and civic leaders who actively support the University’s philanthropic and programmatic priorities while also serving as the U’s ambassadors to the wider business and professional community. Since its inception, the Citizens Board has raised an estimated $454 million for the University.
A longtime insurance industry executive in South Florida, Marivel Andreu is the new president of the Citizens Board. She is currently senior vice president at Marsh McLennan Agency in the Private Client Services Division, working closely with a national and international clientele and their advisors, designing custom solutions for their complex personal and business insurance needs.
As Citizens Board president, Andreu will seek to use skills honed through years of consulting with clients to continue building relationships that broaden the University’s reach and generate philanthropic support for the institution and its people.
“I look forward to leading the Citizens Board and making connections that will help drive positive transformation for the University of Miami’s next century,” Andreu said. “As a group, we believe we can enhance the University by inspiring our members and our networks to support students, and by helping the University continue to make a positive impact in our community.”
