Career Center Targets Alumni

A Cutting-Edge Resource

orget those crowded employment agencies and stuffy executive search firms. The University's Toppel Career Planning and Placement Center-a state-of-the-art facility equipped with a computer lab, five interview suites, a large conference room, and career resource library-is the perfect way for students and alumni to access job-related resources and services free of charge.

"We are considered a full-service career center," says Michael Gage, director of the center, "and we've opened up the center, which is now in its third year, so that alumni can come back and access the University's services for free."

The center and its dedicated support staff provide a number of valuable services and hands-on training to all students and graduates regardless of their major or area of concentration.

"We're not just a career center for business and engineering majors," says Gage. "We help answer students' questions on what to major in as well as assist alumni who are interested in starting a new career."

Alumni are targeted on three levels, says Gage. Recent alumni, for example, many of whom are either underemployed or employed in areas unrelated to their major, can access the center's on-line resources, as well as browse through some of the more conventional career resources, when looking for a new job or making a crucial career switch.

Alumni living outside the Miami area can access the center's services through career fairs and career development seminars that are held throughout the country in such major cities as Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and soon, New York. The center is working with the national alumni groups in those areas to facilitate such career-related events.

Career development seminars/forums, a joint effort between Toppel and the Office of Alumni Relations, are being organized in Miami, New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles for young alumni (graduates of 10 years or less). At these events, alumni can receive information on graduate school, as well as listen to a panel of successful alumni speakers. The first such panel took place in Miami last fall and featured Betty Amos (B.B.A. '73, M.B.A. '77), one of Fuddruckers' most successful franchisers; Andrew Capone (B.B.A. '80), senior vice president, quality leader, NBC-owned television stations; and Fernando Amandi (B.B.A. '72), senior vice president, consumer bank operations and technology, Citibank International, among others. After the forum, alumni and speakers had the opportunity to meet one another at a reception.

Another service the center provides is Cane Alum.Net, a career mentoring program designed to help University students connect with alumni who are interested in serving as mentors in their professional field. Collaborating with the Office of Alumni Relations, Toppel is developing a database of alumni who will provide career information about their particular industry. Once the database is up and running, students from any school or college can access the information and get the names of alumni working in their field.

Some alumni are even being asked to come back to the University to recruit students for potential jobs at their places of employment. "We have many well-positioned alumni whom we hope to bring back to the University to recruit," says Gage.

"We are the envy of many career centers," adds Gage. "We have a great core of well-trained students and a wonderful facility that our alumni employers can use while they are here."

Program Gives Donors More for their Money

ow you can double, even triple your money.

Next time you make a donation to the University check to see if your employer participates in the Corporate Matching Gift Program. An easy way to double, or in some cases even triple your gift to the University, the Matching Gift Program allows donors to stretch their donation dollar even further.

"If you work for FPL Group, Inc., for example, and you decided to make a $25 donation to the University of Miami, that company participates in the program and will match your gift, so in essence it's double your money," says Diane Doolan (B.B.A. '92), assistant director of alumni giving in the Office of Alumni Relations.

While some corporations, like FPL, participate with a two-for-one match, many companies will triple any donation made by an employee. A list of affiliated companies has been prepared by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) to provide potential donors with the names of hundreds of companies that support matching gift programs.

Once you have identified that your company is on the CASE list, simply obtain a matching gift form from your employ-er's human resource department, fill it out in accordance with your employ-er's guidelines (there are certain restrictions as to the maximum and minimum gift amounts a person is able to donate during a fiscal year), and return to the designated department.

For those individuals who have already made a donation but have just found out about the program, it might not be too late to get more for your money. Doolan suggests contacting your human resource department to see if the company will match your gift after the donation has been made.

Some companies will even honor donations made by retired employees, while still others will acknowledge the donation of an employ-ee's spouse. Special symbols are listed next to each company on the CASE brochure to indicate restrictions and eligibility of donations.

For more information on Matching Gift Programs please call 305-284-2872.

Lari White's Words and Music Captivate Homecoming Audience

ollow Your Muse" might well have been the theme of Lari White's (B.M. '88) visit to the University as the 1998 Distinguished Alumna Lecturer and guest performer during Homecoming weekend.

White, who has become one of the most successful country music singers of her generation, made a name for herself soon after graduation, winning Nashville's televised talent contest You Can Be a Star in 1988. Her early career included working as a staff songwriter for Ronnie Milsap's publishing company, touring as Rodney Crowell's backup singer, and performing in plays and musicals including Crimes of the Heart and Fiddler On The Roof. Her debut album, Lead Me Not, earned White an Academy of Country Music nomination as the Top New Female Vocalist of 1994. More recently, she became the flagship artist for Disney's new Lyric Street Records for which she released an album, Stepping Stone.

White returned to campus to deliver the Univer-sity's fourth Distinguished Alumni Lecture. The series was established in 1995 through the support of The Honorable Julia Chang Bloch and Stuart Marshall Bloch (B.A. '64). Its purpose is to provide recognition to University of Miami alumni who have distinguished themselves and their alma mater through lifetime achievement and professional accomplishments.

A graduate of the School of Music's jazz and music engineering programs, White related how music gave her the means to channel her youthful energy and develop her creativity. "Actually, I was somewhat of a compulsive liar as a child," she says, recounting several amusing incidents that sprang from her youthful imagination.

"But instead of delivering stern punishments or sending me to reform school," she says, "my parents gave me a piano."

While attending the University, White says jokingly, "I was the only country music artist here. But I love acoustic and organic music-that's what took me to Nashville."

There White found her University of Miami education an excellent preparation for the rigors of building a musical career. "Every piece of information I learned here at UM served me incredibly well," she says.

More recently her personal and professional lives have taken some interesting turns, with the birth of her first child and a new record deal. "I'm reintegrating the little girl that I was with the wise old woman I hope to be someday," she says.

Now White advocates "making life an art project."

"It's all about creativity," she says. "Your life will only be enriched if you approach it creatively."

White did just that, delivering a dazzling performance afterward with the Jazz Vocal Ensemble I in Gusman Concert Hall.

Partnetship Provides Technology Training to Engineering Students

he University has forged an innovative partnership with Computer Associates International, Inc., to provide students with valuable hands-on experience in real-world information technology.

As part of the agreement, Computer Associates, one of the world's leading business software developers, will provide state-of-the-art operating systems, software, computer laboratory equipment, and student internships to the University. The donation is valued at $6 million.

The initiative addresses the challenge many technology companies face today when meeting the huge demand for qualified information technology professionals.

"Computer Associates' Academic Partner Program provides an invaluable opportunity for information technology students to get a head start as they begin careers in the ever-evolving technology workplace," says M. Lewis Temares, dean of the College of Engineering and vice president for Information Technology.

The Academic Partner Program is designed to complement the typical college-level technology curriculum by providing relevant hands-on experience with Computer Associates software, which is used by many Fortune 500 companies. The introduction of such products into the University's curriculum will enable students to assimilate real-world enterprise management, information management, and project planning technology that exist in today's heterogeneous information technology environments.

As part of the partnership, the University's NGJ Information Systems Institute will be designated as a Computer Associates' Authorized Learning Center. This state-of-the-art teaching facility offers executives and managers professional training in information systems and telecommunications.

Cobb Stadium for Soccer, Track, and Field Opens

hrough a leadership gift from Ambassador Charles E. Cobb, Jr., his wife, Sue (J.D. '78), and their family, the University has reconstructed and expanded its track and built a new soccer field.

"From anyone, such a splendid commitment would be extremely welcome. From the Cobbs, it takes on a special significance," says President Edward T. Foote II.

Dedicated in February, the facility is named the Cobb Stadium for Soccer, Track, and Field. Located adjacent to the Hecht Athletic Center on the Coral Gables campus, the new facility includes seating for 500 persons and enables the athletic program to host events of international and Olympic caliber. The stadium also is hosting meets for area school and youth groups.

The Cobbs have always been avid sports fans as well as team players. Ambassador Cobb was a member of the 1960 United States Olympic team as a high hurdler and was captain of the Stanford University track team. He has been a member of the University's Board of Trustees and its Executive Committee for over 20 years and is the former chairman of the Board of Trustees.

"We hope this facility will be a catalyst for new traditions of excellence, commensurate with other University of Miami programs, and that it will also encourage increased participation in soccer, track, and field by youngsters in our community," says Sue Cobb.

University Honors Leading Donors

he University of Miami inducted more than 30 new members into its foremost donor societies during a special ceremony on November 18. The event was hosted by Leonard Miller, chairman of the University's Board of Trustees, and his wife, Sue.

Established in 1985 by the Board of Trustees, the George E. Merrick, Bowman Foster Ashe, and Ibis Societies recognize donors who achieved lifetime giving levels exceeding $1 million, $500,000, and $250,000, respectively, to the University.

"The University of Miami is truly thankful for the generous support of our institution by these major donors," says Michael Rierson, vice president for University Advancement.

During the past 33 years, members of the societies have provided approximately $1 billion in support of the University's programs and facilities. Last year, the University received a record $80.3 million in philanthropic support.

Dauer Family Makes Gift to Convocation Center

gift of $2 million from the Dauer family-Edward Dauer (B.S.E.E. '72, M.D. '75), his wife, Joanne, and his mother, the late Reva Dauer-is helping fund the construction of the Ryder Center, the proposed on-campus convocation center.

The facility will be located on the Coral Gables campus. In recognition of the family's gift, the main road leading to the new facility will be named Dauer Drive. Construction of the Ryder Center is scheduled to begin this year.

"This is a splendid commitment from the Dauers," says President Edward T. Foote II. "It provides a significant boost of momentum at a critical time in our campaign to build the Ryder Center. All of us are delighted by the Dauers' generosity."

With this donation, the Dauer family becomes the largest alumni cash donors to the University. Edward Dauer is currently a University trustee, as was his father, Maxwell Dauer. In addition, Edward Dauer is a clinical associate professor of radiology at the School of Medicine.

"The Ryder Center will have a great impact on the future of the University. It is important to not only ensure the future success of the athletic program but will allow a place for the University community to join together," says Edward Dauer, who will serve as the chairman of the major gifts portion of the Campaign for the Ryder Center.

First Union Corporation kicked off that campaign through a recent ten-year partnership with the University that includes a commitment of $1.2 million for the Ryder Center. The partnership allows First Union to become the official bank sponsor of the University athletic department, receiving certain marketing and promotional opportunities.

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