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Commencement Ceremonies Honor Academic Achievement, Distinguished Service


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    Celebration: At the ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Sebastian performs his signature C-A-N-E-S cheer as hundreds students celebrate their graduation.

    Celebration: At the ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Sebastian performs is signature C-A-N-E-S cheer as students celebrate their graduation.

    During his four years as a University of Miami student, Juan Pablo Ruiz appeared to be more professor than pupil. When he wasn’t attending class, he conducted research on stem cells, measuring their stiffness and determining how they were affected by nicotine. His work was good enough to make him the lead author of a study published in a top academic journal.

    With a résumé filled with such lofty scientific investigations, Ruiz graduated from UM with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. He was among more than 3,300 newly minted graduates who received degrees from May 9-11 during UM’s spring commencement exercises, held inside the BankUnited Center before proud parents, family members, friends, and professors who played key roles in helping the institution’s newest graduates to succeed.

    “I’ve always been curious about the way things work and have always wanted to do research,” said Ruiz.

    Alberto Ibargüen, president and chief executive officer of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is hooded after receiving an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the midday ceremony for the Schools of Architecture, Communication, Education and Human Development, Nursing and Health Studies, and Frost School of Music.

    Alberto Ibargüen, president and chief executive officer of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is hooded after receiving an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the midday ceremony for the Schools of Architecture, Communication, Education and Human Development, Nursing and Health Studies, and Frost School of Music.

    Ruiz is headed to Tanzania’s Tanga region, where, as a Fulbright Scholar, he will conduct research on the tsetse fly in hopes of slowing the spread of the debilitating disease—Human African trypanosomiasis—that it spreads. After his nine-month stay in Africa, he will fulfill his commitment as a National Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholar, conducting biomedical research at both the NIH and one of the two renowned British institutions.

    He comes from a family of engineers. His father, grandfather, and many of his uncles and cousins are engineers. “It seemed like a natural transition for me to follow in their footsteps,” said Ruiz, who doubled majored in creative writing. While he was fascinated with engineering, he wanted something more out of the field. “I knew it was very much math, science, and physics. But I wanted more of the science and the biology and the chemistry,” he said. “When I visited UM [as a high school student], I toured the mechanical and aerospace program, but then I noticed the other fields of engineering, particularly biomedical engineering, which I fell in love with immediately.”

    He  not only studied stem cells at UM but also at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Eventually he wants to become a university professor and give back to students what he learned at UM. “I have a need to leave something behind for future generations, whether it’s through my writing or science,” Ruiz said. “I live my life as an exploration of what it means to be a human being.”

    Ruiz spoke at the May 10 commencement exercise for the School of Business Administration and College of Engineering. In all, three undergraduate ceremonies were held on that day. Also accepting a diploma on May 10: Jennifer Rodriguez, the Cuban-American speed skater from Miami who competed in four Winter Olympic Games, winning two bronze medals at Salt Lake City in 2002.

    As part of a longtime tradition, students switch their tassels from the right side of their caps to the left, symbolizing their transition form candidate to graduate.

    As part of a longtime tradition, students switch their tassels from the right side of their caps to the left, symbolizing their transition form candidate to graduate.

    “I had a really long career as a skater and accomplished almost everything I wanted to accomplish in the sport,” said Rodriguez, who earned a bachelor’s in exercise physiology from the School of Education and Human Development. “But I knew there were other things in life that I wanted to accomplish, like getting a college degree.”

    So she enrolled at UM, applying to her studies the same zeal and dedication that she did when she trained as a speed skater. “And it definitely helped,” said Rodriguez, who worked as an athletic trainer at UM’s Herbert Wellness Center while in school. “It was tough going. Athletics was something that came natural to me, and school wasn’t always my favorite thing to do, so I worked hard at it. I wanted to do well not just to get the grade, but to learn.”

    Also graduating at spring commencement were 21 military veterans and 36 student-athletes from nine sports.

