Graduates at the University of Miami Fall 2025 Commencement ceremonies will hear from two inspirational and accomplished individuals, including a U.S. Army veteran and a senior University leader.
Scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11 at the Watsco Center on the Coral Gables Campus, the ceremonies will be livestreamed for virtual viewing, enabling everyone to celebrate the accomplishments of bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and law degree candidates. Tickets are required to attend each ceremony.
The speakers and the times of their ceremonies are:
Thursday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m.; J.R. Martinez, bestselling author, U.S. Army veteran, and motivational speaker
Undergraduate degree ceremony.
At 19, while serving as an Army infantryman in Iraq, J.R. Martinez survived a devastating Humvee explosion that left him with severe burns over 34 percent of his body. His recovery included 34 surgeries and a pivotal moment when he began visiting other wounded soldiers, discovering a purpose in inspiring others.
Born in Louisiana and raised in Arkansas, Martinez transformed tragedy into triumph as a motivational speaker, bestselling author, and advocate for veterans and burn survivors. He has addressed audiences at numerous organizations worldwide, including the Clinton Global Initiative, the Red Cross, and Fortune 500 companies, and serves as spokesperson for a wide range of nonprofits.
Martinez’s resilience led him to acting roles on the soap opera “All My Children” and the television series “SAF3,” and in 2011 he won Season 13 of “Dancing With the Stars.” His memoir, “Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit,” became a New York Times bestseller, and he continues to champion causes through nonprofit work and his podcast, “Rebirth with J.R. Martinez.”
Featured on major media outlets and honored as Grand Marshal of the 2012 Rose Bowl Parade, Martinez embodies optimism and perseverance.
Thursday, Dec. 11, 3 p.m.; Vincent K. Omachonu, a renowned educator, scholar, and consultant specializing in health care system quality and performance improvement
Graduate degree ceremony.
Vincent K. Omachonu has spent more than four decades advancing health care quality and performance improvement by applying principles of industrial engineering. Originally from Nigeria, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the University of Miami, followed by a second master’s from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering.
Now interim dean of the University of Miami College of Engineering and chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering, Omachonu is a recognized leader in health care systems engineering. His pioneering work helped hospitals adopt Total Quality Management methodologies across the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean.
A prolific scholar, Omachonu has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and influential books, including “Total Quality and Productivity Management in Health Care Organizations,” which earned the Institute of Industrial Engineers Book-of-the-Year Award and became a key resource for accreditation readiness.
A Master Black Belt in Six Sigma, Omachonu has consulted globally, served on health care and academic boards, and received numerous honors, including the IBM Faculty Award and multiple teaching excellence awards.
Fall 2025 commencement reception event details can be found here.
