Thank you for your interest in supporting the School of Communication. To find a fund within the School to support, please let us know your philanthropic interests. Please note that the below is not a comprehensive list of all the funds within the School of Communication; if you have not found what you are looking for, please feel free to contact Angie Gonzalez-Kurver, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at ajgonzalez@miami.edu.

Overall School of Communication

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION FUND

The School of Communication Fund supports the School’s greatest needs. This fund supports initiatives including student scholarships and internship experiences, faculty research, technology purchases, and more. Donors are able to have the broadest impact by giving to the SoC Fund.

GREG AND MARY SHEPHERD EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ENDOWED FUND

The Greg and Mary Shepherd Experiential Learning Endowed Fund honors the service of Dean Shepherd, who championed active commerce between the classroom and the professional world during his time at UM. Under Dean Shepherd, experiential learning opportunities flourished within every field of the SoC, including internship opportunities, student media, Orange Umbrella, the Debate Team, school-run programs in New York and Los Angeles, job shadow offerings, conferences, and much more. This fund will be used to support undergraduate and/or graduate students with financial need who wish to participate in experiential learning opportunities, broadly defined, as approved by the Dean of the School of Communication.

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION NEW YORK EXPERIENCE FUND

The NY Experience Program allows students to gain hands-on experience with potential employers in New York City during the summers. Students also participate in regular workshops and field trips to build their network and gain additional insight into the New York market. Gifts to the program support operating expenses and student scholarships.

TECHNOLOGY FUND

Technology is constantly changing, especially in the field of communication. The Technology Fund assists with procurement and maintenance of the latest equipment necessary for all fields taught in the School. Support for the Technology Fund is critical and ensures that students are proficient with state-of-the-art equipment that they will use in the workplace upon graduation.

PHILADTHROPY FUND

Philadthropy combines the talent and creativity of UM students with the advertising needs of local non-profit organizations during an annual 25-hour event. Communication students from all majors provide free advertising and creative services to local nonprofit organizations. Gifts to the Philadthropy Fund provide general support for the event, including catering and supplies.

STEIN FAMILY OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES AND INTERNSHIPS

The Stein Family Office of Career and Internship Services provides students with professional and career development. Activities include resume writing, networking, interviewing, and internship and job placement.

ROBERT AND CHRISTINE STAUB FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Established by UM alumnus Robert Staub and his wife Christine, this annual award recognizes a SoC faculty member for effectiveness in teaching, advising, mentoring, and service roles in and outside the classroom.

ROBERT T. AND ANNA STAHR HOSMON FUND

Former SoC Vice Dean and Professor Robert Stahr Hosmon created this fund in honor and memory of his parents. Gifts to this fund are used to bring successful SoC alumni back to campus. The focus is on alumni who live in Los Angeles and work in the entertainment industry and those who live in New York and work in television or cable network news.

JAMES HOFFMAN FAMILY ENDOWED SPEAKER SERIES FUND

The James Hoffman Family Endowed Speaker Series is an annual lecture or seminar on the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Department of Cinema and Interactive Media

CINEMA AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA DEPARTMENTAL FUND

The Department of Cinema and Interactive Media offers undergraduate majors and graduate degrees in motion pictures and interactive media. Gifts to the Department of Cinema and Interactive Media support student scholarships and internship experiences, faculty research, technology purchases, and more.

FIRST FEATURE FILM FUND

The University of Miami School of Communication First Feature Film Fund supports students creating their first theatrical feature film. Grants from the fund help offset costs in filming on location, editing, and distribution for students.

RIBEIRO INNOVATION ENDOWED PROGRAM FUND

This fund supports workshops, invited speakers, and other special events in the Interactive Media Program.

COSFORD CINEMA

The Bill Cosford Cinema provides an educational and cultural resource for the University of Miami and the community it serves. Programming includes a wide variety of contemporary, classic, and foreign films in a classic wide screen format, along with lectures from renowned actors and directors. Gifts to the Cosford Cinema Fund support general operating expenses of the Cosford Cinema as well as special events.

BILL COSFORD MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship fund is named in honor of the late Bill Cosford, a longtime film critic for The Miami Herald and former instructor in the SoC. It is awarded to students with financial need majoring in motion pictures.

NORTON HERRICK CENTER FOR MOTION PICTURES

The Norton Herrick Center for Motion Pictures preserves classic films and screens historically significant films in their original 35mm. In addition to the screenings, the Herrick Center hosts lectures, workshops, conferences, and seminars for those dedicated to the preservation and analysis of historical films.

Department of Communication Studies

COMMUNICATION STUDIES DEPARTMENTAL FUND

The Department of Communication Studies offers a major in communication studies and courses in business communication, health communication, and interpersonal communication, among others. Gifts to the department support student scholarships and internship experiences, faculty research, the Debate Team, and more.

DEBATE PROGRAM

This award winning program teaches students essential skills in argumentation and debate, public speaking, communication theory, persuasion, business, and political communication. Gifts to the Debate Program Fund support general expenses of the Debate Team, including scholarships, costs of hosting tournaments, and competition travel.