    Words of Wisdom

    In his commencement address, UM men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga quoted Confucius: “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

    In his commencement address, UM men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga quoted Confucius: “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

    At each of the three Friday, May 10 ceremonies, graduates listened to advice from distinguished luminaries. Stuart Miller, J.D. ’82, CEO and director of Lennar Corporation, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, addressed graduates at the ceremony for the School of Business Administration and College of Engineering. He is the standard-bearer of his family’s outstanding tradition of generosity and commitment to the University. UM’s Miller School of Medicine assumed its name in 2004 when the Miller family gave the University $100 million—the largest gift from a family in UM history—to name the school in memory of Leonard Miller, who was a UM lifetime trustee. The family’s generosity is also reflected in the creation of the Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies at UM.

    In his Friday commencement address, Miller, who is also vice chair of the UM Board of Trustees, told graduates to “learn, incorporate, and evolve” — just as he had to do at different stages in his life.

    He recalled his freshman year at Harvard and being “intimidated by the change in life and college environment.” He said that he set out to prove himself in one of the first courses that he took at the Ivy League School, an expository writing class. For his first assignment, a paper on the topic of society, he received a D-minus, not the A he had anticipated. Clearly his professor had gotten it wrong, he thought to himself. So he confronted her after class, explaining that he had spent two days writing the paper. His professor told him, “I would have given you an F on the paper, but I didn’t want to demoralize you. Consider my comments.” And Miller did just that, receiving a better grade on his next paper and eventually a C-plus in the class.

    It was a joyous day for three students who portrayed Sebastian the Ibis while attending UM. From left, Winston Bernard, Sam Hammerman, and Matt Moskowitz celebrate their graduation with President Shalala at the ceremony for the School of Business Administration and College of Engineering.

    It was a joyous day for three students who portrayed Sebastian the Ibis while attending UM. From left, Winston Bernard, Sam Hammerman, and Matt Moskowitz celebrate their graduation with President Shalala at the ceremony for the School of Business Administration and College of Engineering.

    When he arrived at the UM School of Law in 1979, he found himself confronted again by a new and intimidating environment. An especially demanding course made him ponder the idea of dropping out of law school, but he stayed and stuck it out.

    In the fall of 1982 he started his career at Lennar, but was “frightened and intimidated” about how he’d fit in. He had just finished law school and passed the bar—Lennar was a business environment. “I had to learn and adapt on my own,” Miller said. After a difficult start, he considered quitting. But he learned the language of his new profession and slowly began navigating his new environment.

    “Every new environment requires a transition,” he told graduates. He urged them to read the newspaper everyday and know what’s happening in the world; to know their competitors better than they know themselves; engage in active conversation with as many experts in their profession as possible; and to “take an honest look at yourself and seek out people who will give you a D-minus. You’re probably not as good as you think you are. We all need to be kicked into high gear sometimes…Overcome the urge to throw in the towel.”

    Starting with a ‘Huge Advantage’

    At the midday ceremony for the Schools of Architecture, Communication, Education and Human Development, Nursing and Health Studies, and Frost School of Music, Alberto Ibargüen told graduates that they are starting out with a “huge advantage.”

    Jennifer Rodriguez, who won two bronze medals in speed skating at the Salt Lake City Winter Games, received a degree in exercise physiology from the School of Education and Human Development.

    Jennifer Rodriguez, who won two bronze medals in speed skating at the Salt Lake City Winter Games, received a degree in exercise physiology from the School of Education and Human Development.

    “The diversity here has prepared you better than you can know for a connected world,” said the president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, who received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. He described UM and the City of Miami as places of “astounding diversity” that have taught students to deal with many different points of view.

    The former Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald publisher then contrasted the era in which he grew up with the period of today. “I grew up during a time when Dick Tracy comic books showed the detective with his wristwatch and an arrow pointing to it that said, ‘Two-way radio.’ Today I carry in my pocket a machine that has more information than the University of Miami library and can put me in touch with anyone anywhere in the world.”

