‘Nurture others. Nurture yourself’

People and Community University

By Michael R. Malone and Robert C. Jones, Jr. 05-11-2026

Steven G. Ullmann's parents received only minimal education owing to their status as refugees of World War II, and so the gifts that come with learning and knowledge were among the highest values they instilled in their children.

Yet Ullmann-who would go on to teach, guide, and mentor more than 15,000 students over nearly five decades as an esteemed academic-struggled early to find his way on the learning road.

A high school counselor told him he was "not college material." A mathematics teacher discouraged him from taking any mathematics courses beyond pre-algebra, the basic level required for high school graduation.

Yet Ullmann persisted, nurtured his own passion for learning and willed himself into an excellent university, where he received far better guidance.

"Indeed, my college professors responded as I had wished. As I had hoped. They did not tell me 'No.' On the contrary, they told me 'Yes.' That I could, and that I should. I was allowed to explore, to experiment, and ultimately, I found my passion," Ullmann, professor and director of the Center for Health Management and Policy at the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School told more than 1,300 students receiving master's and doctoral degrees at two ceremonies on Monday.

On the fourth and final day of spring commencement ceremonies, Ullmann spoke in the morning to graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences; College of Engineering; Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science; Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine; and School of Nursing and Health Studies. In the afternoon ceremony, he addressed those from the School of Architecture; Miami Herbert Business School; School of Communication; School of Education and Human Development; and the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music.

Not only did Ullmann find his passion-economics-when he made it to college, but "something special" happened there: a boon and blessing that would not only nurture his own success but would also formulate his approach as a future educator.

"I had a professor, a guide, a mentor who saw something in me, who took me under wing, who provided me guidance. He said, 'Take nearly double the courses required of the standard major.' He pushed me to take as much math as I could handle, just several courses shy of a double major in mathematics-in the No. 1-ranked mathematics department in the country," Ullmann remembered.

Ullmann went on to graduate school, where another mentor encouraged him to undertake research in health care economics, an emerging field at the time.

"From there, all kinds of opportunities opened up to me. And one of the greatest opportunities, and one of the very best choices I have made-other than marrying my wife-was to accept an offer for a faculty position from the University of Miami 46 years ago," said Ullmann, today an internationally renowned authority on health care policy, a highly esteemed educator who has mentored generations of students, and a senior University administrator who has served as vice provost for faculty affairs and university administration and dean of the Graduate School.

In his remarks, Ullmann highlighted the importance of mentorship and guidance.

"Please, please, please, do not use these words to another, 'No, you are not able to' and do not accept from someone else these words, 'No, you are not capable,'" Ullmann urged the new graduates. "Do not take the opportunity away from others or allow opportunities to be closed off to you. On the contrary, nurture the 'yes.' Nurture others. Nurture yourself."

Ullmann celebrated the students for their accomplishments to earn higher level degrees.

"I truly hope you have found passion for the field you have chosen. Do not let that passion fade. And if it begins to fade, adjust your path-it is never too late. And allow passion and love to be a significant part of your personal life as well," he said.

Ullmann, the recipient of more than 25 teaching and service awards, including the President's Medal, the Faculty Senate Outstanding Teaching Award, the Patrick Masala Award, and the James W. McLamore Outstanding Service Award, emphasized that the value of guidance and mentoring is ultimately a double-sided coin.

"We have seen the opportunity to receive guidance and mentoring and the role it has played in your lives, in our lives. And there will be future mentors, I am sure," Ullmann said.

"But it is also the time now, with your background, your experience, and your knowledge base, to be mentors to others. Do not underestimate the impact you may have on the lives of others. You, as mentors, will quickly realize the incredible feeling of satisfaction that you will experience guiding others," he added.

University President Joe Echevarria, who graduated from the University in 1978, said he shared the same strong foundation as the new graduates, one rooted in discipline, perseverance, curiosity, attitude, commitment, and especially caring for others.

While recognizing the tremendous changes associated with new technologies, the president said the future will be "more human led than ever."

"The future needs people who are prepared, principled, and committed, and willing to care. That's who you are. So, use tech wisely, keep learning, stay curious, and remember that anything is possible-and anything happens all the time," Echevarria said.