DEBATE TEAM SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Funded by Debate Team alumni and friends, the Debate Team Scholarship Fund supports debate team members with debate-related merit, with preference to students majoring in the SoC.

Department of Journalism and Media Management

JOURNALISM & MEDIA MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTAL FUND

The Department of Journalism and Media Management offers majors in journalism, broadcast journalism, electronic media, and media management. Gifts to the department support student scholarships and internship experiences, faculty research, technology purchases, Distraction Magazine, The Miami Hurricane, UMTV, WVUM, and more.

CEFALO FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Created by SoC alumna and former faculty member Carolyn Cefalo Horich and her family, this scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students with financial need majoring in broadcast journalism or video/film.

ROBERT, SAMUEL AND GRACE MANN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Created by alumnus and long-time friend of the SoC Robert Mann in honor of his parents, this scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students with financial need majoring in broadcast journalism.

JUDY WALLACE COMMUNICATION ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Created by alumnus and television producer Michael Robin in honor of former SoC professor Judy Wallace, this scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students with financial need majoring in broadcast journalism.

PEACE SULLIVAN/JAMES ANSIN HIGH SCHOOL WORKSHOP IN JOURNALISM AND NEW MEDIA

This workshop offers high school students from Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties the opportunity to hone their journalism skills during an intensive three-week experience while living on campus and getting an early taste of college life. In addition to the day-to-day rigors of reporting, writing, and publishing the news, students interact with professional journalists who are brought in as guest speakers to introduce them to the journalism industry.

MUPALIA WAKHISI MEMORIAL FUND

Created by Professor Tsitsi Wakhisi in honor of her son Mupi, the Mupalia Wakhisi Memorial Fund supports the in the Peace Sullivan/James Ansin High School Workshop in Journalism and New Media.

STEVEN JOEL SOTLOFF MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Created by the parents of Steven Sotloff, a journalist who was beheaded by ISIS in 2014, this scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student with financial need who is a Florida resident studying journalism.

LUCY CHATELAIN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Created by Professor Michel Dupagne in honor of his parents, the Lucy Chatelain Scholarship provides assistance to students in the SoC with financial need.

Department of Strategic Communication

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENTAL FUND

The Department of Strategic Communication offers majors in advertising and public relations. Gifts to the department support student scholarships and internship experiences, faculty research, technology purchases, Philadthropy, the National Student Advertising Competition Team, the Public Relations Experience Program (PREP), the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and more.

PHILADTHROPY FUND

Philadthropy combines the talent and creativity of UM students with the advertising needs of local non-profit organizations during an annual 25-hour event. Communication students from all majors provide free advertising and creative services to local nonprofit organizations. Gifts to the Philadthropy Fund provide general support for the event, including catering and supplies.

Student Support

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The SoC Scholarship Fund is a general scholarship fund to support SoC students with financial need.

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION NEW YORK EXPERIENCE FUND

The NY Experience Program allows students to gain hands-on experience with potential employers in New York City during the summers. Students also participate in regular workshops and field trips to build their network and gain additional insight into the New York market. Gifts to the program support operating expenses and student scholarships.

SEMESTER IN LOS ANGELES STUDENT SUPPORT FUND

The Semester in Los Angeles hosts a mix of graduate and advanced undergraduate students and offers a blend of classroom, experiential, and project-based learning opportunities. Along with taking courses, each student participates in a six-credit industry-related internship (or a series of internships). This fund enables donors to support this life-changing experience by providing financial assistance to students who would not otherwise be able to afford the costs of travel to California and living in Los Angeles.

DR. STANLEY L. HARRISON MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Honoring the service and memory of longtime faculty member Dr. Stanley L. Harrison, this scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students in the SoC who demonstrate proficient writing ability and who have financial need.

EDWARD J. PFISTER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Honoring the founding dean of the SoC, Edward J. Pfister, this scholarship is awarded to School of Communication undergraduate students with financial need.

TONY PFISTER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Created by SoC Founding Dean Ed Pfister in honor of his son, this scholarship is awarded to students in the SoC with financial need.

Student Media and Student Groups

UMTV

UMTV is the University of Miami’s Emmy Award-winning, student-run cable TV station. Guided by SoC faculty, UMTV produces weekly newscasts and a variety of programming, including a live newscast, a weekly sports show, a late night comedy show, and a Spanish-language news program. In addition to airing in the Coral Gables area, shows are also streamed live and archived online at umtv.miami.edu. Gifts to the UMTV Fund support general operating expenses.

STUDENT-RUN AGENCY ENDOWMENT FUND (ORANGE UMBRELLA)

Operating out of the Koenigsberg & Nadal Interactive Media Center, Orange Umbrella offers a wide range of communication consulting services to real-world clients. Students receive internship credit and can work in the agency from their first year through senior year, all while working their way up the ranks into management positions. They gain experience working with clients, setting strategy, and managing fellow OU members. Clients have a menu of options from all the disciplines taught within the SoC, including social media management, campaign design, website and app design, and film and video production.