    He recalled seeing drinking fountains labeled “colored” and meeting Martin Luther King Jr. “Now I live in 2013 where a black man has been reelected president of the United States…and in a world where women prime ministers and presidents are not uncommon,” he said. He also talked about the change that lies ahead, from how three-dimensional printing will impact international trade to how MOOCs (massive open online courses) will affect the quality and value of a college education.

    Starting with an attitude of open inquiry can help one deal with such change, Ibargüen said. “Bring to tomorrow’s challenges more than your own point of view.”

    Coach L Inspires Graduates

    But it was University of Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga who received the loudest applause out of Friday’s commencement speakers.

    “The last time I remember this many students being on the floor of the BankUnited Center, we were celebrating the ACC Championship and cutting down the nets,” he said, looking out over the hundreds of students seated in the arena’s bowl section at the afternoon ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

    The University's black graduates were honored at the Senior Mwambo ceremony held on May 9 at Gusman Concert Hall.

    The University’s black graduates were honored at the Senior Mwambo ceremony, held on May 9 at Gusman Concert Hall.

    Larrañaga, who led his squad to the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament championships, a No. 2 national ranking, and Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, continued his address with a quote from Confucius. “Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life,” he told students. “And that’s what I did. I love coaching…and knowing I’ll have the honor and privilege of working with our student-athletes.

    “Most people think my job is to win basketball games,” he continued. “But if all I ever did was teach a young man how to dribble, shoot, and pass, my life wouldn’t be worthwhile…My job is to teach life skills for when they [his players] are no longer playing basketball.”

    Coach L, as he is called, told students to “find a job you love, and pour your heart and soul into it. Don’t be a worker who complains. No matter what job you do, there are going to be things you don’t like. It’s a part of the process of being successful.”

    Larrañaga recalled telling his wife last year that he was going to speak at a meeting of the UM Board of Trustees and tell its members that the UM basketball program was about to have the greatest season in Miami history. “It wasn’t a bold prediction. It was a simple goal,” he said, noting that he met with his team prior to the 2012-13 season to establish goals, which included creating excitement among the student body, achieving a top-25 ranking, and winning the ACC regular season and tournament titles.

    Stuart Miller, J.D. ’82, CEO and a director of Lennar Corporation, urged graduates

    Stuart Miller, J.D. ’82, CEO and a director of Lennar Corporation, told graduates “to learn, incorporate, and evolve.”

    Larrañaga—who won the ACC, Associated Press, Naismith, and Henry Iba Coach of the Year Awards—told graduates to “expect the unexpected. Do not fear failure. Life is not a superhighway where you jump into a Maserati and put your foot to the floor. The life you’re heading into—it’s a roller coaster. There are ups and downs. And you have to know how to handle it,” he said.

    “Enjoy the journey,” he said. “Have fun. Meet every challenge. That’s what our team did. We didn’t listen to the critics. Learn to be the best you can be and overcome obstacles.”

    The spring commencement ceremonies actually got under way on Thursday, May 9 with a graduate degree ceremony. The School of Law and Miller School of Medicine were set to hold commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11, at BankUnited Center.

    Miller School and Miami Law Commencement Ceremonies

    Helene D. Gayle, president and CEO of CARE USA, a leading international humanitarian organization whose poverty-fighting programs reached 83 million people last year in 84 countries, received an Honorary Doctor of Science at the Miller School’s commencement ceremony. Since joining CARE in 2006, Gayle has led efforts to reinforce the organization’s commitment to empowering girls and women to bring lasting change to poor communities. An expert on health, global development, and humanitarian issues, Gayle spent 20 years with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, focusing primarily on combating HIV/AIDS. She was appointed as the first director of the NationalCenter for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, and achieved the rank of Rear Admiral and Assistant Surgeon General in the U.S. Public Health Service.

