As we celebrate 100 years of the University of Miami, it’s not just the milestones we honor — but the people behind them. The growth of our prestigious institution has been driven by those who spark change and shape our campus culture. Campus legends are everywhere—dedicated faculty, passionate students or even our iconic mascot. Who knows, maybe your lab partner or that person you’re always checking out at the gym is actually making a deeper impact than you’ve noticed yet.
Student Government
Roy Carrillo Zamora served as Student Government president during the 2024–25 academic year, leading the “Stand Forever” administration with a strong focus on student advocacy and proactive solutions.
Under his leadership, rideshare services were revamped with the launch of the highly successful Freebee initiative, providing students with a more reliable, late-night transportation option and extended service hours. As the Student Trustee, Carrillo Zamora became a powerful voice for student concerns — raising awareness about low Black enrollment and its impact on campus life, playing a key role in the presidential search process that led to the appointment of Joe Echeverria, and more.
Above all, Carrillo Zamora will be remembered for his genuine connection with students and his ability to humbly deliver the changes they wanted to see.
Miami Herbert Business School
Mark Shapiro is a professor of professional practice and the associate dean of Undergraduate Career Development at the Miami Herbert Business School. He is often recognized by students for his excellent career advice and bringing real world clients and experiences into the classroom, as it relates to business and law.
Shapiro created a course that all second-year business majors are required to take: Professional Development and Success in the Workplace. He has built his legendary status by fostering one-on-one relationships with students to understand their challenges and provide them with helpful resources for navigating the career field.
By connecting with students on a fundamental level around what truly matters to them, Shapiro affirms that his support for their professional growth will extend beyond their time at the business school. “It’s all about sustained impact and recognizing that you can make a difference every day over a continuous period of time,” said Shapiro.
The Rathskeller
The Rat – we all know it, we all love it. Whether you are a Trivia Tuesday frequenter or stop by occasionally for a pitcher with friends, chances are you’ve noticed a spirited fella in a graphic tee and jorts making sure the ship is sailing smoothly.
As the Rathskeller Advisory Board Chair, Salvatore Puma hosts traditional Rat events weekly, Tuesday to Thursday, and special events like watch parties and the annual comedy show. In his position, Puma has personalized events at the Rat to match student desires and create more excitement regarding visits to UM’s beloved on-campus sports bar.
One initiative Puma is especially proud of is the 2025 Dragskeller Brunch, hosted in collaboration with student organizations, including United Black Students, Black Leaders for the Queer Community, Hurricane Productions, and the LGBTQ Center. The Rat expert himself recommends the chicken quesadilla–everything on it, washed down with a margarita.
English Department
Mia Leonin, a senior lecturer in the Creative Writing program, has reimagined the English workshop to foster a more inclusive, comfortable space for students interested in exploring personal and diverse topics. In her poetry workshops, she begins each session with a mental health check-in, encouraging honest communication and emotional awareness.
“I’ve always gravitated toward connecting with students and encouraging them to be who they truly are on the page,” Leonin said.
Highly celebrated by English majors, Leonin is known for facilitating open, vulnerable conversations and spotlighting underrepresented voices—particularly writers of color and queer authors. She also broke new ground by teaching ENG 209, the first bilingual Spanish-English creative writing course at the University of Miami, reinstating her belief in the power of personal dialect and cultural expression.
Student Entrepreneur
Student first, entrepreneur second–that’s Andrés Concha. Aside from his academic pursuits as a senior psychology major and marketing minor here at UM, Concha is also the Founder and president of the Leaders of Tomorrow Initiative (LTI).
LTI is a non-profit leadership community that unites ambitious university students from all different corners of campus and provides them with resources such as networking opportunities. “We build very tight-knit communities of ambitious people by bringing students together on a regular basis and discussing personal issues,” said Concha.
Most recognize Concha as the legendary “suit guy” on campus, who sits outside of Starbucks locked in on his computer and looking like an Armani model. He is a testimony that confidently presenting oneself in a world full of chance encounters is model behavior for future leaders of society
School of Communication
Whether you’ve experienced the impact of Alyse Lancaster as one of the swifties who took STC 290: The Mastermind of the Taylor Swift Brand, or as a communication student who has reaped the benefits of her legendary changes, she is a pillarstone legend of UM as we know it today.
Throughout her 19 years at UM as an associate professor and vice dean for academic affairs at the School of Communication, Lancaster has gone above and beyond by reshaping the advertising program through creating two distinct tracks to optimize student experiences and career goals. “A legend is always there to remind people that they are a constant source of support and assistance,” said Lancaster. She feels most recognized for her impact when graduated students reconnect with her, often many years later, and thank her for her impact and for giving them the skills and knowledge they needed to be successful in the real world.
Hurricane Productions
Aris Montero is one of those students who truly bleeds orange and green. A senior double majoring in creative advertising and communication studies, she has embraced a wide range of leadership roles during her time at the University of Miami.
Montero has served as chair of Hurricane Productions (HP), vice chair of the Homecoming Executive Committee, an orientation leader, president of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), and more. She’s best known for overseeing HP programming, from weekly campus events to large-scale celebrations like the Centennial Canes Carnival.
“I’ve fostered more initiatives that increase internal morale on campus—not only satisfying students, but also the HP family,” Montero said, proud of the excitement she’s helped bring to campus life.
Her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Montero has been tapped into the Iron Arrow Society, the highest honor attainable at UM.
Department of Orientation & Commuter Student Involvement
Stephanie Fleitas serves as the associate director of student affairs in the Department of Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement. She’s one of the first smiling faces to welcome new Canes during Cane Kickoff, UM’s freshman orientation. Besides planning and facilitating, much of her work focuses on developing programs tailored to commuter and transfer students.
Fleitas played a key role in transforming Great Start, a pre-orientation program that helps first-year commuter students transition smoothly to campus life. Thanks to her efforts, the program is now a required step for incoming commuter students.
Fleitas is known for being the best hype person, always uplifting students and helping them to become the best versions of themselves. Fleitas has been recognized for her efforts by being tapped by ODK and the Iron Arrow Society, and gives back as a ‘hype woman’ through tapping many students who work under her jurisdiction.
Campus Influencers
You’ve seen his face on your feed plenty of times: Balaj Raza, a junior double majoring in Public Relations and Journalism. Raza is recognizable thanks to his Canes Creator position for UM’s social media platforms. Raza produces content to highlight the school’s attributes and resources and is best known for his new dorm tour series for UM’s channels that went viral earlier this year.
Raza has surpassed 4 million views with all of his UM content by providing first-hand accounts of what it means to be a proud Cane. “Through my content that focuses on the student body, I’m able to transparently show student lifestyles on campus and what UM has to offer,” said Raza.
words_remi turner. design_sal puma. photos_valereia barbaglio.
This article was published in Distraction’s Summer 2025 print issue.
Follow our Social Media: