Topic: Alumni Stories
A signature University of Miami tradition continues
The Distinguished Alumni Endowed Lecture Series honors University of Miami alumni whose lifetime achievements and professional excellence have brought distinction to their fields and to their alma mater. The spring 2026 honoree is Kim Stone, M.B.A. ’03, who has worked to rewrite the playbook for sports management.
Love stories at the U
From kickoff kisses and library study sessions to fire drills, fraternity steps, and scholarship weekends, these stories trace how the University of Miami has quietly played matchmaker for generations.
Three alumni, one foundation
Zachary Picon, Jordan Scheffler, and Jason van Esso formed friendships on campus that evolved into a lasting professional partnership rooted in their alumni experience.
Leveling up: Omar Soliman’s video-game approach to entrepreneurship
Omar Soliman, B.B.A. ’04, turned a summer side gig into the multimillion-dollar franchise College Hunks Hauling Junk. In this Q&A, he offers a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs as they navigate the early “levels” of building a business.
From recovery to advocacy: expanding access to aphasia care
With 2 million Americans living with aphasia and a new stroke occurring every 40 seconds, the need for accessible treatment is growing. Through the nonprofit, Aphasia Relearned, alumna Leah Archer and co-founder Kent Emry are funding access to research-backed intensive speech therapy, helping stroke survivors reconnect through communication and community.
Beyond ‘The Bachelor’: how Nicole Lopez-Alvar found her true calling
Former contestant on “The Bachelor” leverages University of Miami education and reality TV fame into thriving journalism career.
Q & A: Medical Alumni Association President Dr. Christian Diez
The new president of the Miller School’s Medical Alumni Association is a lifelong Cane, and he wants to provide meaningful opportunities for alumni to contribute to the school’s continued success.
Q&A with Orlando Franklin: Father, husband, retired NFL player, graduate
After a career in the NFL, Orlando Franklin, B.L.A. ’25, returned to the University of Miami to complete his degree. This past spring, he graduated with his wife and children rooting him on.
Documenting California’s vanishing kelp forests
Alumna Natasha Benjamin recently premiered her first documentary, “Sequoias of the Sea,” at the International Ocean Film Festival. The film captures the dramatic loss of 95 percent of Northern California’s kelp forests and the urgent efforts of fishermen, tribal leaders, and scientists to restore them.
Q&A with Neri Karra Sillaman: The link between immigrants and entrepreneurship
In her recent book, Neri Karra Sillaman, B.B.A. ’99, explores the relationship between immigrants and entrepreneurship, blending research with personal reflections from her journey as an immigrant and child refugee.
Alumna inducted into NAHJ Hall of Fame
Alina Falcon, a media executive with a career spanning four decades, was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame for her contributions to Spanish-language journalism.
Q & A: Darren Dupriest wants you to get involved with the University of Miami Alumni Association
Recently installed as president of the Alumni Board of Directors, Darren Dupriest, B.B.A. ’91, is devising a plan to create more engagement, forge more career paths, and remind all graduates that they’re already valued members of the Canes alumni network.