    Hilarie Bass, who graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami’s School of Law in 1981 and was editor of the Law Review, gave advice to graduates at Miami Law’s commencement exercise. Bass was recently named a president of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig after serving as global operating shareholder and previously completing an eight-year term as the national chair of the firm’s 600-member litigation department. During her more than 30-year career, she has successfully represented clients in commercial cases in jury and non-jury trials involving hundreds of millions of dollars in controversy. This dedicated UM alumna received the Outstanding Fundraiser Alumni Award in 2009 and was named Outstanding Law Alumna in 2012. Among the many areas of the University that have benefited from her generous support are the School of Law, the Department of Athletics, the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music, and the College of Arts and Sciences. She is campaign chair for the School of Education and Human Development’s Momentum2 campaign.

    Faculty Members Honored at Commencement

    Among the retiring faculty members recognized at commencement were two of the longest-serving members of the UM community. As the Cuban Heritage Collection’s reference librarian and bibliographer, Lesbia Orta Varona nurtured and grew the libraries’ renowned and comprehensive Latin-American and Cuban collections. The work of innumerable students and scholars has been enriched by her generosity and expertise. Varona, who worked for 45 years at UM, is recognized and admired for her extensive knowledge of Cuban and Latin-American cultural production and in particular literature and theatre.

    Juan Pablo Ruiz, who graduated from the College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, spoke to his fellow students at the first of three commencement exercises on Friday. He is headed to Tanzania to conduct research as a Fulbright Scholar.

    Juan Pablo Ruiz, who graduated from the College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, spoke to his fellow students at the first of three commencement exercises on Friday. He is headed to Tanzania to conduct research as a Fulbright Scholar.

    Over the course of her 45-year tenure, Professor Esperanza Bravo de Varona established the Cuban Heritage Collection as an internationally recognized archive of unique scholarly importance. Her reputation and influence have attracted many valuable collections and significant contributions to the University. The Roberto C. Goizueta Pavilion, home of the collection since 2003, stands as a testament to Professor de Varona’s leadership. Under her direction, the collection also received numerous grants, including two awards from the Institute of Museum and Library Services totaling more than $1 million, and more recently a five-year, $2.4 million grant from the Goizueta Foundation. She holds the Esperanza Bravo de Varona Chair of the Cuban Heritage Collection.

    President’s Medals Awarded

    Two University of Miami President’s Medals were presented at commencement. William D. Walker, dean of libraries and university librarian, came to UM from one of the world’s greatest libraries—the New York Public Library. He is stepping down after leading the Libraries through a transformational decade of groundbreaking development and will remain on the faculty.

    Andy S. Gomez, center, is congratulated by President Shalala and Provost Thomas J. LeBlanc after being awarded the President's Medal.

    Andy S. Gomez, center, is congratulated by President Shalala and Provost Thomas J. LeBlanc after being awarded the President’s Medal.

    “Thanks to his visionary leadership to create the University’s virtual library, our students, faculty, and researchers have access to digital resources equal to those of today’s most advanced universities: this includes more than 100,000 online journals, three million electronic books, and one million digital images from the library’s own collections,” President Shalala said at the ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and Rosenstiel School, where Walker received the medal.

    Walker opened up the Libraries’ special collections to serve as a laboratory where students learn how to conduct original research using world-class rare and primary source materials. Rounding out his significant legacy is the evolution of the Richter Library into a campus hotspot and hangout—often fondly referred to as Club Richter.

    Andy S. Gomez, assistant provost for planning, institutional research, and assessment and senior fellow at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American studies, received the President’s Medal at the May 10 midday ceremony. Since 1994, he has served in a myriad of roles at the University, including dean of the former School of International Studies. He has also taught several courses on Cuba, including Cuba after Castro and the Cuban Revolution. His research into U.S.-Cuba relations and reconstruction in a post-Castro Cuba has garnered various advisory and guest speaker engagements with such organizations as the U.S. Southern Command Task Force on Cuba, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations University, and ABC News.

    Happy graduates make the ubiquitous U sign.

    Happy graduates make the ubiquitous U sign.

    In 2008 Gomez was appointed a nonresident senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Program at the prestigious Brookings Institution and served as a delegate to the Organization of American States in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He successfully led the University’s pivotal Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaccreditation process. He did such a good job that he was selected as a SACS trustee, representing not only the University of Miami, but private research universities as a group.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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