Yusif Gurbanli, originally from Baku, Azerbaijan, served as the student speaker for the Monday morning ceremony. Over an eight-year span at the University, Gurbanli has earned two degrees and is currently conducting doctoral research on AI-powered bone reconstruction for robotic orthopedic surgery; he likewise conducted NASA-funded aerodynamic research; co-founded several AI ventures; and was awarded a $100,000 USTAAR grant.

As a foreigner alone in a new country when he first arrived, Gurbanli experienced an untold number of changes, new directions, and "moments of quiet panic" that led him to question his identity.

He celebrated his family with providing him a bedrock of support.

"They supported me so completely that, even across continents, I never felt truly alone. They believed in the path before I could fully see it myself. And through every directional change, never once questioned me," Gurbanli said.

That unwavering support bolstered his confidence and helped shift his mindset when faced "with the curveballs that life throws" from "terrifying" to "okay, maybe I can handle this."

Gurbanli urged new graduates entering a world revolutionized by technology to befriend uncertainty and cautioned against letting their job and achievements define their identity.

"That is a fragile place to build a life," he said. "The people who navigate this well aren't the ones who outrun the change. They're the ones who, when everything shifts, still know exactly where they stand. Not because they have a perfect plan-but because they know themselves."

For Tanusri Bandaru, the master's in public health she received at Monday's morning ceremony represents much more than the culmination of months of intense studying and research. It is an academic achievement, she said, that gives her multiple options for the near future.

While a job in program development for hospital systems awaits, the Indian-born Bandaru is also leaving the door open for pursuing a doctoral degree. "Ph.D. work requires a lot of time and commitment," she said. "I'll just have to see what the future holds."

But no matter what happens, Bandaru said she will always treasure the diversity and global makeup of faculty members in the Miller School of Medicine's Department of Public Health Sciences. "They allowed me to learn and apply my skills," said Bandaru, whose capstone project involved mental health program development in rural North Florida communities.

With his wife and young son and daughter looking on, Chris Alfaro, a captain in the Aventura Police Department, accepted his master's degree in public administration from the College of Arts and Sciences.

"An incredibly rewarding experience, one that required a lot of time management and balancing family, school, and work responsibilities," the 16-year law enforcement veteran said of the challenge of earning an advanced degree while working as a full-time police officer. "My career goal is to one day become a police chief, so this degree is a big step in that direction."

Monday's afternoon ceremony carried different meanings for two of the graduate students from the School of Education and Human Development.

James Ochoa's eight-year journey to earning his Ph.D. in higher education leadership "was more about finishing what I started than taking the next step in my career," he said Friday at the University of Miami Fieldhouse, just an hour before he walked into the Watsco Center to receive his newly minted degree.

"This is completion. This is about getting it done and serving as an example to my family that anything is possible, even when faced with difficult challenges and life-altering events," he said.

For Ochoa, those "challenges and life-altering events" meant making sure his research continued to move forward when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and becoming a husband and father over the course of his doctoral studies.

His family, he said, is his rock. "They've backed me the entire time, and I couldn't be prouder to have them here today," he said, noting that his wife, 5-year-old son, and 3-year-old daughter were on hand to see him graduate.

For Juana Eugenia Bolanos, earning her Ph.D. in applied learning science "is not a culmination of a long journey but the start of what I want to do in the future," she said.

Bolanos plans to dedicate herself to helping parents with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder to better prepare their sons and daughters to enter formal schools and to make sure teachers are well-prepared to educate such students. "I'm sure I can help make a difference," she said.

Giuliano Iannarelli McDonald, a doctoral candidate in the School of Communication, emphasized the importance of connecting with others in his remarks as the student speaker for the Monday afternoon ceremony.

"Whether you are designing a building, supporting new clients, devoting time to a student who needs extra attention, composing a melody, or crafting a strategic message, we are united by a shared desire to connect with people," said McDonald, adding that he and his peers bear a unique responsibility as the first graduating class representing a new century of Canes.

"Never forget that in a world that too often pulls people apart, what will make us stand out is our ability to bring people together," he said. "If you keep connection at the heart of what you do, your life will be richer in more ways than one. And in doing so, you will uphold and embody the traditions, values, and legacy of the University of Miami."