A palpable buzz of new energy filled the room at the 76th Annual Law Alumni Association Morning Spirits and Homecoming Breakfast as interim dean Patricia Sanchez Abril welcomed 180 alumni and soon-to-be alumni.
“This morning, we come to celebrate spirits that bind us together,” Abril said. “We celebrate first the spirit of our law students…they are the reason we are here: to be an incubator of principled, practice-ready lawyers, advocates, and leaders that change the community and change the world.
“We also honor the spirit of innovation, generating ideas and thought leadership on our most pressing legal and social issues. We celebrate our faculty, past and present, who lead the charge of legal thought and our staff, which is the foundation upon which it's all built,” Abril said.
While the event is a cherished tradition for networking and honoring outstanding alumni, much of the conversation centered on new beginnings—personified by two key leaders.
The center of that gravity was the animated conversation between the 2025-2026 president of the Law Alumni Association Harout J. Samra, and Joel Hassman Samuels, the University of Miami’s new executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Samuels, an Ivy League-educated scholar, lawyer, and tenured law professor who began his post in Aug., stepped into the role after a remarkably successful tenure as dean at the University of South Carolina. There, he transformed the research enterprise, increasing federal grant dollars by over 70% and eclipsing $50 million in a single year for the first time in that college's history.
In their discussion, Samra, a partner at DLA Piper, welcomed the new provost, emphasizing the law alumni's commitment to the university's broader mission. The conversation quickly turned to opportunity. Samuels, who secured the largest programmatic gift in USC’s history—a $75 million naming gift—spoke of his vision for enhancing interdisciplinary research and faculty recruitment across the University of Miami.
He noted that a top-tier law school is a critical component, serving as a hub for innovation in policy, business, and ethics that touches every other school.
A unique point of connection was Samuels's untraditional leadership experience: a seven-year tenure as head coach of the Columbia QuadSquad roller derby team. He led the team from the bottom of the rankings to a No. 26 world ranking. "Roller derby is a very special, special community,” Samuels said, “it taught me more about leadership and frankly family.”
He shared with Samra that this philosophy of teamwork and family is exactly what he hopes to build upon at Miami and that a strong, engaged alumni association is a key part of that team.
Honoring excellence in the legal community
While the conversation between Samra and Samuels pointed to the future, the breakfast also celebrated the alumni and faculty who have shaped the legal community.
The Law Alumni Association presented its highest honors:
- The Henry "Lat" Latimer Leadership and Professionalism Award was presented to Joseph Bogosian, J.D. ’92, president and CEO of Safran Defense & Space Inc., and Lesley Mendoza, J.D. ’02, executive director at CABA Pro Bono Legal Services. The award honors Henry Latimer, a distinguished attorney and one of Florida's first African American judges, who embodied "service to family, community, and profession."
- The Thomas Davison III Memorial Service Award was presented to the Hon. Jose E. Martinez, B.B.A. ’62, J.D. ’65, a U.S. District Judge who also teaches in the law school’s Litigation Skills Program. This award recognizes a "tireless worker who works behind the scenes, never seeking recognition but always there to lend support," like its namesake, Tom Davison.
- The Young Alumni Leadership Award was given to Gabriela S. Hernandez, J.D. ’20, recognizing her work in promoting Miami Law and the association within 10 years of graduation.
Other awards recognized vital contributions to the law school's fabric:
- Miami Law Women, Professor Mary E. Doyle Award: Jessi A. Tamayo, director of the Law Externship Program.
- Charles C. Papy, Jr, Moot Court Board, Professor M. Minnette Massey Award: Justin Prociv, J.D. ’03.
- Miami Law Review Professor Daniel E. Murray Distinguished Service Award: Lauren O’Neil Hamilton, J.D. ’23.
- The Joseph H. Bogosian J.D. ’92 Student Leadership Award: Iara Dircie, president of the Student Bar Association.
The event concluded with last year’s LAA Board President Jordan A. Shaw, J.D. ’14, receiving the Past President’s Plaque and Samra receiving the gavel, to build on a celebrated legacy and embrace a new, dynamic future.
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