Topic: Alumni Stories
Celebrating Connection: Medical Alumni Weekend 2026
More than 200 University of Miami Miller School of Medicine alumni returned to campus, strengthening connections, celebrating legacy and looking ahead into the future.
Miami Herbert alumnus turns life experience into thriller career
A former journalist, Bryan Richards, M.B.A. ’05, credits the University of Miami's Herbert Business School and the support of fellow Canes for his leap into crime fiction writing.
University's Black Alumni Society celebrates inaugural UTrailblazers honorees
The ceremony, which closed out the 2026 Black Alumni Reunion, recognized alumni spanning four decades whose work has shaped medicine, media, athletics, education, and philanthropy.
Championship lessons in identity, standards, and changing the game
Alumna Kim Stone returned to the Coral Gables Campus as the honoree of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series. She shared her career journey and leadership philosophy, and how the lessons she lives by have their roots in her experience at the University.
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.
