TRACKINGHURRICANES
CLASS NOTES | ALUMNI PROFILES
JORGE RAMOS, M.A. ’96, international
Miami, the Children’s Home Society, and Take Stock in Children. He has two children, Bianca and Gabriel, and one grandchild, Sebastian, and resides in Washington with his wife, Marina. CAROL DAMIAN, M.A. ’78, Ph.D. ’92, history, developed an interest in Pre-Columbian art which led her to pursue a degree in Latin American history with a focus on art in the College of Arts & Sciences at UM. She was the director & chief curator of the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum, and currently serves on the faculty at FIU. She has since been researching and publishing in the area of Pre-Columbian and Latin American art and art history. She currently serves as a consultant for the Department of Homeland Security. Her passion for art has led her to continue providing her support and expertise in her community as a curator, teacher, writer, and popular speaker.
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studies, is one of the most eloquent, credible, and powerful voices of Hispanic America. The veteran newsman – who hosts two Spanish-language programs on Univision and an English-language show on the ABC/ Univision collaboration Fusion network – can now add “cover model” to his long list of accomplishments. Ramos was selected for a coveted spot on Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world; he was also chosen to grace one of five covers, alongside Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, rapper Kanye West, and other luminaries. Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent, wrote the Time profile of Ramos. She noted: “Ramos wrangles with President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner; he swims the Rio Grande; he says he asks every question as if it’s his last, determined to get an answer or go down trying. What happened to immigration reform? He knows he has a voice and is not afraid to use it. He shouts
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_______________________________ WILFREDO A. FERRER, A.B. ‘87, was recognized
as the Latino Lawyer of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). The HNBA National Annual Awards were held during its 40th Annual Convention at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston this past September.
JORGE L. ALONSO, A.B. ’88, has served as an associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, an Illinois state trial court of general jurisdiction, from 2003 to 2014. He received his J.D. in 1991 from the George Washington University Law School. Prior to being appointed as associate judge, Alonso worked as an assistant public defender in the office of the Cook County Public Defender from 1991 to 2003, where he represented indigent individuals in both civil and criminal proceedings.
JAMES VICKARYOUS, A.B. ’90, is the 2015
president of the Seminole County Bar Association and treasurer of the Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association. He also serves on the 18th Judicial Circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel for Seminole County, and was recently appointed to the Seminole County Parks and Preservation Advisory Committee. Vickaryous is listed among the Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. WILLEM ALEXANDER DAMAN, A.B. ’92, history, currently serves as associate general counsel at Navy Federal Credit Union. He attended law school at the University of Florida and had 17 years of experience in government, where he held positions at the Customs Service and Department of Homeland Security, working on border security and international trade issues, before joining Navy Federal in 2011. He lives in the
JACKIE F. NESPRAL, A.B. ’89, NBC 6 Miami anchor received the “Silver Circle” award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, honoring her excellence and more than 25 years of contributions to the television industry.
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from every rooftop that Hispanic rights are human rights.” Ramos, 57, was born in Mexico City. He came to the United States as a student in 1983, and became the Univision national news anchor at age 28. His newscasts are seen in 13 Latin American countries each night. He has received numerous awards, including eight Emmys and the 2002 Reuben Salazar Award from the National Council of La Raza for his positive portrayal of Latinos. D.C. area and enjoyed a recent visit to Miami to introduce his children to the University. RITA DARGHAM, B.S. ’92, is recognized as one
of South Florida’s leading family, cosmetic, and reconstructive dentists. She earned her D.M.D. from the University of Florida and completed her post-graduate training at the Miami Veterans Administration Hospital, where she concentrated on implant and reconstructive dentistry. Dargham is a member of the Florida Dental Association, the American Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and more. She is an active volunteer with Operation Smile, traveling the world to donate her time and expertise to treat young people suffering from cleft lip and palate.
MARC M. CAMILLE, Ed.D. ’96, vice president for
enrollment management and communications at Loyola University Maryland, has been selected by the Council of Independent Colleges as one of 23 senior-level higher education administrators nationwide to participate in its year-long Executive Leadership Academy. Camille is the only representative from a Jesuit institution or a Patriot League institution in the 2015-16 cohort. Individuals chosen for the program are vice presidents or cabinet officers in higher education who aspire to the presidency of an independent college or university and are nominated by their home institution’s president. Camille will participate in two seminars held in Washington, D.C., as well as readings, webinars, and a mentoring program. In addition, he will develop