University of Miami student media garners national recognition
University of Miami student media garners national recognition The highlight was the Ibis Yearbook receiving the Pacemaker Award, considered the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate awards. Randy Stano, professor of professional practice, left, is joined at the awards ceremony by Lori Keeley, Andergley Eilien, Jake Sperling, Kaleigh McLaughlin, and Grace Paliseno. By Barbara Gutierrez 3-31-2026 This story originally appeared at News@TheU University of Miami student media outlets continue to gain national recognition for outstanding work. In the recent Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Spring National College Media Conference [...]
Students play pivotal roles developing apps demoed at XR conference
Students play pivotal roles developing apps demoed at XR conference Collaborating with faculty members and researchers, students helped develop and create immersive technology applications that address environmental awareness, the well-being of cancer patients, and the history of a historic Miami neighborhood. During a demo session at Miami XR 2026, computer science and interactive media student Sidney Cocimano assists Keanu Diaz in operating the VR headset and hand controls for the environmental awareness game Swampocalypse. Photo: Debora Cabrera for the University of Miami By Robert C. Jones [...]
XR conference takes a deep dive into immersive technology
XR conference takes a deep dive into immersive technology With educators and experts from around the country in attendance, including Imagineers from the Walt Disney Company, the two-day conference explored the different ways extended reality is making an impact in the world. Walt Disney Imagineering executives Bruce Vaughn and Kyle Laughlin discuss how they got into the immersive storytelling field with Tom Merrick (right), lecturer of interactive media and senior director of XR Initiatives at the Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing. Photo: Debora Cabrera/University of [...]
Making sense of data
Making sense of data The Open Visualization Academy—a first-of-its-kind platform recently launched by a faculty member at the University of Miami—offers free courses on designing data-backed charts and maps to communicate information more effectively. By Janette Neuwahl Tannen 2-10-2026 This story originally appeared in News@TheU Interested in creating an informative, eye-catching chart, graph, or map to help explain a complex dataset? There are now several free courses to learn these skills, all offered on a new website created by a University of Miami faculty member, with [...]
Learning Overtown’s history through art
Learning Overtown's history through art A class of graduate students in the School of Communication spent the fall creating an interactive museum experience that teaches participants about the history of Overtown through three murals. A young child tries out the virtual reality murals experience "Telling Overtown Stories, Saying Their Names," created by graduate students in the Collaborative Innovation Lab course at the School of Communication for Miami MoCAAD. Photo courtesy of Miami MoCAAD. By Janette Neuwahl Tannen 2-9-2026 This story originally appeared in News@TheU In the [...]
What to expect at this year’s Shorts Miami International Film Festival
What to expect at this year's Shorts Miami International Film Festival The 2026 Shorts International Miami Film Festival takes place at the University of Miami's Bill Cosford Cinema this weekend from Feb. 6 - 8. Photo Courtesy of Konstantia Kontaxis. By Hanna Himelstein 2-3-2026 This story originally appeared in The Miami Hurricane. Need some weekend plans? The 2026 Shorts Miami International Film Festival (SMIFF) is on campus this weekend, Feb. 6 – 8, at the University of Miami’s Bill Cosford Cinema. SMIFF is free for all UM [...]
University of Miami student selected for the American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Students Program
University of Miami student selected for the American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Students Program WASHINGTON, D.C., January 12, 2026 – The American Advertising Federation is proud to announce that Vrinda Gupta, a psychology and advertising student has been selected as part of the 2026 Most Promising Students program. The Most Promising Students Program began in 1997 and serves as part of the AAF’s mission to ensure that the advertising industry is led by a wide variety of informed perspectives, cultural influences and diverse backgrounds. The Most Promising Students [...]
Honoring Professor Michael J. Beatty
Honoring Professor Michael J. Beatty It is with a heavy heart that we share with you one of our longstanding faculty passed on Saturday, January 31st. Michael Beatty was an important and dedicated member of our School and academic community. Professor Beatty joined the School of Communication, Department of Communication Studies, in 2007, and held a joint appointment with the University of Miami, Department of Psychology. He was a distinguished scholar, accomplished academic leader, devoted educator, and cherished colleague whose influence in the field of communication will [...]
University of Miami Debate Team continues to shine
University of Miami Debate Team continues to shine During the 2025 season, the University of Miami Debate Team brought home three top prizes, along with many other distinctions. From left: First year students and debate team members Olivia Pisinski and Ping Areeanchuleekorn face off against another debate team in the Rochester Civic Debate tournament, where they made it to the finals. Photos courtesy of the University of Miami Debate team. By Barbara Gutierrez 1-9-2026 This story originally appeared in News@TheU. The University of Miami Debate Team finished [...]