Hispanic Heritage Month

Vanessa Lizama is a two-time Gator. She graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in advertising and a minor in business. She also earned her master’s degree in business administration from UF in 2012. After graduating in 1999, Lizama worked …

Michael O’Hara Garcia has dedicated his life to the betterment of society. He currently serves as president of the Florida Olive Council, a not-for-profit agricultural research and advocacy organization he created in 2011 to help develop a sustainable and profitable olive industry in Florida. Throughout his career, O’Hara Garcia has …

Christian De La Rosa graduated from the University of Florida in 2006. He earned a bachelor’s degree in radio and TV journalism from the College of Journalism and Communications. He minored in business. De La Rosa, along with 2006 alumnus Ken Molestina, started up a forerunner of the Spanish-language Noticias …

Soon after Benny Torres graduated in 2007 from University of Florida with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and advertising, he began his career working at Leo Burnett in Chicago. At first, it was a dream come true for Torres, who worked on the Nintendo account. But after a while, Torres realized …

Nereida “Neddy” Perez graduated the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications in 1986. She currently holds a talent acquisition and external diversity partnerships position at TIAA,  a Fortune 100 financial services organization. She also founded D&I Creative Solutions in 2016 and is the compamny’s CEO. Additionally, Perez is …

When Roberto Vizc​ó​n was earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida, he was active in a club called the Cuban American Students Association. Among the Latino student population, there were “mostly Cubans at UF back in the late ’70s,” Vizc​ó​n recalled. “We would hold salsa dances at the …

After earning her associate’s degree at Miami Dade College in 2012, Johanny Adames transferred to the University of Florida and graduated from the College of Journalism and Communications in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time at UF, Adames was heavily involved in news and politics. She …

While earning her bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida, Marilia Brocchetto worked tirelessly to achieve her goals, toiling away at the variety of news outlets that the College of Journalism and Communications offers. She worked at WUFT-TV, WUFT-FM, WRUF and ABC News on Campus. She also participated in Greek …

Daniel Pimentel is a man with a vision — in virtual-reality, that is. Pimentel works at the University of Florida Media Effects and Technology Lab, where he researches the effects of virtual reality (VR) on pain perception. He is doing this while earning his Ph.D. in Mass Communications at the …

Dr. Mariana S. De Maio had about two decades of writing, editing and teaching experience under her belt by the time she came to Gainesville, where she earned her Ph.D. in Mass Communications/Media Studies at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. She had worked at newspapers and …