Distinguished alumni to deliver commencement keynotes

Academics People and Community

By News@TheU 12-06-2024

Graduates at the University of Miami fall commencement ceremonies will hear from two dynamic individuals who have navigated careers through the complexities of professional sports and public service.

Scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Watsco Center on the Coral Gables Campus, the ceremonies will be livestreamed for virtual viewing, enabling everyone to celebrate the accomplishments of bachelor's, doctoral, law, and master's degree candidates. Tickets are required to attend each ceremony.

The speakers and the times of their ceremonies are:

Thursday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m.: Michael Irvin, alumnus and legendary Miami Hurricanes football player, former Dallas Cowboys great, Super Bowl champion, and NFL Hall of Famer.

Undergraduate degree ceremony.

Game clocks rarely, if ever, tell the whole story during a football game. Like the clock at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 1987.

It read: Miami 19 Florida State 19. Two minutes and 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

But for Miami Hurricanes football players on the field and on the sidelines that day, the clock said a lot more-that an undefeated season and, perhaps, a chance to play for the national championship were both in jeopardy.

Hurricanes junior wide receiver Michael Irvin wouldn't hear of it. On what is arguably the most iconic play in Hurricanes football history, Irvin scored on a 73-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Steve Walsh, providing the margin of victory for Miami in its game against archrival Florida State.

The scoring strike was indicative of Irvin's reputation on the field. Throughout his college and professional careers, the 6-foot-2-inch wideout, who starred at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, often made the biggest plays in the biggest games, earning the nickname "The Playmaker."

During that storied 1987 season, Irvin caught 44 passes for 715 yards and six touchdowns, helping the University win its second football national championship, a 20-14 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

Irvin, who earned a degree in business management from the University, achieved All-America honors while at the U, finishing his collegiate career with 143 receptions, 2,423 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns.

After Irvin's stellar career at Miami, the Dallas Cowboys drafted him with the 11th pick in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft, and Irvin quickly made an impact, becoming the first rookie wide receiver to start a season opener for that franchise in more than 20 years.

At Dallas, Irvin was reunited with former legendary Hurricanes coach Jimmy Johnson. From 1991 through 1998, Irvin recorded 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year. During that span, Dallas appeared in four straight National Football Conference championship games (1992-1995) and won three Super Bowls.

He played his entire 12-year NFL career with the Cowboys, finishing with 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. A member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Irvin had 100 or more yards receiving in a game 47 times during his 159-game career.

Irvin was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Since retiring from his playing days, Irvin has had a distinguished broadcast career, which has included stints with ESPN, the NFL Network, and currently FOX.

He is as passionate about Hurricanes football as he was during his playing days at the U, cheering from the sidelines during football games and mentoring and providing instruction to recruits during Legends Camp, which affords the opportunity for prospects to interact with some of the best Miami Hurricanes football players of all time.

Thursday, Dec. 12 at 3 p.m.: Alina T. Hudak, president and CEO, FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee.

Graduate degree ceremony for doctoral, law, and master's degree candidates from all schools and colleges.

On March 15, 2011, Alina T. Hudak received a late-night call that would alter the course of her career. The county administrator found herself at the center of a whirlwind-both the mayor and the county manager had resigned-propelling Miami-Dade County into a leadership crisis following a countywide recall of the mayor. On the other end of the call, the outgoing mayor asked Hudak to step in as county manager-a move she believed could end her then 27-year career once a new administration was in place.

Devoted to public service, Hudak accepted the role and became the first woman to serve as Miami-Dade County's manager, subsequently steering the county through a pivotal moment in its history. In her new role, Hudak managed an $8 billion budget, oversaw more than 27,000 employees, and worked to restore stability to Florida's most populous county.

A lifelong public servant, Hudak began her career as a management trainee in 1984 and, quickly proving her capabilities, rose through the ranks. Her leadership skills and strategic vision led to her appointment as an assistant county manager in 1993, spearheading numerous key departments and initiatives. She became an integral part of the county's administrative landscape, including overseeing its elections department through two presidential contests and negotiating a multi-million-dollar construction contract for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.

Following her groundbreaking tenure as county manager, Hudak continued her service as deputy mayor to Mayor Carlos Gimenez, presiding over public safety, transportation, and disaster preparedness. She advanced major projects to improve Miami-Dade's transit system and played a key role in strengthening emergency response capabilities.

Her leadership was pivotal during emergencies, including Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the Zika virus outbreak a year earlier, where her swift actions saved lives and earned widespread praise for her crisis management.

In 2019 Hudak retired from Miami-Dade County. She transitioned to the City of Miami Beach in February 2020, where she initially served as assistant city manager before being appointed the first female city manager in April 2021.

Her tenure began at a critical moment, coinciding with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. She coordinated the city's response, implementing public health measures and providing economic relief to affected residents. Later, as the community recovered, Hudak led the city's "Miami Beach Is Breaking Up With Spring Break" campaign, effectively addressing public safety concerns and reshaping the city's image.

In July 2024 she resigned from her role as city manager, ending four decades of public service and leaving a lasting legacy as a trailblazer. She was the first woman to run a large operational department; the first Hispanic woman appointed assistant county manager; the first woman to serve as county manager; and the first woman to run the City of Miami Beach.

In early December, Hudak was named president and CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee, where she will oversee the planning and execution of South Florida's World Cup as the world descends on Miami for the international tournament.

Her accomplishments have earned her numerous awards and honors, including two Lifetime Achievement Awards presented by Miami-Dade City and County Management Association and the American Society for Public Administration. An active and invested community leader, she served on the United Way Miami board; is a member of the Orange Bowl Committee; and is a former campaign chair for the American Cancer Society. At the University, where she earned a B.A. in finance and political science and an M.P.A., she is an Iron Arrow Honor Society member.

Fall 2024 commencement reception event details can be found here.