Driven by a desire to foster student achievement, Amy and Scott Jaffee made a generous gift to the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School, establishing the Jaffee Center for Undergraduate Business Academic and Professional Success.
The center, which provides comprehensive academic advising and career development services, opened on Dec. 2.
“We’re all about helping young adults get ready for the real world and to navigate it successfully when they graduate,” Scott Jaffee said.
The decision to establish the Jaffee Center is rooted in the family’s personal experiences and a genuine passion for creating opportunities for all students, regardless of their financial background. Amy and Scott’s sons, Matthew and Aaron, both attended the University of Miami. Matthew graduated in 2018 and Aaron completed his studies last spring. The Jaffee family’s firsthand experience with the business school and its dedicated staff played a crucial role in shaping their philanthropic vision.
“When Matthew was a student, then associate dean Ellen McPhillip was so thoughtful, caring, and generous with her time. She helped him get in the right frame of mind and gave him a lot of guidance. We appreciated that because when Scott and I went to school, we didn’t have that kind of support,” Amy Jaffee explained.
Matthew’s positive experience later influenced his younger brother Aaron, their mother said.
“When Aaron was applying to school, he said there was no other school he’d rather attend because his brother had such a great four years. He felt that Miami was the perfect fit for him, and it was,” Amy Jaffee added.
The family first sponsored an internship program for students interested in working at nonprofit organizations. When the landscape shifted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jaffees also adapted, expanding their support to students with emergency needs. That paved the way for discussions that ultimately led to the endowment of the Jaffee Center.
The Jaffee Center’s focus on individualized support services, including enhanced academic advising and career coaching, aligns with the family’s belief in proactive relationship-building and providing the best tools for students. The center not only aims to impact the academic journey of current students but also carries a broader vision of preparing them for professional success. The Jaffees envision the center as a hub where students can seek assistance tailored to their unique needs, and where faculty members and advisors can collaborate with each other and the students to fulfill those needs. The family’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in their desire to ensure that every student has the resources to excel.
“This is about helping young people get ready for their careers and giving them the best tools possible,” Amy Jaffee pointed out. “Every student’s needs are different, and the beautiful part about the Jaffee Center is that it will accommodate many different students who all have different needs.”
While this marks the first time the Jaffee name is associated with a building, the couple hopes their philanthropic journey inspires graduates—including their sons Matthew and Aaron—to stay connected, contribute, and make an impact.
“We think it’s important to give back to your alma mater, especially when you’ve had a great experience, and so this gift is also an opportunity for our sons to stay involved and further strengthen their connection to the University,” noted Amy Jaffee.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Jaffee family for their dedication to all students’ success,” said Ann Olazábal, interim dean of the Miami Herbert Business School. “This gift palpably demonstrates their deep understanding and sensitivity to the challenges many of our students face, as well as to the opportunities the Jaffee Center will unlock. The Jaffee Center will provide unparalleled resources and support, ensuring that every student can thrive in both their academic pursuits and their career development efforts.”
